April 6, 2018
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech has finalized a contract extension for football head coach Paul Johnson, director of athletics Todd Stansbury announced on Friday. Combined with the three years already remaining on Johnson’s current contract, Johnson is now signed to remain with the Yellow Jackets through the 2022 season.
“Aside from Bobby Dodd, no head coach in Georgia Tech football history has won more games in his first 10 seasons than Paul Johnson,” Stansbury said. “By extending Coach Johnson’s contract through 2022, we not only keep one of the most successful coaches in our illustrious history right here on The Flats, but we also ensure continued stability within our coaching staff. Stability is a vital piece in recruiting and student-athlete development, which are key components to any successful college program. I’m excited that Coach Johnson’s extension is officially complete and I’m looking forward to achieving even more success under his leadership in future years.”
Johnson was named the 12th head coach in Georgia Tech history on Dec. 7, 2007. Utilizing his patented spread option offense – one of the most innovative offensive schemes in all of college football – he has led the Yellow Jackets to eight bowl appearances, three bowl wins, three ACC Championship games and 75 victories in his first 10 seasons as head coach (2008-2017).
Only the legendary Bobby Dodd won more games in his first 10 seasons on The Flats (82) than Johnson’s 75. Johnson’s 75 victories rank fourth in Georgia Tech history overall, behind only Dodd (165 – 1945-66), William Alexander (134 – 1920-44) and John Heisman (102 – 1904-19) – all members of the College Football Hall of Fame. Johnson’s .581 winning percentage is also the fourth-highest in school history (min. two seasons), behind only Heisman (.764), Dodd (.713) and George O’Leary (.634).
Other achievements from Johnson’s tenure on The Flats include:
- Georgia Tech has finished first or second in the ACC Coastal Division six times in his 10 seasons as head coach – the only other ACC teams to finish first or second in their division as many times in the last 10 seasons are Clemson (8), Florida State (7) and Virginia Tech (7);
of the institutions that many consider to be Tech’s closestacademic peers at the Power 5 level – Duke, Notre Dame,Northwestern, Purdue, Stanford and Vanderbilt – only Stanford (9)has played in more bowl games over the last 10 seasons than theYellow Jackets (8); Johnson has led the Jackets to at least ninewins four times in 10 seasons – prior to his arrival, Georgia Techhad just seven nine-win seasons in the previous 51 years; theYellow Jackets have earned two Orange Bowl berths under Johnson(2009, 2014), the program’s first appearances in a major bowl sincethe 1966 season; Georgia Tech football’s current NCAA GraduationSuccess Rate (GSR) of 82 percent is an all-time high for theprogram. Prior to Johnson’s arrival on The Flats, the footballprogram’s GSR had dipped as low as 48 percent.
Overall, Johnson is 182-93 (.662) in 21 seasons as a head coach, including ultra-successful stints at Georgia Southern (1997-2001, 62-10 record) and Navy (2002-07, 45-29 record). His 182 career victories rank fourth among all active NCAA Division I FBS head coaches, behind only Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly, Alabama’s Nick Saban and Kansas State’s Bill Snyder.
“The first thing that most potential student-athletes want to know is `Who is my coach going to be?,’ so it’s good for our program and what we want to achieve to be able to tell recruits that the head coach is signed through 2022,” Johnson said. “I’m grateful to Todd Stansbury and [Georgia Tech President Dr. G.P.] Bud Peterson for their support of our program.”
Georgia Tech opened spring practice on Monday, March 26 and will hold its annual spring game on Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Admission and parking are FREE.
2018 Georgia Tech football season tickets are on sale now. In addition to being guaranteed the best seats for all six home games at Bobby Dodd Stadium this season (including ACC showdowns versus defending division champions Clemson and Miami), season-ticket holders will receive a long list of exclusive benefits. Season-ticket holder benefits include discounts on concessions, a limited-edition adidas shirt for each ticket purchased and a special Georgia Tech water bottle that can be brought into the stadium and refilled at new water-bottle filling stations. For more information and to purchase season tickets online, visit ramblinwreck.com/football18.
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