Men's Basketball Adds Josh Johnson

Josh Johnson is entering his first season as the Men's Assistant Basketball Coach at Fort Hays Tech | Northwest. Before arriving at Northwest, coach Johnson was a part of the Minot State men's basketball staff.

In 2023-24, the Minot State men's basketball team made history, earning the program's first NCAA Top 25 ranking, climbing as high as No. 16 in the nation, and remaining in the Top 25 polls for six consecutive weeks. The Beavers claimed the program's first upset of a No. 1-ranked opponent, beating No. 1-ranked Minnesota State, Mankato, 81-71 on January 19th. The victory was also a personal career milestone for Coach Murken, his 200th career victory. 

Along with milestone moments, the Beavers compiled a 20-9 overall record, finishing 4th in the NSIC and advancing to the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals. The Beavers also set team season records for defense, holding opponents to an all-time low of 68.3 points per game, recorded an all-time best scoring margin difference as the Beavers averaged 77.3 points per game and allowed 68.3 (9.0 margin), and held opponents to an all-time low field-goal percent of 42.2 percent (716-1,698). Minot State's Khari Broadway and Conner Hollenbeck both earned All-NSIC honors. At the same time, 5 players were named to the CSC Academic All-District Team, 5 players were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team, and Ben Bohl, Jake Lieppert, Jaxon Gunville, and Quincy Minor Jr. were named to the NABC Honors Court, and the Beavers earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award.

Coach Johnson was also a former Minot State player who also played professionally with the Jacksonville Giants of the ABA in 2016, with the Kentucky Mavericks of the PBL in 2016-17, and TBL in 2017-18. Coach Johnson has also played in semi-pro basketball tournaments in China, Germany, and Lithuania with Worldvision Sports.
A product of Lufkin, Texas, Coach Johnson started his collegiate career at Cedar Valley College (Texas). Johnson played two seasons at Minot State (2011-13), averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game with 37 blocked shots and 53 steals.

Stepping off the court and into a coaching role, Johnson has experience with AAU basketball in Phoenix, Arizona, with Zone6 on the Adidas Circuit, as well as experience coaching at the middle school and high school levels. Johnson was Director of Basketball Operations for JustHoop Basketball based in Phoenix for three years while running his basketball training business, JoshCJohnsontraining.

Johnson was also the head girls' basketball coach at North Valley Christian Academy (Arizona) in 2019-20 and assistant coach for the boy's team, which was 20-1 for the season and NVCA 2020-2021 AIA State Champion.