Jackson Free Press

Three months into Clinton Johnson Jr.'s new position as Jackson Public Schools executive director of athletics, he sees the challenges and is proud of the progress he has made.

"It has been exciting and at the same time, it has been challenging," he says.

The Farmhaven native played baseball at Jackson State University from 1974 to 1978 and pitched for several Boston Red Sox minor league affiliate teams from 1978 to 1984. After six years in the minors, Johnson says he "had to stop and get a real job," so he began teaching technology education at Whitten Middle School. He spent the next 25 years teaching, coaching and administrating in Jackson and in Hinds County schools, including the last seven as principal of Callaway High School. Johnson, 56, believes his experience prepared him for the task at hand. He understands firmly and completely where athletics fit in relation to academics, he says.

Johnson is most concerned with propelling JPS Athletics to what he deems as the right level of competitiveness for a district this size. He boasts that wonderful things are already happening in the district.

"We have great basketball teams. Our band programs are outstanding. We had two volleyball teams to go to the playoffs this year," Johnson says. "... Our kids deserve the opportunity to have the best facilities, the best coaches and the best teachers. I want to make sure we are putting the best people in front of our children."

Among the influences on the district's athletic future are programs such as the thriving Pee Wee leagues. "On every corner that you turn in the afternoon you see a Pee Wee football team practicing," he says. "I have no doubt that our programs will be stronger."

He cites Amateur Athletic Union basketball and the recently updated Central Jackson Soccer Association. That program, Johnson says, is a big part of the reason the Callaway High School soccer team is so successful. "We've had six or seven kids to sign Division I soccer scholarships, which is pretty unusual for an African American school," he says.

Johnson's greatest concern is quality coaches. They must not only understand the connection between athletics and academics, but be leaders who can put together great programs, he says. He's excited about new talent in the district.

"The coaches of the two teams who played in the middle-school (football) championship are young first-year coaches," Johnson says of Thad Bridges at Hardy and Benjamin Hart of Brinkley. It is important to retain those coaches while adding to the list, he says.

Historically, the JPS athletic director has not had a great deal of input into the coaches the schools hired; however, Johnson hopes to change that.
"Principals will always have the final say, because you must have someone who is going to fit into the vacancy of the subject," he says. "I just want to be there to give the principals some guidance on what makes this person the right coach."

Before Johnson took the job, the JPS Athletic Department was hit with Title IX violations. In August 2009, the U.S. Department of Education began investigating a complaint alleging discrimination against female athletes, failing to provide them with adequate facilities, equipment and publicity.

"I think we are addressing those concerns," Johnson says, without a hint of defensiveness. "... The facilities and the opportunities will be there, and we are working on those facilities—not only for the girls but for the boys, also. Across the board, we are making sure that all of our students, not just girls, have the same opportunities."

Johnson is dealing with the financial constraints of his limited budget. The department was able to complete the construction of five high-school field houses for outdoor sports teams in 2010, but a lack of funds are forestalling upgrades to the baseball and softball fields at Callaway High School.

Johnson is looking into grants to help offset costs, such as a Baseball Tomorrow grant from Major League Baseball that could be used for boys and girls' ball fields, equipment and uniforms. He is creating a donation account called Friends of JPS Athletics. Referees, transporting students, and purchasing equipment and uniforms have him scrambling to locate other sources of money.

"I want to make sure that the program gives the kids the exposure that they deserve. I want them to feel good about themselves," he says. "It's all about the children and making life better for them so their future will be brighter."