Arkansas Football: Meet Taver Johnson, Associate Head Coach of the Razorbacks

Every Monday, The SEC Blog will feature an assistant coach in the SEC. This week, we take a look at Arkansas associate head coach/linebacker coach Taver Johnson.

You can bet your bottom, top and middle dollar that this isn't what Taver Johnson expected when he signed on to be the associate head coach/linebacker coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks in January. But now the 36-year-old finds himself in charge of the football program while head coach Bobby Petrino is on paid administrative leave following his motorcycle accident and subsequent attempted cover-up.

So who is Taver Johnson? 

Johnson came to Arkansas in January following a five-year stint at Ohio State where he coached cornerbacks. During that time, the Buckeyes finished first in the Big Ten in passing defense three times and no worse than fourth (2011). 

Prior to the five years in Columbus, Johnson spent had two stints at Miami (OH), where he served as defensive coordinator from 2005-06 and linebackers coach from 2000-03.

His on-the-field success is great, but given the current circumstances in Fayetteville, what he learned off the field might be more useful.

The Ohio State program was sent into turmoil for players receiving improper benefits from a tattoo parlor; and ultimately led to head coach Jim Tressel's resignation, after he lied about the situation to the NCAA. News of Ohio State's saga broke shortly before the Buckeyes took on, as fate would have it, Arkansas in the 2011 Sugar Bowl following the 2010 season. 

Now Johnson is charged with navigating the Razorback program through rocky waters of its own. The most important thing to take away from difficult situations is leadership, according to a transcript of Johnson's press conference on Friday posted on ArkansasNews.com.

"

I don’t know if you can ever prepare. When you’re going through tough situations, any kind of adversity you’ve been through, prepares you mentally and makes you step into a leadership role like all of our coaches have done.

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It's a difficult job for Johnson, but he's been here before. Plus, with the Razorbacks in the midst of spring practice, the players and coaching staff will have time to accommodate to Johnson should Petrino's leave last into fall practice and the regular season.

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