Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football
Reggie Johnson
- Title:
- Linebackers
Reggie Johnson was hired as Oklahoma State's linebackers coach in December 2025.
A 1996 Louisville graduate, Johnson has 28 years of coaching experience that includes 11 bowl seasons, highlighted by the 2005 Gator Bowl, 2006 Orange Bowl, 2010 Sugar Bowl and 2011 Cotton Bowl. He has coached linebackers for 21 of those seasons and has also worked with the defensive line and special teams.
His resume includes stints as a defensive coordinator at Alabama A&M and UAB. He was also co-defensive coordinator at Missouri State in 2023.
He joined the Cowboys from North Texas, where he served as the inside linebackers coach in 2025. In his lone year at UNT, he was part of a staff that helped improve the Mean Green by nearly 10 points per game in scoring defense, by 90 yards per game in total defense and by more than 100 yards per game in passing defense. The 2025 UNT defense ranked among the top 25 in the FBS in fumbles recovered (No. 3), turnovers gained (No. 4), passing yards allowed (No. 8), passes intercepted (No. 14) and passing efficiency defense (No. 14).
Prior to UNT, Johnson spent the 2024 season coaching linebackers at Sam Houston.
In his one year with the Bearkats, Johnson helped SHSU finish 22nd in the FBS in total defense, 13th in passing defense and 14th in red zone defense. He coached first team All-Conference USA honoree Kavian Gaither and helped Sam Houston rank seventh in the nation in turnovers forced.
Johnson helped the Bearkats finish the year 10-3 and earn the first bowl victory in program history with a 31-26 win over Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl.
Before SHSU, Johnson spent four seasons coaching linebackers at Missouri State. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2023 under new head coach Ryan Beard while retaining his duties with the linebackers.
In 2022, Johnson coached a pair of All-MVFC performers in Ferrin Manuleleua and Von Young. He also helped linebacker Tyler Wiltz earn third team All-America honors from Phil Steele and first team All-MVFC honors in 2021.
In his first campaign in Springfield in 2020-21, Johnson helped guide the Bears to a share of the MVFC championship and its first NCAA FCS playoff appearance in 30 years.
Johnson preceded his time in Springfield by serving three seasons as defensive line coach at Purdue from 2017-19, when his unit helped the Boilermakers earn multiple bowl appearances. He developed five All-Big Ten selections during his tenure. Johnson’s success at Purdue was also marked by his work with a young defensive end, George Karlaftis, who went on to become an NFL first round draft pick.
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Prior to joining the Boilermakers, he spent the 2016 season at Western Kentucky, where he coached the defensive ends. While there, the Hilltoppers won the Conference USA Championship and the Boca Raton Bowl.
Johnson spent two seasons as defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach at Alabama A&M in 2014 and 2015. Â While at A&M he coached Anthony Lanier, a future NFL player who spent time with the Chargers, Chiefs, Redskins and Saints.
Johnson spent two seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UAB from 2012-13, and in 2013 he coached the NCAA leader in tackles per game as Marvin Burdette recorded 13.08 per game and 157 total on the year.
Before that Johnson coached linebackers at Arkansas from 2008-2011. There he worked with standout player Jerry Franklin, a freshman All-American who led the Razorbacks in tackles for four consecutive seasons, had two All-SEC seasons and was signed as an NFL free agent.
Johnson worked at his alma mater, Louisville, for four seasons as linebackers coach from 2004-07, one season as defensive line coach in 2003 and one year as a graduate assistant in 1997.
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In 2003 at Louisville, Johnson helped mentor future consensus All-American, Bronko Nagurski Award and Ted Hendricks Award winner Elvis Dumervil, as well as freshman and future first-round NFL Draft pick Amobi Okoye. Dumervil was selected in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft and went on to a 12-year NFL career that saw him selected to the Pro Bowl five times and set the Baltimore Ravens’ franchise record for sacks in a season with 17. Okoye was the youngest player ever drafted at the age of 19 when he was selected by the Houston Texans with the 10th overall pick in 2007. He played six seasons in the NFL with the Texans and Chicago Bears.
Johnson spent two seasons at the UTEP from 2001-02, whenhe coached future second round NFL second round pick Thomas Howard.
In 1998 Johnson was hired for his first full time collegiate coaching position at Alabama A&M, where he served as special teams coordinator and defensive tackles coach (1998-99) and inside linebackers coach (2000).
Johnson was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Louisville from 1987 to 1990. As a senior, he played on a team that went 10-1-1, including a 34-7 victory over Alabama in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996 and a master’s degree in education from Louisville in 1998.
Johnson and his wife, Eulice, have two children, Sydney and Jordan.
Coaching History
1997-98: Louisville, graduate assistant
1998-99: Alabama A&M, special teams coordinator
2000: Alabama A&M, inside linebackers
2001: UTEP, defensive ends
2002: UTEP, linebackers
2003: Louisville, defensive line
2004-07: Louisville, linebackers
2008-11: Arkansas, linebackers
2012-13: UAB, defensive coordinator / linebackers
2014-15: Alabama A&M, defensive coordinator / linebackers / defensive line
2016: Western Kentucky, defensive ends
2017-19: Purdue, defensive line
2020-22: Missouri State, linebackers
2023: Missouri State, co-defensive coordinator
2024: Sam Houston, linebackers
2025: North Texas, inside linebackers
2026: Oklahoma State, linebackers
A 1996 Louisville graduate, Johnson has 28 years of coaching experience that includes 11 bowl seasons, highlighted by the 2005 Gator Bowl, 2006 Orange Bowl, 2010 Sugar Bowl and 2011 Cotton Bowl. He has coached linebackers for 21 of those seasons and has also worked with the defensive line and special teams.
His resume includes stints as a defensive coordinator at Alabama A&M and UAB. He was also co-defensive coordinator at Missouri State in 2023.
He joined the Cowboys from North Texas, where he served as the inside linebackers coach in 2025. In his lone year at UNT, he was part of a staff that helped improve the Mean Green by nearly 10 points per game in scoring defense, by 90 yards per game in total defense and by more than 100 yards per game in passing defense. The 2025 UNT defense ranked among the top 25 in the FBS in fumbles recovered (No. 3), turnovers gained (No. 4), passing yards allowed (No. 8), passes intercepted (No. 14) and passing efficiency defense (No. 14).
Prior to UNT, Johnson spent the 2024 season coaching linebackers at Sam Houston.
In his one year with the Bearkats, Johnson helped SHSU finish 22nd in the FBS in total defense, 13th in passing defense and 14th in red zone defense. He coached first team All-Conference USA honoree Kavian Gaither and helped Sam Houston rank seventh in the nation in turnovers forced.
Johnson helped the Bearkats finish the year 10-3 and earn the first bowl victory in program history with a 31-26 win over Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl.
Before SHSU, Johnson spent four seasons coaching linebackers at Missouri State. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2023 under new head coach Ryan Beard while retaining his duties with the linebackers.
In 2022, Johnson coached a pair of All-MVFC performers in Ferrin Manuleleua and Von Young. He also helped linebacker Tyler Wiltz earn third team All-America honors from Phil Steele and first team All-MVFC honors in 2021.
In his first campaign in Springfield in 2020-21, Johnson helped guide the Bears to a share of the MVFC championship and its first NCAA FCS playoff appearance in 30 years.
Johnson preceded his time in Springfield by serving three seasons as defensive line coach at Purdue from 2017-19, when his unit helped the Boilermakers earn multiple bowl appearances. He developed five All-Big Ten selections during his tenure. Johnson’s success at Purdue was also marked by his work with a young defensive end, George Karlaftis, who went on to become an NFL first round draft pick.
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Prior to joining the Boilermakers, he spent the 2016 season at Western Kentucky, where he coached the defensive ends. While there, the Hilltoppers won the Conference USA Championship and the Boca Raton Bowl.
Johnson spent two seasons as defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach at Alabama A&M in 2014 and 2015. Â While at A&M he coached Anthony Lanier, a future NFL player who spent time with the Chargers, Chiefs, Redskins and Saints.
Johnson spent two seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UAB from 2012-13, and in 2013 he coached the NCAA leader in tackles per game as Marvin Burdette recorded 13.08 per game and 157 total on the year.
Before that Johnson coached linebackers at Arkansas from 2008-2011. There he worked with standout player Jerry Franklin, a freshman All-American who led the Razorbacks in tackles for four consecutive seasons, had two All-SEC seasons and was signed as an NFL free agent.
Johnson worked at his alma mater, Louisville, for four seasons as linebackers coach from 2004-07, one season as defensive line coach in 2003 and one year as a graduate assistant in 1997.
Â
In 2003 at Louisville, Johnson helped mentor future consensus All-American, Bronko Nagurski Award and Ted Hendricks Award winner Elvis Dumervil, as well as freshman and future first-round NFL Draft pick Amobi Okoye. Dumervil was selected in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft and went on to a 12-year NFL career that saw him selected to the Pro Bowl five times and set the Baltimore Ravens’ franchise record for sacks in a season with 17. Okoye was the youngest player ever drafted at the age of 19 when he was selected by the Houston Texans with the 10th overall pick in 2007. He played six seasons in the NFL with the Texans and Chicago Bears.
Johnson spent two seasons at the UTEP from 2001-02, whenhe coached future second round NFL second round pick Thomas Howard.
In 1998 Johnson was hired for his first full time collegiate coaching position at Alabama A&M, where he served as special teams coordinator and defensive tackles coach (1998-99) and inside linebackers coach (2000).
Johnson was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Louisville from 1987 to 1990. As a senior, he played on a team that went 10-1-1, including a 34-7 victory over Alabama in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996 and a master’s degree in education from Louisville in 1998.
Johnson and his wife, Eulice, have two children, Sydney and Jordan.
Coaching History
1997-98: Louisville, graduate assistant
1998-99: Alabama A&M, special teams coordinator
2000: Alabama A&M, inside linebackers
2001: UTEP, defensive ends
2002: UTEP, linebackers
2003: Louisville, defensive line
2004-07: Louisville, linebackers
2008-11: Arkansas, linebackers
2012-13: UAB, defensive coordinator / linebackers
2014-15: Alabama A&M, defensive coordinator / linebackers / defensive line
2016: Western Kentucky, defensive ends
2017-19: Purdue, defensive line
2020-22: Missouri State, linebackers
2023: Missouri State, co-defensive coordinator
2024: Sam Houston, linebackers
2025: North Texas, inside linebackers
2026: Oklahoma State, linebackers
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