Brookville High School's Bobby Johnson doesn't look the part of the grizzled, high school football coaching veteran.

But surprisingly at age 34, the youthful looking, fair-haired coach is just that - a veteran. Johnson has already spent 14 seasons walking the sidelines.

In just his second season as a head coach, Johnson leads the Bees (9-3) into the Group AA, Division 3 semifinals Saturday against Gate City. 

Unlike many coaches, Johnson's playing career didn't extend beyond high school. After playing at Nelson County High, he enrolled at the University of Virginia.
But while at Nelson, the wide receiver, defensive back and backup quarterback gave every indication one day he would be a leader.

"I still remember him vividly as a player," said Billy League, who coached Johnson from 1980-82. "He had that strength of heart, attitude and determination.

"I've worked with a lot of players over the years. Only a few stand out and he's one of them."

Johnson says he was always inquisitive about the game. "I know when I was playing I liked to know what everybody's job was instead of just what I was doing," he said.

"He was a great leader as a player," League said. "He would get the kids together and got them to do things that we as coaches couldn't do."

After his freshman year at UVa, Johnson arranged his schedule so that he could return to Nelson and coach ball alongside League. Johnson also coached track at Western Albemarle.

Although he wasn't much older than they were, Johnson was now coaching high school players. League said the small difference in age was never a problem.

"Bobby had everything that a good football coach needed - he got along with kids and he could make them work hard. He could do that at an early age."

Johnson continued to coach through his college graduation.

After graduation, he worked at a golf course and coached football in the fall before moving to Richmond to take a job in the attorney general's office, but it wasn't long before League came calling.

"I got a call from Billy one day. He said 'Bob were going to have a P.E. opening here and we'd love for you to come back and coach football and track for us.' It didn't take much persuasion."

Johnson jumped at the chance to continue working with his mentor.

"I learned an awful lot of football from Billy at Nelson. He's the real reason that I wanted to coach. I enjoyed having played for him and I saw how he was able to influence people that maybe would not have been influenced in a positive way in the classroom. He was able to touch them with athletics."

Johnson coached offensive and defensive backs for two more seasons at Nelson before having an opportunity to move to E.C. Glass.

"I didn't want him to go, but I knew he had to go on," League said.

At Glass, Johnson worked solely on offense for five seasons under head coach Bo Henson. 

"Bo was great in that he gave me a lot of responsibility and he did it early on," Johnson said. "We had a lot of talent and a great coaching staff."

Johnson moved on to Brookville when he had the chance to land a spot in administration and be an assistant under Mark Lineburg. Johnson now serves at the school as an assistant principal.

"Coaching is kind of a hobby. Administration is my life. That's what I'm doing for my family," said Johnson, who has a 2½-year-old son Jesse with his wife Sharon. "I was just loving it. I was an assistant principal and an assistant football coach. I had it made."

But that world almost came crashing down two years ago, when Lineburg moved on.

"When he told me that day he was going to resign I got really worried," Johnson said. "I went home and told my wife, 'Sharon my coaching days could be over.' They could hire someone that didn't want me to coach or maybe they'd hire someone I didn't feel comfortable coaching with."

Johnson was encouraged by some of the other Brookville assistants to apply for the head coaching job. "I went out on a limb and threw my name in the hat and it worked out."

As his first order of business, Johnson decided to surround himself with the best coaching talent available. "I don't care how good a football coach you are today. You're are only going to be as successful as the people you surround yourself with." Johnson said.

He says he has "complete faith" in his staff of Bruce Abbott, Keith Allamong, Dickie Burge, Jeff Burnett, Bryan Carter, Glenn Jenkins, Marshall Schmitt, Rob Senseney, Ken Sowers and George Clark.

"I think we have the best coaches here - certainly in this area if not in the state," Johnson said. "If the bus gets here on time, I've done my job."

Johnson jokes about the bus, but he said he certainly has found that being the head coach has its drawbacks. "If you want to know the honest truth, I had a lot better time coaching football as an assistant coach than I have as a head coach. I've told that to a lot of people."

He said his staff has made the adjustment easier. "We all work so well together. I don't really feel like a head coach among them. They all have so much experience and bring so much into the program.

"The only thing that I have to do that they don't have to do is handle all of the complaints."

Johnson admits there were a few more complaints after his first season, when the Bees missed the playoffs with a 6-4 record.

This season has gone a little smoother. "I've enjoyed this year a whole lot. Last year was a tough year. It was a learning experience for me."

Johnson also spreads the credit to his players. "I have a good group of kids that are working really hard and they believe in what we're telling them."

During a game, Johnson will be found wearing a headset and still calling the offensive plays.
"I think if I had to give that up I'd lose it. I don't want to be one of those coaches that just stands around on the sidelines and looks around. I want to be involved."

Maybe not as stoic as former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, Johnson isn't very animated on the sidelines. Unlike many in his profession, his voice can't be heard screaming all over the stadium.

"I think you've got to be yourself," he said. "I think these young men we're coaching are smart and they can read right through that.

"If I got out there and started yelling at officials, players and other coaches, I'm not thinking about what I want to do on our next series on offense. I'm not saying I never raise my voice, but when I do, I think the kids and everybody knows that I'm serious about something."

League for one is not surprised that his former player is a success.

"He's just a special guy. Coaching needs more guys like Bobby."