Program 1,149

 

Coach Jim Johnson is an award-winning basketball coach with an outstanding 428–221 career record, 11 divisional titles, and multiple Coach of the Year honors, including Monroe County and Class A Section V Coach of the Year. Over more than two decades at Greece Athena High School, he built one of New York State’s most consistent and successful programs, leading his teams to numerous sectional championships, a No. 1 state ranking in 2016, and a 66–5 record over one three-year stretch that included a Class A State Championship Game appearance. He also received a National Sportsmanship Award and gained national recognition through the inspirational Jason McElwain – better known as J-Mac – story, later featured on CBS Sports during the Final Four. Click here to watch J-Mac – and Coach Jim’s – inspirational story. He also wrote an inspirational book on the story, A Coach and a Miracle: Life Lessons from a Man Who Believed in an Autistic Boy and he received an ESPY award for Best Sports Moment. After retiring from teaching physical education following 33 years and completing his 20th and final season as head coach, Coach Johnson transitioned into full-time speaking, delivering powerful presentations on leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and the belief that dreams really do come true.