Clemson announces Johnson hired as new assistant basketball coach

CLEMSON -- Clemson today officially announced the hiring of James Johnson to fill the assistant coaching vacancy on its staff.

Johnson had been the top assistant coach at Virginia Tech under Seth Greenberg since 2007. The Virginia native and former Ferrum standout was an assistant on George Mason’s staff during the program’s Final Four run in 20006. Johnson was also an assistant coach at the College of Charleston in 2002-03 under Tom Herrion when the Cougars went 25-8 overall and won the regular season championship in the Southern Conference.

Johnson is regarded as an excellent recruiter who Clemson coach Brad Brownell hopes will help Clemson recruit in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC areas. The Hokies’ 2011 class was ranked No. 12 nationally by ESPNU, No. 13 by Rivals and No. 15 by Scout.

“I’ve known James for a long time, we’ve competed against one another several times at multiple schools,” Brownell said. “I’ve been extremely impressed by his work ethic and the fact that he’s worked for some very good coaches. He has good recruiting ties in our breadbasket. He will help us in some Mid-Atlantic areas.”

Johnson is the third assistant to have recently departed Greenberg’s staff.

“I’ve known Brad since he was an assistant at UNC Wilmington and I was an assistant at Old Dominion,” Johnson said in a release. “He’s been a very successful head coach every place he’s been. In watching his programs from afar, he’s an excellent coach and a great recruiter. I’m excited to work with him and be a part of his staff.”

Johnson replaces Clemson associate head coach Rick Ray who became the head coach at Mississippi State earlier this month.