Vannette Johnson (2007) - Hall of Fame - Southwestern Athletic Conference

Hall of Fame

Early life & education

Johnson was born May 27, 1930, in Little Rock, Arkansas and died May 12, 2022, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
He attended Dunbar High School in Little Rock, where he participated in football, track & field, and basketball.
He played college football as a quarterback for Arkansas AM&N (the institution that later became UAPB).
He graduated in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in history & government.
Johnson went on to earn a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Arkansas in 1961.
He later received an Ed.D. (Doctorate) in Secondary Education.

Coaching & administrative career

Johnson began his coaching career circa 1952 as an assistant football coach at Merrill High School in Pine Bluff.
He joined the faculty/coaching staff at Arkansas AM&N in 1957 as a backfield coach for football and head track coach.
In 1962 he was appointed head football coach and athletic director at the institution, remaining in those roles through roughly 1972.
During his tenure as head football coach at AM&N / UAPB, his record was 53-46-6 according to one source or sometimes cited as 54-46-6.
Under his leadership, the program produced 32 players who signed professional football contracts.
In 1969 a record number of seven players from AM&N were drafted into the pros under his tenure.