Ties to Finland Help Chaminade Find Its Coach

Tim Johnson, a former varsity football assistant at Chaminade High and college assistant in the South and Midwest, was hired Thursday as Chaminade head coach, replacing Rich Lawson, who resigned in May to become head coach at Malibu High.

Johnson, 34, a graduate of William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., was defensive coordinator the past three seasons at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn. Johnson held the same post at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., in 1992 and has coached professionally in Finland during the summer since 1988.

Johnson was defensive coordinator and special-teams coach at Chaminade in 1990 and ’91. A three-time All-American linebacker at William Jewell, Johnson also studied at Oxford University in England.

Johnson is “the perfect guy” to replace Lawson, Chaminade Athletic Director Ed Croson said. Lawson and Johnson met while coaching in Finland in 1985.

“I never lost contact with him and I talked to him for about a month about coming here,” said Croson, who will remain a varsity assistant. “He fits right into our program.”

Johnson also will replace Lawson as a teacher and serve as physical education department chairman.

“Picking up the ball here is not going to be as difficult as it would be at other places,” Johnson said. “You’ll see few wrinkles. But I didn’t come all the way out here to do someone else’s stuff.”

Lawson, 41, compiled a 71-36-1 record in nine seasons while leading the Eagles to a pair of Mission League titles and a Southern Section final his first season. He resigned to start up Malibu’s program, which is scheduled to begin varsity play in 1998.