THE JOHNSON FILE

PERSONAL

Year in Coaching: 25th in 2026
Year at K-State: First in 2026
Hometown: Scandia, Kansas
Education: Kansas, 2000 (Bachelor's in Sports Science); Loras College, 2005 (Master's in Athletic Administration)
Wife: Nicki
Children: Lane, Drew

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2002: Wyoming (Graduate Assistant/Video Coordinator)
2003-04: Loras College (Defensive Backs)
2005: Loras College (Wide Receivers)
2006: Loras College (Defensive Backs)
2007-08: Northern Iowa (Video Coordinator/Assistant Defensive Backs)
2009-12: Northern Iowa (Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator)
2013-16: Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2017-21: Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2022: Kent State (Defensive Coordinator)
2023: Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator)
2024: Louisiana Tech (Defensive Coordinator)
2025: Coastal Carolina (Defensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach)
2026: K-State (Defensive Backs)

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE

2007: FCS Playoffs Second Round (Northern Iowa)
2008: FCS Semifinals (Northern Iowa)
2010: FCS Playoffs (Northern Iowa)
2011: FCS Playoffs Second Round (Northern Iowa)
2014: FCS Playoffs Second Round (Northern Iowa)
2015: FCS Quarterfinals (Northern Iowa)
2017: FCS Playoffs Second Round (Northern Iowa)
2018: FCS Playoffs Second Round (Northern Iowa)
2019: FCS Quarterfinals (Northern Iowa)
2021: FCS Playoffs (Northern Iowa)
2024: Independence Bowl (Louisiana Tech)
2025: Independence Bowl (Coastal Carolina)

Jeremiah Johnson, a 24-year defensive coaching veteran who has 13 years of coordinator experience, is in his first season as a defensive backs coach at Kansas State in 2026.

Johnson comes to Manhattan after serving one season as the defensive coordinator at Coastal Carolina in addition to being the Chanticleers’ interim head coach for the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech, which will be played next Tuesday. He has also been a defensive coordinator at Northern Iowa (2014-2021, 2023), Kent State (2022) and Louisiana Tech (2024).

This past season, Johnson helped Coastal advance to its sixth-straight bowl game as it will take on Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl on December 30. The Chanticleers rank 16th nationally and second in the Sun Belt in fourth down defense (40.0%) and 31st in fumble recoveries (8). He has helped Xamarion Gordon to a No. 2 national ranking in fumble recoveries (3) and a No. 5 ranking in the conference in interceptions (3). Myles Woods also had three interceptions on the year, while Johnson has coached Ezekiel Durham-Campbell to a No. 7 ranking in the conference in sacks (0.46 per game).

The Johnson-led Louisiana Tech defense in 2024 ranked 12th nationally in total defense, surrendering only 308.4 yards per game. It was a 98-spot improvement over where the Bulldogs finished in 2023, while his unit also produced a 91-place improvement in scoring defense (21.0 points per game) as they finished at No. 26. Additionally, Johnson led La Tech to an 88-place bump in rushing defense (135.5 yards per game) to rank 44th.

Outside of a one-year hiatus in which he served the 2022 season as Kent State’s defensive coordinator – where he tutored Nico Bolden to a No. 9 nationally ranking in solo tackles (5.7 per game – Johnson coached for 16 seasons at Northern Iowa, spending the 2007 through 2021 seasons – in addition to the 2023 campaign – in Cedar Falls. While at UNI, Johnson coached Panther defenders to a combined 32 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) First Team honors, five MVFC Defensive Players of the Year, one Buck Buchanan Award winner, 15 Associated Press FCS All-America honors and seven American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American accolades.

In 11 seasons as the UNI defensive coordinator, Johnson’s defenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in statistical categories 29 times, which included turnovers gained on six occasions (highest ranking of No. 2 in 2019 with 34), defensive touchdowns four times (highest ranking of No. 5 in 2016 and 2019 with 4) and scoring defense three times (best ranking of No. 6 at 15.3 points per game in the Spring of 2021). During his first run as defensive coordinator from 2014 through 2021, UNI ranked sixth in the FCS by allowing 19.9 points per game over a 99-game span. He was also named a finalist for the 2019 FootballScoop FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year award.

The Panthers won four conference championships during Johnson’s time at UNI. Additionally, they made 10 FCS Playoff appearances and advanced past the first round in eight of 10 seasons, which included a semifinal showing in 2008 and quarterfinal appearances in 2015 and 2019.

In 2023, Johnson’s defense specialized in stopping the run as Northern Iowa ranked seventh in the nation in rushing defense (96.6 yards per game), while the Panthers ranked 23rd in first downs allowed (194).

Johnson oversaw a 2021 unit that ranked fifth nationally in rushing defense (87.1 yards allowed per game) and fourth down defense (28.6%), while UNI finished No. 6 in turnovers gain (26), No. 9 in third down defense (30.5%), No. 13 in total (305.3 yards allowed per game) and scoring (18.0 points allowed per game) defense, No. 14 in sacks (2.92 per game), and No. 18 in both interceptions (14) and first downs allowed (190).

That came on the heels of a strong campaign in the spring of 2021 as, despite the shortened COVID season, UNI had the No. 8 red zone defense (66.7%) and No. 17 total defense (284.9 yards allowed per game).

The 2019 season saw the Panthers boast one of the most impressive defenses in the FCS as Johnson led the UNI to top-10 marks in turnovers gained (No. 2 with 34), interceptions (No. 3 with 19), fumbles recovered (No. 4 with 15), defensive touchdowns (No. 5 with 4), scoring defense (No. 7 at 17.7 points allowed per game), and total defense (No. 9 at 297.7 yards allowed per game), helping propel the Panthers to the FCS quarterfinals with postseason wins over San Diego and South Dakota.

Johnson’s defense ranked in the top 20 of five statistical categories in 2018, highlighted by top-10 rankings in passes intercepted (No. 6 with 18), defensive touchdowns (No. 7 with 4) and turnovers gained (No. 10 with 27). That season, the Panthers produced the 17th-ranked scoring defense (21.3 points allowed per game) and the nation’s 20th-ranked red zone defense (74.4%).

UNI’s defense under Johnson in 2017 finished among the nation’s best in passes intercepted (No. 4 with 21) and turnovers gained (No. 5 with 31). He directed a 2016 defensive unit that ranked ninth in the country in total defense (310.2 yards allowed per game), while it ranked 12th in the nation in interceptions (17). The Panthers also excelled at getting to the quarterback that season, finishing the year at No. 18 in sacks (2.64 per game).

Johnson tutored five defenders to All-MVFC selections in 2016. The list was highlighted by MVFC Defensive Player of the Year Karter Schult, who won the Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in the FCS.

During the 2015 season, Johnson’s defense ranked third nationally in turnovers gained (31), ninth in red zone defense (66.7%), 13th in interceptions (17), 16th in scoring defense (19.6 points allowed per game) and 18th in rushing defense (124.2 yards allowed per game).

Forcing turnovers was the Panthers’ specialty in 2014 as their 31 turnovers gained ranked fourth in the country, while they ranked 12th nationally in both interceptions (17) and fumble recoveries (14). Northern Iowa also ranked 14th in total defense (314.7 yards allowed per game) and 15th in scoring defense (19.9 points allowed per game). Those numbers were due to the ability to force a negative play as Johnson’s defense finished third nationally in sacks (3.64 per game) and 10th in tackles for loss (8.5 per game).

The Panther defense was impressive during Johnson’s debut season as defensive coordinator in 2013. Led by a young defensive core, the Panthers boasted the nation’s eighth-ranked scoring defense (18.8 points allowed per game) in addition to top-30 national rankings in total defense (No. 19 by allowing 334.5 yards per game), sacks (No. 19 with 2.58 per game), passing efficiency defense (No. 24 at 114.84), rushing defense (No. 29 by allowing 131.6 yards per game) and fumbles recovered (No. 28 with 11).

Before being promoted to coordinator, Johnson coached the defensive backs and served as the recruiting coordinator from 2009 through 2012. In 2007 and 2008, he was the video coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach.

Johnson went to UNI after working the 2003 through 2006 seasons at Loras College, serving on the same staff as former K-State head coach Chris Klieman. Johnson worked with the Duhawk defensive backs in 2003, 2004 and 2006, while he coached the wide receivers in 2005. Prior to his time at Loras, he was a graduate assistant and video coordinator at Wyoming in 2002.

A native of Scandia, Kansas, Johnson obtained his undergraduate degree in sports science from Kansas in 2000, while he earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Loras in 2005.

Johnson and his five, Nicki, have a son, Lane, and a daughter, Drew.