Kelly Johnson enters his sixth year as the director of athletics and head basketball coach at Peace College. During the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons the Pacers tied for third place during the regular season in the USA South Athletic Conference as well as advancing to the conference tournament semifinals both seasons. In 2006-2007 the team finished sixth during the regular season and was eliminated in the USA South tournament quarterfinals. The 2008-2009 squad, complete with six upperclassmen, captured seventh place in regular season standings forcing a rematch with the number two Captains of Christopher Newport in the opening round of tournament play.

Johnson spent 20 years teaching and coaching at Arendell Parrott Academy in Kinston, North Carolina. He served as the varsity boys’ head basketball coach for eight seasons as well as director of athletics for 18 years. Coach Johnson took his 2001 basketball team to the NCISAA state championship game; they were also state semifinalist in 1997 and 2002. His 2000, 2001 and 2002 teams were both regular season and tournament champions in the East Plains Independent Conference.

Coach Johnson and wife Debbie founded and ran the East Carolina Storm AAU girls’ basketball program from 1993 to 2004. His 14 and under team won the North Carolina State Championship in 1995 advancing to the AAU nationals that same year. The same team also advanced to the AAU nationals in 1997 and 1998. In 2002 his 13 and under team won the AAU National Invitational Tournament bronze division in Orlando, Florida. Johnson coached 20 girls who went on to play college basketball including Teana McKiver, a Tulane University graduate who is now a member of the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA.

A 1977 graduate of East Carolina University, Johnson earned a Master of Arts in Education from East Carolina in 1989. He played two years of intercollegiate basketball at Lenoir Community College from 1973-1975. Johnson and his wife have three children: Patrick, a graduate of East Carolina University ('00), Tate, a UNC-Wilmington graduate ('03), and Brooke, a Peace College alumna ('04).