Navy Hires Johnson as Coach

Paul Johnson, who has led Georgia Southern to two consecutive Division I-AA championships and has the Eagles in the running for a third, was hired Sunday as Navy’s football coach.

Johnson, a former Navy assistant, will try to turn around a team that finished 0-10 this season.

He replaces Charlie Weatherbie, who was fired after the Midshipmen lost their first seven games. Rick Lantz was 0-3 as interim coach, completing the worst season in the academy’s 121-year history.

“I think it’s a great opportunity,” Johnson said. “I see no reason why you can’t win at the Naval Academy.”

Johnson was Navy’s offensive coordinator in 1995 and 1996. His spread offense helped the Midshipmen set five school records in 1995, and the following year Navy capped a 9-3 season by defeating California in the Aloha Bowl.

It was Navy’s first winning season since 1982 and one of only two winning seasons the Midshipmen had in the last 19 years.

Johnson is 62-9 at Georgia Southern. He was the I-AA coach of the year from 1997-00. He will finish the season with the Eagles (12-1), who will play Furman in a I-AA semifinal at home Saturday.