The King’s Academy (Sunnyvale, Calif.) head coach Michael Johnson resigned Monday to join Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan.
That might not seem like a major move until you see the player that could follow as a result of the hire. Johnson happens to be the father of Michael Johnson Jr., the top dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2019. The high school school announced the move via Twitter:
Head football coach Michael Johnson has resigned and is taking a position on staff at the University of Michigan. Good luck coach!! #GoBlue
— TKA Athletics (@TKA_Athletics) February 13, 2017
The elder Johnson has an extensive coaching background in both the NFL and college ranks. He was the 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2010, the year before Harbaugh’s arrival there. Johnson also was an assistant at UCLA before taking over at The King’s Academy, where he spent the last three seasons.
MORE: Michigan spring preview | How Harbaugh can close recruiting gap
The younger Johnson is a coveted recruit. This look at his highlights will explain why:
So while the focus is on Michigan’s proposed new weight room, Harbaugh is using a subtle recruiting tactic that has worked in the past. Harbaugh hired former Paramus (N.J.) Catholic coach Chris Partridge, which helped reel in 2016 top recruit Rashan Gary. Harbaugh also hired Devin Bush as a defensive analyst in that class, which helped reel in four-star linebacker Devin Bush Jr.
The NCAA will address this tactic in its next rules meeting, but Harbaugh is staying ahead of the curve:
There is an NCAA proposal that would ban the employment of recruits' HS coaches within 2 years of their enrollment.
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 13, 2017
This gets around that.
Johnson's son, Michael Jr., is a 2019 recruit. It's February 2017 -- a typical 2019 wouldn't enroll until summer 2019. Outside the window
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 13, 2017
Also, it's not a rule at the moment. Only a proposal. To be voted on later.
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 13, 2017
