Mike Ridaught
This week WCJB-TV 20 reported that Newberry football coach Ed Johnson had been fired following a complaint that was made on Jan. 31.
Details of the investigation won’t be made public until March 18, according to WCJB.
However, that information may not affect the outcome, as Johnson was reinstated on Wednesday morning.
I was able to speak with Newberry High School principal James Sheppard on Friday morning to try and get some closure to the situation.
“He was never fired,” Sheppard said.
Sheppard suggested I look at what Jackie Johnson said.
Johnson, who is the spokesperson for Alachua County Public Schools, said that the decision was not made at a district level.
“As far as decisions about extracurricular activities, including sports, under our board policies school athletic programs are under the direction of the principal,” she told WCJB.
Sheppard said the school community is now in the “healing process.”
“We are excited and delighted as a school, as an administrative staff, and as a community to have Coach Johnson back at Newberry,” he said. “He was a student here, he is a resident here, and now is a teacher here. So this is good for Newberry High School, and being the principal I’m thankful to have him back at the helm as the head coach.”
Sheppard wants to move forward at this point.
“We’re excited as a community to have him back,” he said. “He has 100% of the administrative backing, he is 100% supported.”
Sheppard said the details of the investigation that will become public record on March 18 will have no bearing on Johnson’s status as the head football coach.
“It’s closed,” Sheppard said. “From my standpoint, and what we have, it’s closed, and we are looking forward to a bright future.”
Johnson expressed public gratitude in a Wednesday Facebook post.
“My God is amazing and he gets all the glory!!” he wrote. “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 is 37-18 in five seasons with Johnson as head coach.
He was hired in 2019 following Newberry’s 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.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that James Sheppard did not reiterate Jacki Johnson’s statement, but only cited it.