Newberry High School (NHS) has reinstated Ed Johnson as its football coach, Mainstreet Daily News has learned.  

“Coach Johnson has been reinstated as of this morning as our head football coach,” Newberry Athletics Director Bryan Roundtree wrote in an email. 

Roundtree pointed to NHS principal James Sheppard for more information, but he did not immediately return a request for comment.  

The reinstatement caps off a crazy 24 hours for the Newberry High School athletic department. 

According to a WCJB report Tuesday, NHS fired Johnson following a complaint made on Jan. 31. 

“I was shocked,” Johnson told WCJB. 

The report stated that Sheppard immediately reported the complaint to human resources and the investigation closed last week. 

The school did not make details of the investigation public, but they will become public record on March 18, according to WCJB. 

WCJB also reported that Johnson maintained his job as a P.E. teacher.  

Many people, including parents, showed their support for Johnson by signing an online petition. 

Roundtree sent Mainstreet an email on Wednesday that Johnson was also reinstated as the softball head coach.  

Johnson posted on Facebook on Wednesday that, “My God is amazing and he gets all the glory!! I’m thankful and grateful to be back reinstated as the coach at Newberry High School. This has been a trying time and unfortunate but God makes no mistakes!! My family, coaches, players and this community, I’m humbled by your prayers, calls and support!! I appreciate Mr Shep and the administration here and I’m ready to get back to work!! This is just a piece to the testimony that God is preparing!” 

Newberry hired Johnson in 2019 following a 1-9 season in 2018. 

Since then, he’s had a lot of success. 

The Panthers have made the playoffs in all four seasons, including a 9-3 record and a regional semifinal appearance this past November, which ended with a 27-7 loss at eventual state champion Hawthorne in a Class 1R-Region 4 Semifinal. 

Newberry is 37-18 in five seasons with Johnson as head coach. 

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will likely be updated.