Prior to UNI, Johnson had served the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Texas-Pan American. He was heavily involved in recruiting, worked with the Broncs perimeter players and coordinated UTPA's summer camps. Prior to that, has served as a graduate assistant at the University of Dayton for one season.

Johnson was a four-year starting guard in college at a pair of Big Ten schools. He played his first two years at Northwestern University, and his junior and senior seasons at the University of Minnesota. He scored 1,202 points during his college career and helped lead Minnesota to the National Invitation Tournament Final Four in 2003. He was also named team captain three of his years in school.

He had a standout prep career, helping lead DeLaSalle (Minn.) High School to two state championships. He was a two-time first-team all-state selection in both football and basketball, and his senior year was named a Street & Smith All-American, as well as Nike All-American honorable mention. He was listed as the 60th-best basketball player in the country by Bob Gibbons his senior season. Johnson also was listed on Tom Lemming's High School Football All-American list as a top-20 recruit in the nation.

A native of Minneapolis, Minn., the 30-year old Johnson received his bachelor's degree in sociology from Minnesota in 2005.