Brian Johnson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Brian "B.J." Johnson is a retired American soccer midfielder
who spent five seasons in Major League Soccer
with the Kansas City Wizards
. He is an assistant coach with the West Virginia Mountaineers
soccer team.
. He attended the Fresno State University, playing on the men's soccer team from 1992 to 1996. He spent the 1995 season training with the U.S. Olympic soccer team. In 1996, he returned to Fresno State where he was a 1996 Third Team All American. Johnson completed his degree and graduated from Excelsior College
in 2004. In 1993, he played for the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
. In February 1997, the Kansas City Wizards
selected Johnson in the first round (seventh overall) of the 1997 MLS College Draft
. The Wizards sent him on loan to the Nashville Metros
for the first half of the season. He returned to the Wizards in July and saw limited playing time through the end of the season. He had become a regular by 2000 when the Wizards won the 2000 MLS Cup. His playing time rapidly dwindled in 2001 and he went on loan to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
of the USL A-League. The Wizards released Johnson at the end of the season and he signed with the Riverhound where he finished his career in 2002.
hired Johnson as an assistant with its men's soccer team. In January 2005, he moved to Real Salt Lake
of Major League Soccer
as an assistant coach. In 2010, he left Real Salt Lake to become an assistant with the West Virginia Mountaineers
.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who spent five seasons in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
with the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. He is an assistant coach with the West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
soccer team.
Player
In 1992, Johnson graduated from Granada High School in Livermore, CaliforniaLivermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
. He attended the Fresno State University, playing on the men's soccer team from 1992 to 1996. He spent the 1995 season training with the U.S. Olympic soccer team. In 1996, he returned to Fresno State where he was a 1996 Third Team All American. Johnson completed his degree and graduated from Excelsior College
Excelsior College
Excelsior College is a private, non-profit institution of higher education in Albany, New York. It is a constituent member of The University of the State of New York, and has its own charter and Board of Trustees. Excelsior College offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level...
in 2004. In 1993, he played for the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Australia for second time from 5 to 20 March 1993. The 1993 championship was the 9th contested. The tournament took place in five venues: Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide....
. In February 1997, the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
selected Johnson in the first round (seventh overall) of the 1997 MLS College Draft
1997 MLS College Draft
The 1997 Major League Soccer College Draft.On February 1 and 2, 1997, Major League Soccer held its second annual college draft in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The draft was held in conjunction with the Umbro Select College All-Star Classic. The game was played on Saturday, February 1, 1997 at...
. The Wizards sent him on loan to the Nashville Metros
Nashville Metros
Nashville Metros is an American soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...
for the first half of the season. He returned to the Wizards in July and saw limited playing time through the end of the season. He had become a regular by 2000 when the Wizards won the 2000 MLS Cup. His playing time rapidly dwindled in 2001 and he went on loan to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL A-League. The Wizards released Johnson at the end of the season and he signed with the Riverhound where he finished his career in 2002.
Coach
In 2003, Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
hired Johnson as an assistant with its men's soccer team. In January 2005, he moved to Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
as an assistant coach. In 2010, he left Real Salt Lake to become an assistant with the West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
.