NATCHITOCHES – A feeling of thankfulness and pride from former athletes, friends, and family filled the room Wednesday afternoon in a retirement ceremony for Northwestern State head track and field coach Leon Johnson who spent 31 years in the position.
 
"I remember the first time I met Coach Johnson.  I was having problems getting registered at Freshman Connection, and out of nowhere popped in Coach Johnson and he told me he'd take care of me," said 2011 national champion discus thrower Trecey Rew-Hoover. "I personally have to thank for even bringing a women's program to NSU because without him I wouldn't have been able to compete and do the things I did here."
 
Johnson started the NSU women's track program in 1986.  
 
"I think what is special about Coach is that he cares about everybody he comes in contact with.  He cares about developing that student athlete or that coach as a person," said Associate Director of Alumni Affairs Haley Blount.
 
Blount competed for Johnson and claimed first and second place in the NSU records book for the pole vault before becoming his assistant coach.
 
"He cares about you and what your goals are, and he'll do everything he can to help you meet that goal," she said emotionally.
 
Chris Maggio, Johnson's first recruit as the Demons' head coach, spoke on his experiences with Johnson.
 
"He came to me on his first day at NSU, and I'll never forget that day because it changed my life.  Little did I know that 31 years later we'd be standing here," said Maggio.  "First and foremost, Coach loves his family."
 
Much like Blount, Maggio competed for Coach Johnson and then stayed on to be his assistant coach for six years.  Dr. Maggio is now the Director of Alumni Affairs at Northwestern State.
 
"There were a lot of trips with a lot of late nights.  We had a lot of time to talk and you just learn so much.  I learned the X's and O's, as they say, in track and field, but I also learned all the intangibles," he said.  "He never complained about too much work, or not being able to do something."
 
"There's a quote that I think can attribute Coach, and it's one a coach used to describe Paul "Bear" Bryant, and that's 'He can take his players and beat your players, or he can take your players and beat his players,'" said Maggio.  "That's what Coach was.  He could outdo anybody."
 
Leon Johnson coached 57 NCAA Division I All-Americans and 93 NCAA Outdoor Championship qualifiers.  He was and eight-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year and won nine conference team championships.
 
Plans are underway for a Nov. 9 track and field reunion featuring a brunch to honor Johnson before a home football game at NSU that day.