Coach Djuan Johnson believes that true success comes with defeat.

Omaha South math teacher and head football coach Djuan Johnson said adversity isn’t something he shies away from.

“If you can pull out any kind of lesson from it, it’s a win.”

Johnson applies this philosophy to both coaching and teaching, saying, “It’s never about wins and losses; it’s about personal development and getting the little wins in life.” When a student or athlete is struggling, he focuses on them and finds small victories to keep them motivated. His main goal as the football coach is not only to develop his team into successful football players but also into young men who make the right decisions and have a positive impact on their environment and community.

Johnson first got into coaching when he was 23, coaching Little League football with his older brother. “I was just sitting around all day not really doing anything, so he made me start coaching, and from there I fell in love with it,” Johnson said. He then honed his coaching skills and collaborated with coaches at every level of the sport, eventually ending up at Omaha Northwest.

Believing that his experiences coaching and teaching humble him and help him understand many different perspectives, Johnson does not prioritize coaching over teaching – or vice versa. “They’re one and the same. Coaching and teaching both develop kids, and the techniques are the same to make sure students and athletes can be successful.”

Johnson said his fondest memory coaching at South so far is this year’s football game against Elkhorn South, a top-three ranked powerhouse in Nebraska high school football. Despite losing, the Packers put up the most yards the Storm have allowed all season, topping teams including Westside and Bellevue West. “It was amazing to see the guys come together and forget about the scoreboard – just taking the little wins where they could get them and having fun playing the game.”

As both a coach and teacher, the main message Johnson gives to his students and athletes is, “You’ve got to want it and buy into it.” He believes that building strong relationships with students and athletes is vital to helping them buy into the process and believe in themselves enough to accomplish their goals.

Buying in and trusting the process has been the main theme of the past few South High football seasons for Johnson. He stresses hard work as the key factor that will lead to the team’s future success. When asked who his favorite player on the team is, Johnson said he doesn’t really have one, later adding, “My favorite player is the one who works the hardest.”

South High football player Benjamin Crawley said, “He’s the best coach I’ve ever had. He inspired me not to quit football when it got rough, and he’s something of a father figure to the whole team.”

South High history teacher and defensive coordinator Adam Wildrick also sees Johnson in a positive light. “I love working with Coach Johnson, and I love his positive attitude. He always has the players on his mind when he makes decisions, and he always cares about his students and athletes.”

If Johnson could be any animal, he said he would be a bear.

“Mainly because they get to eat a lot and hibernate – but also because they demand respect.”

Much like Coach Johnson himself.