‘It’s a huge loss’: Fayetteville football, basketball coach Jason Johnson dies at 41
Jason Johnson, a college basketball and high school football coach in Fayetteville, died Wednesday morning.
He was 41.
Johnson was known for his passion across multiple sports. He served as an assistant football coach at Douglas Byrd High School and an assistant for the men’s basketball team at Fayetteville Technical Community College.
Lumberton High School held a moment of silence Wednesday at its high school football scrimmages, prior to Douglas Byrd's contest against Fairmont. Coach Lonnie Cox and the Golden Tornadoes then presented a signed football and card to the Eagles.
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Johnson was entering his second season as Douglas Byrd’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
With heavy hearts @CoachJohnson910 passed. We hear at Byrd loss a great husband, son, father, coach, teacher, and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. pic.twitter.com/U2xb9uzI02
— Douglas Byrd Football (@DByrd_Football) August 11, 2022
“Coach Johnson is probably one of the closest friends that I’ve had in this coaching fraternity,” Douglas Byrd head coach Maurice Huey said Thursday.
“We’ve known each other just about all of our lives.”
Huey, a Hoke County graduate, played football against Johnson – a Seventy-First alum – in high school and the duo later graduated from Fayetteville State.
They coached against one another before joining forces ahead of Huey’s first season at Byrd. Johnson also had coaching stops at Johnston Community College, Methodist University and Hoke County.
“Once I got the job at Byrd, I wanted him to be a part of our staff. … Coach Johnson really impacted the kids in the Byrd community and our coaches,” Huey said.
“He always had some kind words, always motivated us and always found the good in a bad situation.”
With heavy hearts @CoachJohnson910 passed. We hear at Byrd loss a great husband, son, father, coach, teacher, and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. pic.twitter.com/U2xb9uzI02
— Douglas Byrd Football (@DByrd_Football) August 11, 2022
Social media featured a flood of responses mourning the loss of Johnson. People throughout the Fayetteville community and beyond praised Johnson for his commitment to kids and his passion for coaching multiple sports.
“They’re really dedicating the season to Coach Johnson,” Huey said of his football players.
“It’s a huge loss, not only for the Douglas Byrd community but the coaching community as a whole. It’s real tough.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Jason Johnson, Douglas Byrd assistant football coach, dies
