Anthony Johnson starts his fourth season on College Hill as the program's running backs coach.
In 2024, the running game picked up right where it left off. Jamar Curtis collected 1,139 yards on the ground with 16 rushing touchdowns, both of which paced the Patriot League. Curtis was an All-Patriot League First-Team selection and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award for the second consecutive season. Troy Bruce added 390 yards and five touchdowns on 78 carries.
What the running back corps, namely Curtis, did in 2023 was integral to the Leopards claiming their first Patriot League title in a decade. Curtis put up historic numbers, setting a Lafayette single-season rushing record with 1,460 yards and finishing second in the nation in rushing (132.7 ypg) while punching in 15 touchdowns. The All-Patriot League First-Team selection was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is given annually to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. Curtis pulled in All-America Second-Team honors from the Associated Press, AFCA and Stats Perform.
Before coming to Lafayette, Johnson completed three seasons as the running backs and tight ends coach at Shippensburg University where he also spent time as the running game and recruiting coordinator. Johnson mentored a group of running backs that included All-PSAC Second-Team performer Luke Durkin, who finished the season ranked sixth in the PSAC in rushing yards (918) and rushing touchdowns (10) despite not having a carry in the first three weeks of the season. It was the most single-season rushing yards by an SU player in five seasons. Among the tight ends, Johnson coached D2CCA All-American David Balint III, who set single-season school records for receptions (64) and receiving yards (755) by a tight end. Balint III became the first SU tight end in more than 40 years to finish a season as the team’s leader in receptions.
Prior to arriving at Shippensburg, Johnson worked as the offensive coordinator and the director of football operations at his alma mater, Salisbury University, where he was on staff on three occasions. In 2018, he was a finalist for Footballscoop.com’s Division III Coordinator of the Year award, helping direct Salisbury to the top rushing offense in NCAA Division III, averaging 348.5 rushing yards per game.
Â
Johnson, who coached the running backs and kick returners at Central Connecticut State in 2016, also spent five years at Cheyney University. He was the offensive coordinator there for four seasons and then took over head coaching duties in 2014.
Â
A native of Prince George’s County, Md., Johnson graduated from Salisbury in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies specializing in physical education before earning his master’s degree in post-secondary education in 2010. Johnson was an All-Atlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC) performer and Offensive Player of the Year in 2006. He won two ACFC titles and made a pair of NCAA Football Playoff appearances.
In the summer of 2024, Johnson participated in the
NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Washington Commanders.
Updated 2/25
