As Larry Johnson presented Michael Bennett with his national championship ring, the Ohio State defensive line coach paused and revealed what might be his biggest key in being such a successful assistant coach.
"I tell guys this all the time: I never wanna just coach a guy," Johnson said during Ohio State's national championship ring presentation video. "I want to invest in a guy."
Perhaps there's no coach on Ohio State's staff who does that more.
Watch Johnson interact with his players on the Buckeyes' sideline or on the practice field. Watch him after one of his guys makes a big play or comes up with a timely sack. The defensive line coach is often the first one to greet his player on the sideline. Often times it comes with a chest bump or a big hug.
It all goes back to the relationship he seems to build with his players. They genuinely care for each other.
"He shows that he loves you, he’ll do everything for you," Ohio State defensive tackle Adolphus Washington said last season. "How can you not just go out there and play hard for a guy like that?"
“I can’t imagine a player and a coach being closer right now than Larry Johnson and Joey Bosa.”– Urban Meyer
Last season was Johnson's first at Ohio State. He came to Columbus to replace former defensive line coach Mike Vrabel, who moved on to the NFL with the Houston Texans following three seasons with the Buckeyes.
Before coming to Ohio State, Johnson spent his previous 18 seasons at Penn State. It didn't take long for Johnson to become close with his position group, either, and Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer noticed it, too.
"I always look at the trust and what goes on within the unit," Meyer said this spring. "I can’t imagine a player and a coach being closer right now than Larry Johnson and Joey Bosa."
But perhaps what makes Johnson so unique is that he builds these types of relationships with his players before they even get on campus. Bennett, Bosa and Washington were already at Ohio State when Johnson arrived, but 2015 signee Robert Landers won't get to Columbus until June. Despite that fact, Landers feels he has already built a strong relationship with his future position coach.
“Me personally, I love him," Landers said recently at the Ohio North-South Classic. "He’s the type of coach — he’s a good Christian guy and you can tell he’s one of those coaches that it’s not just a job for him. You’re not just another player."
Invest.
That's the word Johnson himself uses and it's clear when talking with his players he practices what he preaches. Previous players, present ones and future players all appreciate that.
"He wants to build a relationship with you as a man and help you later on down the road," Landers said. "When you get chemistry like that with your players, they truly buy in to the program. I feel like if you can get your athletes, as a coach, to buy into your program and what you preach then you can do a lot of damage.”
