Johnson promoted to Director of Basketball Operations

Posted on June 15, 2016

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL – After serving as video coordinator for the Illinois State men’s basketball program during the 2015-16 season, Spencer Johnson has been promoted to director of basketball operations, head coach Dan Muller announced Wednesday.

“Spencer did a great job for us last year as our video coordinator and deserves this promotion,” Muller said. “He has a bright future in coaching, and we are lucky to have him here with us at ISU.”

Before joining Illinois State’s staff in August of 2015, Johnson served as a graduate assistant with the University of Missouri-Kansas City men’s basketball team for two years, from 2013-15, where he was responsible for video coordinating and editing. Johnson also gained coaching and program operations experience at UMKC prior to joining the Redbirds.

“I am very grateful and appreciative to have been given this opportunity,” Johnson said. “I understand that with this position comes a large deal of responsibility, and I am looking to continue this growing process for the betterment of the team. I just want to thank Coach Muller for this and all that he has done for me.”

A 2012 graduate of UMKC, Johnson is the program’s all-time leader in rebounds (710) and games played (121) during his basketball career from 2007-11. An honorable mention All-Summit League pick, Johnson recorded a UMKC single-season record 283 rebounds as a senior, averaging 9.4 rebounds per game to rank second in school history. He also recorded 21 rebounds in a game versus North Dakota State that year, the second-highest total in school history.

A Champaign, Illinois, native and graduate of Champaign Central High School, Johnson played two years of professional basketball in Europe following his collegiate career. He went on to earn his master’s degree from UMKC in June of 2015.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…