UCF is back on the hunt for a defensive backs coach, marking the second search in just three months. The buzz on Tuesday revealed that Will Johnson is leaving the Knights to join the Minnesota Vikings’ coaching staff.
Johnson, who stepped in for Brandon Harris in December, is set to take on a role as a defensive assistant under Kevin O’Connell with the Vikings.
Coach Scott Frost had high hopes for Johnson’s impact on the team. “UCF should never shy away from bringing in rising stars,” Frost mentioned in January. “Will’s reputation precedes him, and it’s clear why-his potential to elevate our defensive secondary is evident.”
Hailing from Baltimore, Johnson has a solid football background. He played as a defensive back at Oklahoma from 2015 to 2017 under the legendary Bob Stoops, racking up 120 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 8 passes defended across 29 games before a stint in the NFL.
In 2020, Johnson joined Oklahoma’s coaching staff as a graduate assistant, working alongside UCF’s defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. When Lincoln Riley and Grinch moved to USC, Johnson followed, continuing as a graduate assistant until 2023. He then advanced to North Dakota State in 2024 as the cornerbacks coach, where he was instrumental in securing a national championship for the Bisons.
Johnson was one of three offseason hires by Frost, along with AJ Blazek as the offensive line coach and Cooper Bassett as the tight ends coach.