Andy Johnson, saying that “it’s simply time,” introduced Thursday that he’s stepping down as head soccer coach at Boone Excessive.
“It’s time for me. It’s time for someone else to take the job and run with it, like I received the prospect to do,” Johnson stated. “I needed to have the ability to exit alone phrases, so it’s the appropriate time for me. There may be actually no juicy particulars.”
Johnson, who has coached for 20 years within the Orlando space, together with seven years at Freedom Excessive, amassed a 118-95 document on the two colleges, together with going 81-57 at Boone. This previous season, Johnson was capable of coach the ultimate highschool 12 months of his son, senior quarterback Sam Johnson.
Johnson stated he isn’t planning to retire simply but, however he needs to take a 12 months off and focus on his household.
“It’s not goodbye, simply goodbye,” Johnson stated. “I wish to maintain my household and perhaps this time subsequent 12 months I’ll see what’s on the market.”
He guided Boone to one in every of it’s most profitable seasons ever in 2025, marching out to a 9-0 document earlier than dropping to rival Edgewater 28-7. The Braves’ season led to a 65-17 loss to DeLand within the Class 7A state playoffs second spherical.
“I simply needed to teach children, attempt to get them higher and train them how you can love the sport of soccer,” Johnson stated. “Educate them to play the sport the appropriate approach and create some lasting recollections with their buddies.”
Many coaches have not too long ago stepped down because of the present environment of highschool soccer, with gamers transferring from college to high school and NIL coming into the image. Johnson, nonetheless, stated that had no impact on his resolution.
“Nah, by no means. I used to be lucky that, at Boone, we prevented plenty of that anyway,” Johnson stated. “I’ve prided myself in having the ability to be adaptable to the occasions, whether or not it’s on the sector or off the sector. I didn’t take a look at it by that lens in any respect.”
Boone soccer coach Andy Johnson leans on assistants whereas tackling chemotherapy
Johnson has managed some robust occasions throughout his profession. He had a battle with most cancers in 2019, after being recognized with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After 12 chemotherapy therapies, Johnson gained the struggle and he lastly returned to regular well being.
Via all of it, nonetheless, the coach by no means missed a sport, and he was even on the sidelines twice on the identical day he had chemotherapy therapies.
“It’s simply life, proper? All people will get challenged with sure issues and mine occurred to be a most cancers scenario,” Johnson stated. “I feel individuals have handled greater than me and are available again robust. I don’t take a look at is as something extra than simply my problem and my battle I needed to struggle.
“I actually was capable of do it due to the Boone group help and the help my household received. I used to be simply blessed that if I needed to undergo it that I used to be at Boone to do it. That undoubtedly made it one thing I used to be capable of tackle.”
Johnson stated the battle with most cancers and subsequent remedy is one thing that helps him not take life without any consideration.
“Typically, you understand, you get caught up within the job and generally you neglect to cease and scent the roses alongside the way in which,” he stated. “So I’ve been a bit extra cognizant of it the final 5 or 6 years. I’ve been actually fortunate, man. … I’m nonetheless alive and wholesome and I used to be capable of watch my children develop up on this group and you may’t ask for a greater scenario.”
With the ability to trip out his closing season along with his son at quarterback, Johnson stated, was “icing on the highest.”
“You couldn’t ask for a greater child to teach,” Johnson stated. “It’s the spotlight of my profession. Teaching your child and seeing him develop and have a lot success, and extra importantly, watching him have a lot enjoyable and make so many lasting friendships.
“To be on the entrance row for that, there’s no sum of money or something that might substitute that.”
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So he rides off into the sundown, having had a number of profitable seasons as head coach at two Orlando colleges.
“I’ve received a spouse and a daughter who I’d wish to spend some extra time with and a son going off to school, and I’d like a while to have the ability to go see him if he’s off taking part in someplace,” Johnson stated. “It was good timing for me and the varsity. I feel this system is in a great spot.
“I’ve been actually blessed and actually lucky. It was an important 20 years. We had one unhealthy 12 months at Freedom, however the 19 subsequent years we had been fairly robust and fairly salty. I’m simply happy with all people who was part of it. I’m not retiring, I don’t suppose. Simply shifting on.”
Chris Hays may be discovered on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
