Men's Basketball | 03.25.2021

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Austin Johnson's career at LC State has been nothing short of record-breaking. In his third year at the helm, Johnson led the Warrior Men's Basketball team to the NAIA national title game for the first time in program history, and though LC State fell short of a red banner, there is still much to be proud of. Johnson was named the NABC NAIA Coach of the Year, presented by Wilson, for the second year in a row.
 
"I am humbled to be recognized and so thankful for this past season," Johnson said. "Our players were resilient and a joy to coach. I can't thank my staff of Leif (Karlberg), CJ (Johnson) and Cevin (Meador) enough for all they did this year to help us be a championship-level team."
 
"I can't think of someone more deserving for this award than Coach Johnson," Associate Head Coach Leif Karlberg said. "To win this award in back-to-back seasons, especially in light of the obstacles this past year has provided, shows just how special of a leader he is. While the results of the past few seasons speak for themselves, he is not bound by those results. Instead, he is committed to the process of investing in his players and coaching staff through hard work, integrity and love. Coach Johnson has an elite ability to create unity, confidence and joy within a team. The love that he has for our players is obvious, and we are blessed to be under his leadership."
 
Johnson's 2020-21 squad set the record for the program's highest winning percentage, .917 with a 22-2 record, besting last season's .906 mark. LC lost just two games, with one to then-No. 5 Arizona Christian and one in the title game against No. 6 Shawnee State. The Warriors rose to as high as No. 4 in the national poll and were in the nation's top 10 all year.
 
"We are very proud of Austin and what he has done with the LC State Men's basketball team on the court and in the class room," Athletic Director Brooke Henze said. "Austin is a tremendous coach and person, and is very deserving of this award." 
 
The Cascade Conference named Johnson the conference Coach of the Year, earning him his second straight conference honor after doing so in the Frontier last year. In his three seasons, the Warriors have a combined record of 81-12 (.871). This is his second NABC NAIA Coach of the Year honor after receiving the award last season as the NAIA Division I Coach of Year. He is the first to get the nod with the two divisions combined.
 
"Coach Johnson is an incredibly effective coach and educator; and a person of outstanding character," LC State President Dr. Cynthia Pemberton said. "He is an outstanding exemplar of the tenants this award embodies, and the NAIA Champions of Character values."
 
He will receive his award on Friday, April 2, during the virtual AT&T NABC Guardians of the Game Awards Show, which begins at 3:30 p.m. PT. The show will be live-streamed at https://watchstadium.com/.
 
Stay up to date on all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.