BELTON- The 2022 UMHB football coaching staff is beginning to come together, as the program announced Jack Johnson as the new defensive coordinator and Mark Carey as the team’s special teams coordinator on Wednesday afternoon.
Johnson, who joined the UMHB coaching staff in April of 2015, replaces Larry Harmon, who was promoted to head coach on Jan. 7. Previously the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, Johnson was a member of the inaugural team in 1998, winning four letters while in Belton as a defensive end. He finished his playing career as the program leader in single-game and career sacks.
Following his playing career, he remained with the UMHB program as a student assistant and graduate assistant before joining the coaching staff at Bridgewater (VA) College, a D-III program. There, he coached both the safeties and served as defensive coordinator, helping Bridgewater to a 51-39 record during his nine-year tenure. In 2014, Johnson’s defense led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in total defense, scoring defense, rush defense and pass defense.
Returning to his alma mater, Johnson was once again critical in helping grow UMHB’s success. His linebackers unit has been a consistent part of the Crusaders’ talented defenses in the last six years, and the UMHB special teams unit has been spectctular. During his time with the Cru, Johnson has coached 10 All-Americans, and his punt returners regularly rank amongst the nation’s best. This past season, KJ Miller ranked second in the country in yards per punt return, at 25.0.
Johnson will also remain as the team’s linebackers coach.
Carey takes the reins of the Crusader special teams unit, following five seasons as the defensive line coach. He joined the coaching staff in July of 2017 following five years as the co-defensive coordinator at now-ASC football member Texas Lutheran.
While in Seguin, Carey played a role in TLU’s three Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference titles as well as the Bulldogs’ first NCAA playoff appearance.
His knowledge of the defensive line has carried over well to UMHB, where nine All-Americans have played under Carey’s direction. Defensive end E’Monte Smith ranked second in the ASC in sacks this season, at 10.5. Smith, along with Pete Smith and Khevon Shepard, anchored the defensive line in 2021, and each earned All-ASC honors following the regular season.
Prior to taking the defensive line position at TLU in 2010, Carey spent six years in Belton, as an assistant, contributing to a team that claimed five conference titles. He graduated from UMHB in 2006, and played tight end for the Cru, earning two letters, following two years at Louisiana College.
Carey will also remain as the program’s defensive line coach.
An offensive coordinator has yet to be named.
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