cyclone911
12-09-2006, 04:38 PM
Tom Johnson is replaced by Tom Johnson Jr. Pretty neat. Plus looks like Chatham has one heck of a coaching staff with the long time assistants Mark Houston and Gary Wilmarth and Tom Johnson Jr. and Matt Veach who i think is a ncaa placer (ALL AMERICAN):D. Things are looking up for Chatham.
Published Friday, December 08, 2006
CHATHAM - Same name, same attitude, same focus, same expectations
Not much has changed in the Chatham Glenwood High School wrestling program. Oh, the school has it's first new wrestling coach in 26 years, but he's not really new.
Glenwood alumnus Tom Johnson Jr. is taking over for his father, Tom Sr. The younger Johnson is anything but a newcomer - he literally has dealt with the program his whole life.
"I am so darn lucky to walk into it," Johnson Jr. said. "I think the pressure will take care of itself. I'm ready to go."
The 25-year old Johnson, who graduated from Glenwood in 1999 and from Illinois College with a major in education in 2003, understands the pressure he's under to continue the success. He was a two-time state qualifier who won more than 100 matches, then went on to I.C. and lettered three times.
That pressure is lessened somewhat with a support system that includes longtime assistants Mark Houston and Gary Wilmarth. Former Glenwood standout Matt Veach is a first-year member of the coaching staff.
"There is a lot of talent in there and Tommy can connect with those wrestlers just coming out of it and being close to their age," Glenwood athletic director Dan Rourke said. "We feel real good about having him running that program."
The Johnsons are the second such pair in Central State Eight Conference history - Greg Gardner succeeded his father Jack at Southeast in 1993 after Jack Gardner's 27-year reign. Greg Gardner resigned after the 2002 season.
Tom Johnson Sr. now is in the position of senior adviser. The son is secure with the knowledge that whatever situations might arise, he could do no better than have his father as his right-hand man.
"He still comes in at least 20 minutes a week, just to come in and talk shop," the younger Johnson said.
"He used to do a word a week and (one week) the word was cooperation. I am so darn lucky to have walked into this."
As might be expected, Tom Johnson Sr. takes pride in his son taking over the family business.
"There is nothing like being able to hand something like this off to your son," he said. "I'm still hanging around, but every time I come in, there are a bunch of people around. He's doing a great job."
Rourke said he was anticipating the elder Johnson's retirement, and the athletic director had a pretty good idea who he wanted to be his next coach.
"It was a no-brainer," Rourke said. "I had actually thought about it earlier that year and had talked to (Tom Jr.) in general a little bit. It hit me that if Tom Sr. stepped down, we would bring in Tom Jr. and not miss a beat."
With his father's teams having claimed 13 of the 14 Central State Eight Conference titles, some might see Johnson Jr. as being in an unenviable position - taking the reigns of one of the most successful downstate programs. Where some might think that, Johnson Jr. doesn't see it that way at all.
"I've seen what my dad has done and how it's affected so many people and I knew it was what I wanted to do," he said. "I tell everybody they're huge footprints to fill, but the wrestling success will take care of itself." Robert Burns can be reached at 788-1546 or robert.burns@sj-r.com.
Published Friday, December 08, 2006
CHATHAM - Same name, same attitude, same focus, same expectations
Not much has changed in the Chatham Glenwood High School wrestling program. Oh, the school has it's first new wrestling coach in 26 years, but he's not really new.
Glenwood alumnus Tom Johnson Jr. is taking over for his father, Tom Sr. The younger Johnson is anything but a newcomer - he literally has dealt with the program his whole life.
"I am so darn lucky to walk into it," Johnson Jr. said. "I think the pressure will take care of itself. I'm ready to go."
The 25-year old Johnson, who graduated from Glenwood in 1999 and from Illinois College with a major in education in 2003, understands the pressure he's under to continue the success. He was a two-time state qualifier who won more than 100 matches, then went on to I.C. and lettered three times.
That pressure is lessened somewhat with a support system that includes longtime assistants Mark Houston and Gary Wilmarth. Former Glenwood standout Matt Veach is a first-year member of the coaching staff.
"There is a lot of talent in there and Tommy can connect with those wrestlers just coming out of it and being close to their age," Glenwood athletic director Dan Rourke said. "We feel real good about having him running that program."
The Johnsons are the second such pair in Central State Eight Conference history - Greg Gardner succeeded his father Jack at Southeast in 1993 after Jack Gardner's 27-year reign. Greg Gardner resigned after the 2002 season.
Tom Johnson Sr. now is in the position of senior adviser. The son is secure with the knowledge that whatever situations might arise, he could do no better than have his father as his right-hand man.
"He still comes in at least 20 minutes a week, just to come in and talk shop," the younger Johnson said.
"He used to do a word a week and (one week) the word was cooperation. I am so darn lucky to have walked into this."
As might be expected, Tom Johnson Sr. takes pride in his son taking over the family business.
"There is nothing like being able to hand something like this off to your son," he said. "I'm still hanging around, but every time I come in, there are a bunch of people around. He's doing a great job."
Rourke said he was anticipating the elder Johnson's retirement, and the athletic director had a pretty good idea who he wanted to be his next coach.
"It was a no-brainer," Rourke said. "I had actually thought about it earlier that year and had talked to (Tom Jr.) in general a little bit. It hit me that if Tom Sr. stepped down, we would bring in Tom Jr. and not miss a beat."
With his father's teams having claimed 13 of the 14 Central State Eight Conference titles, some might see Johnson Jr. as being in an unenviable position - taking the reigns of one of the most successful downstate programs. Where some might think that, Johnson Jr. doesn't see it that way at all.
"I've seen what my dad has done and how it's affected so many people and I knew it was what I wanted to do," he said. "I tell everybody they're huge footprints to fill, but the wrestling success will take care of itself." Robert Burns can be reached at 788-1546 or robert.burns@sj-r.com.