Tony Johnson Done As Coach at BG

I can't believe I'm typing this, but I will.

Tony Johnson is no longer the football coach at BG.


The above is correct and not a late April Fool's joke. As always in a free speech society, Forum members can feel free to comment on this situation....... In a respectful and non-inflammatory manner.


Tony Johnson, who directed BG to 6 out of the last 7 Division 2 football state titles, is no longer the football coach at BG.

Any news on why, and who is replacement will be? Is he still the AD?

As of this writing, he is still the AD.

No replacement yet.

As to the why?? I hear things, but speculation and here say is just that. Maybe, people with a more lucid pulse on BG sports would care to comment.

No replacement yet. From what I hear they want him to focus more as athletic directer. I would tell them to shove it. Glad my kid is graduating this year. Total bs. Whoever takes that job wins it for the next 3 years. They are stacked for d2. The excrement is going to hit the fan on this one.

I know I said I wouldn't comment in an editorial way, but..... Taking this BG situation out of my editorial mix, I have always firmly believed there is a big conflict when an AD also coaches a team at the same school. I don't think the 2 are a good mix. Even when an AD/Coach bends over backward to placate other teams he/she doesn't coach, any slip up whether perceived as such or just an honest mistake will be scrutinized by the teams not coached by the AD/Coach. It comes with the territory of wearing 2 hats.

Did this AD/Coach conflict hurt ToJo at BG? You would have to talk to ToJo and the Administrators to get a more concise answer.

On another note of the AD/Coach with respects to officials..... Well, one big can of worms that could be opened up on another day and time. I'm not talking about this situation as it relates to the BG situation. I'm just talking about how it is a big conflict in general HS sports.

GNG: Define "Excretement hitting the fan" as it relates to this situation at BG?

I have posted comments on other sites at times critcizing BG for recruiting, BUT...

I was impressed with what I read about Coach Johnson. He had his teams in shape and ready to compete.

If he is no longer coaching that is sad.

I will have a story for the forum readers..... Stay tuned, I am on the case

I can't figure out if you sound more like Jack Webb, Kojack or Barney Fife with you being "on the case."

Gee - I was thinking more along the lines of Jacques Clouseau or how about even Eddie Valiant (Who Framed Roger Rabbit).

My reaction when I heard the news was WOW. I remember when Tony got the AD job a couple years ago the rest of the administration was leary about the head football coach and AD thing. At the time he was the spring track and head football coach - he had to give up one. Looks like they revisited this after a couple of years. If anything I'm surprised at the timing. It will be interesting to see "who" gets the job as head coach now and how hands off he'll be. It's tough to just walk away from something you love to do and that you've been very successful at doing when it's not your choice. The next few weeks are going to be really, really, interesting.

I am thinking more Magnum then Fife. TOJO must be so pissed off. He has raised millions for that school and this is how they say thanks. It would not surprise me {total speculation on my part} if he says BYE BYE to BG. He certainly doesn't need the money.
From my perspective the administration wants to be known as more of an academic instituition, then a jock hs. Let me be the first to tell you they are both. TOJO has set the bar high there. I wonder how safe the other coaches over there feel today? How long until a newspaper breaks this story? I have already had several underclassmen parents call me in total disbelief and anger. Imagine if he quit as athletic directer and took over some other program and turned it around. This story is far from over, far from over.

Inspecter Clouseau, not Jacques. Jacques was the underwater explorer. I am going to the track today, MASTER OF HOUNDS is going to be on a few of my tickets. My horse guy says have him to show


I feel like we are getting out of ROME at just the right time.

He should come to Memorial.

His knowledge and coaching skills could help MMHS excel in footbal!

JAF - Copy that on the next few weeks being very, very interesting. Putting myself in ToJo's shoes I would have a tough time watching some one else coach a program I've given a good portion of my life building. It will be interesting to see if he stays on as BG's AD or decides to head in another direction.

Certainly is a "looking over your back" time at BG if you are a coach there, don't ya think?

Animal Kingdom. There is 58 dollars down the drain. My horse guy will hear from me.

Article from the Telegraph on the situation:

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportshighschoolsports/918559-221/bg-football-coach-steps-down.html

My take after reading the article is that he is ticked off and hurt by the actions of the BG administration. I still can't believe it. I remember when Shubert left Central {on his own terms}, people were saying they will be fine. How many championships have they won since he left? I can't even think of a name to relace him, unless it's someone from his current staff. None of them want the job. It sucks enough replacing a coaching legend, but try doing it with him looking over your shoulder, knowing deep down he wants your job.
Just to let everybody know TOJO can't get much better as an AD. He is everywhere, from freshman hoops to girls field hockey and everything in between. It is total crap that he is being made to refocus his energies to a job that he is already outstanding at.
I have said this in the past, and I'll say it again "I sent my kid to BG so he could play for TOJO". The situation in our town was/is toxic when it comes to sports. Our choices were to stay in town and not let your kid have a chance, or BG. So many of the people I have gotten to know thru my kid's 4 years there have similar horror stories. You knew if your kid went to BG, great education, and great coach. If your kid was good, he would play. Three football ships in the bank, one in hoops,{ who knows how this baseball season will end} and I am very happy with our choice. I am just not very happy with BG'S choice, not happy at all.

After mulling this over a bit this weekend I have to say the BG Admin made a big mistake. I have stated before the AD/Coach situation is a bad mix with conflict abounding. This BG situation is one where it should've been left alone and let ToJo just finish out on his own terms. His record speaks for itself and deserved the respect to let him finish on his own terms.

"If it ain't broke don't fix it" comes to mind.

If ToJo stays on as AD what coach in their right mind would want the BG football coaching job? The parents of the present freshman to junior football players at BG will expect near or total perfection from the new coach. The pressure will be enormous for the new coach, especially if ToJo stays on as AD. If the new coach directs BG to a 9 -1 or 10 - 0 season and a D2 Championship it will be, "This is what was EXPECTED of you !!" If the new coach directs BG to a 8 - 2 or 9 - 1 season with a loss in the semis or ship, then the rumblings and grumblings will fester throughout the BG football program.

In most if not just about all situations I would say don't have the conflict of an AD/Coach. This is one situation where it should've been left alone. The BG Admin dropped the ball on this one. They made their decision bed and will now have to lie in it.

Good luck to the new BG football coach. He'll need it.

I just thought of something which may or may not have played a major part in this decision. One of the BG administraters was one of 4 finalists for the girls varsity hoops job. The job goes to somebody else, and 4 days later TOJO is out as football coach.I wonder if this guy was given the girls job if TOJO would still be coaching football today. Something smells fishy over at Lund Rd.
I challenge BG administraters to send out 4 review forms. One for TOJO, one for Tesini,one for Brother Marc, and one for Principal Brodeur. I guarantee you the support for Johnson would be OVERWELMING. As for the other 3, I believe the comments would go in another direction. I deleted the Tojo form the 1st time.{I bet a ton of parents did the same} I figured it was not needed to state the obvious, what a fantastic job he was doing.

Very Sad to hear and read this, Tojo is an excellent coach, leader and mentor as well as AD. More importantly he is a genuine man. I would personally be surprised if he did stay on for very long as i'm sure he will be offered the "dual" job at other schools looking for arguably one of the top AD/Coaches around.That, The record and elevation of the status of the entire Bishop Guertin athletics programs can directly be attributed to Tojo's efforts...makes this all the more confusing and smells of political turmoil within. Once again ...it will be the kids that suffer from adult blunders. This puts ALL "BG" atheletics in a very uneasy state heading into the 2011 fall/winter seasons. One would think all coaches over at Lund road have an uneasy feeling in there stomachs today.........Everyone loves a winner and winning...Tojo will be sought after...BG will suffer....................

Marc Thaler has an interesting story in today's Union Leader on ToJo's departure.

I hope ToJo's departure/being forced out wasn't the result of a behind the scenes political back stabbing at BG, as was posted with speculation by a prior posting. When ever politics and sports mix usually no one wins and the biggest losers are always the kids involved in sports. I have nothing but ill will for adults using their positions to get their personal feelings triumphed or that "get back" at other people when in turn it decimates the overall cause of a team, program or high school.

http://unionleader.com/article/20110509/SPORTS/705099985

People are jumping to his defense and they dont know the whole story. The non football parents are behind this move at BG, I herd rumblings of this early last week ( some type of meeting with the parents) and then when I approached a non football coach at BG this weekend and asked that individual the scoop they said TOJO resigned Friday at two.

He was given a choice Football coach or AD, he chose AD, now why would he do that. If one is given a choice between their kids and and Admin job in my opinion I would chose my kids and not to be administrator. As a teacher I would never leave the classroom to be an admin.

Golden bear, you are so off base. No choice was given to him so you are WRONG ON THAT. Secret parent meeting, my son plays 3 sports and I am friends with parents from all different sports. There was no secret parent meeting WRONG ON THAT.

Gbear, I will back up GNG on this one. Johnson was NOT GIVEN A CHOICE. He was asked to step down as football coach. "Step down" is the sugar coated term. We're not a diplomatic newspaper here that has to answer to an editorial board. I like to think this Forum reports news many times that generic newspapers can't.

On this note let's say Tony Johnson was FORCED OUT from his football coaching position by the powers to be at BG................ And this situation has a very foul stench lingering with it.

Let's be honest on this. Even if he was given a choice on AD vs coaching. How many adults these days can afford to give up their primary job and income for what is actually a part time gig money wise in coaching? Even if he was given a choice 99% of people today would be forced to take the actual salaried job wouldn't they?