Curtis Johnson enters his first season on the Bluff as Southern University’s assistant head coach and wide receivers coach, bringing more than four decades of coaching experience at the high school, collegiate and professional levels, along with a championship pedigree and deep roots in the New Orleans community.
A New Orleans native and graduate of St. Charles Catholic High School, Johnson’s connection to Southern head coach Marshall Faulk dates back to their time at San Diego State, where Johnson recruited Faulk to play for the Aztecs. That relationship now comes full circle as the two join forces to lead the Jaguars.
Johnson brings extensive championship experience to the Bluff. He was part of the University of Miami staff that captured the 2001 BCS National Championship and spent six seasons as the wide receivers coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2006-11, helping the franchise capture its first Super Bowl championship during the 2009 season. He later returned to the Saints from 2017-21, serving as a senior offensive assistant and wide receivers coach.
Johnson most recently served as head coach of the UFL’s Houston Roughnecks and previously coached the Houston Gamblers of the USFL. He also spent the 2016 season as wide receivers coach with the Chicago Bears.
Prior to his NFL career, Johnson established himself as one of the nation’s premier wide receiver coaches at the collegiate level. In addition to his time at Miami and San Diego State, he coached at the University of Idaho, SMU and California. During his five seasons at San Diego State, Johnson helped develop some of the program’s top receivers while recruiting future NFL standout and New Orleans native Marshall Faulk.
Johnson served as the head coach at Tulane from 2012-15, leading the Green Wave to a 7-6 record and a berth in the 2013 New Orleans Bowl. During his tenure, 11 players were either drafted or signed with NFL teams, while three earned invitations to the NFL Scouting Combine. His emphasis on recruiting Louisiana talent also helped Tulane sign more than 60 players from the state, including more than 40 from the New Orleans area.
Throughout his career, Johnson has coached and developed an impressive list of NFL talent, including Pro Bowl receivers Andre Johnson, Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne and Marques Colston. His experience developing elite receivers, combined with his high-energy approach and knowledge of the game, has made him a respected coach at every level.
Johnson played collegiately at the University of Idaho, where he was a four-year starter and an All-Big Sky Conference selection. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Idaho in 1985.
Now back home in Louisiana and reunited with Faulk, Johnson brings a wealth of experience, championship knowledge and a proven track record of developing wide receivers to Southern University as the Jaguars continue to build toward championship success on the Bluff.
Johnson and his wife, Angel, have six children, Janene, Kiejon, Curtis III, Angele, Aaron, and Justin (21). Johnson serves as an ordained deacon at his church, First African Baptist Church in New Orleans.
