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Johnson steps down as Barnesville head boys hoops coach

BARNESVILLE — Matt Johnson knew he was working with a small window of time when he accepted the boys basketball job at his alma mater in the spring of 2017.

The window closed earlier this week when Johnson — after three seasons at the helm — formally stepped down from the post.

“I knew after the three-year window, I would need to make a decision,” Johnson said. “My oldest son (Payne) is going off to college where he’s either going to golf or swim and my youngest son (Hank) is coming into high school and he swims, which is the same season as basketball, so it was going to be tough.”

Johnson was faced with a similar quandary a handful of years ago when he was the Shamrocks head football coach and Payne came into the high school.

The Shamrock basketball post was one that Johnson had dearly coveted. Actually, it was the fourth time was the charm for him to land the position.

“I tried three times to get it and never did, so I was ecstatic when I got it, but I knew I was going to have make that decision,” Johnson said. “It’s tough and not easy for me to do because it is the (coaching) job I always wanted.”

In the end, his main job of being a father won out.

“I want the freedom to go watch Payne play golf and to watch Hank do his thing, and I didn’t want to be the head coach and have to leave someone else in charge while I do those things,” Johnson explained. ”

Johnson, 48, has spent 26 years of his life as a head coach. On top of being the head basketball and football coach at Barnesville, he also served a tenure as softball coach at BHS, was the head basketball coach at Bridgeport and also had a tour of duty as head baseball coach at Cambridge.

With it being such a piece of who is he, Johnson hasn’t ruled out coaching again. But, don’t look for him to be a head coach again.

“I am done being a head coach, I believe,” Johnson said. “I might pursue some other (assistant coaching) opportunities. If I do coach again, it’ll be in a lesser role to where I can still have a little bit of freedom.”

The last three seasons with the Shamrocks have been quite successful for Johnson. He’s guided the squad to a 34-37 record, but the last two seasons have resulted in a 28-20 mark.

Included was the school’s first and only OVAC title in boys basketball during the 2019 season when the Shamrocks claimed the crown as the fourth seed with wins over Fort Frye and Shenandoah.

“Obviously, that OVAC title is the first thing that pops into my mind,” Johnson said. “That will always be a season to remember. I think we have the program well established after three years.”

That OVAC title put Johnson in some extremely rare company of coaches who own an OVAC title in basketball, football and baseball as a head coach.

Despite a 13-11 record this season, Johnson called this past season “probably the toughest year of coaching” he’s ever had.

“A lot of it was because of things that went on outside of basketball,” Johnson said. “I was battling a lot of things personally. It was tough. I actually give a lot of credit to my wife, Mindy, for keeping me grounded and going. It wasn’t the basketball or the team. Actually, along with my wife, the team helped me get through some of those things. I am blessed and appreciative of that and their efforts.”

As for the future of the program, Johnson isn’t sure where the Shamrocks’ administration may turn. Personally, he’s hoping someone who’s been around the program will apply to keep the continuity going.

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