Longtime Mission Viejo football coach Bob Johnson, who built Orange County powerhouses with the Diablos and El Toro and became a nationally recognized private coach for quarterbacks, will retire after this season, he confirmed Monday.
“I still got it (coaching) in me … but it’s time,” said Johnson, 72, Orange County’s all-time leader in victories with 339. “My time is spent and I’m going to enjoy some stuff with my wife (Debbie) and do things we haven’t had a chance to do … Just time to depart, and we’re going to be good next year again.”
Johnson guided El Toro to three CIF-SS titles in the 1980s and, since he took over at Mission Viejo in 1999, has led the Diablos to six CIF-SS championships and a CIF State crown in 2015. His 339 victories rank third in California history.
“Bob Johnson has had a tremendous impact on Orange County football,” Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said. “The mark of a great coach is when his former players speak highly of their experience as a player. Many Diablo players have told me how much respect they had for Bob.
“Bob Johnson is Mission Viejo football.”
Johnson’s legacy includes his sons, Bret and Rob, who were standout quarterbacks under his tutelage at El Toro and went on to play at UCLA and USC, respectively. They also played professionally and assisted their father at Mission Viejo. Rob played for several teams in the NFL, including Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl championship team in 2003.
Bob Johnson took an extended break from coaching to watch his sons’ playing careers.
Johnson also coached his grandson, Brock, who became a Register player of the year and guided Mission Viejo to its two most recent CIF-SS titles (2014-15). Brock, son of Bret, is now a quarterback at UC Davis.
“I’ve had a great run,” Johnson said. “I’ve been blessed with great coaches beside me and with me, and it’s just been a great time with my two sons coaching as well. .. It’s been a family deal. It really has. All the way through.”
Johnson said neither of his sons are in line to replace him at Mission Viejo. He said Rob has four young children.
“We’ll follow the (grand) kids,” said Debbie, Johnson’s wife of 50 years. “It’s a really good time for him (to retire). … (But) he’s loved (coaching).”
Debbie said a lesser contributing factor to Johnson’s decision to retire was his displeasure of competing in the same playoff division as the parochial schools.
“That’s one thing he brings home,” she said.
Johnson said he told his players of his retirement in matter-of-fact fashion last week during practice.
“It was sort of a silent tell,” Johnson said. “We were going over a lot of stuff, next opponent and stuff, and I just sort of said, ‘By the way, this is my last year of coaching.’ And that’s all I said.
“It was sort of quiet, and I’m not sure half of them heard me … That’s what I did. … I just didn’t want to make a big thing of it during the season.”
Johnson said he broke the news to his coaches a couple weeks ago. His connection to many of the coaches dates to his time at El Toro.
“Wonderful coaches and great guys,” Johnson said. “I’m going to miss all those guys. Big time.”
Mission Viejo announced Monday afternoon that it will hold a pregame ceremony to honor Johnson before the Diablos’ home game against San Clemente on Nov. 3. The school has invited all former players and coaches to be part of the on-field ceremony.
Johnson became a nationally recognized quarterback coach with his association with the Elite 11 camp. The summer camp became a rite of passage for many highly recruited high school passers heading toward their senior seasons. He also coached future NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez at Mission Viejo and privately trained Carson Palmer.
Johnson started his coaching career at Los Amigos, shortly after graduating from Fresno State.
The Diablos (6-0) play host to Tesoro (3-3) on Friday, Oct. 6, in the teams’ South Coast League opener.
