Johnson resigns as Lady Blackhawks hoops coach

For the third time in four years, the Cheney High School girls’ basketball program is searching for a new head coach.

Former head coach J.T. Johnson was forced to step down in June after just one year at the Lady Blackhawks’ helm due to a clause in his state employment contract triggered by a desire to take early retirement. CHS athletics director Gregg Hare said they knew about the clause and potential for Johnson’s retirement when he was hired in 2015, but at the time were told there would be no issue regarding Johnson continuing as Cheney’s coach.

Johnson, who has worked in education for almost 40 years, said the state contacted him this past fall and essentially reversed their position, telling him early retirement would preclude him from working in any position under a state contract — even as a volunteer.

“I can’t even volunteer to read in my grandkids’ classroom,” he said. “(The state) they want you to teach until age 65 and if you don’t, they penalize you any way they can.”

After a long career assisting several top-tier girls basketball coaches, including legendary state championship Shadle Park coach the late-Linda Sheridan, Johnson took on the Lady Blackhawks head coaching role last season. His team went 8-15 overall, finishing fourth in the Great Northern League with a 3-9 record and notching a first-round road win over third-seeded Pullman in the playoffs.

Hare said Johnson came to CHS administration about his inability to continue at the end of the season, wanting to resign then in order for the district to get an early start on his replacement. Hare and CHS Principal Troy Heuett persuaded Johnson to stay on and coach the girls through the summer league and camps, and also attempted to find a position for him in the high school’s career training department, but to no avail.

“It wasn’t one of those subjects we had a lot of flexibility with,” Hare said of Johnson’s business and marketing teaching position.

Hare said the head coaching position was posted at the beginning of July, and he has received five applications so far as well as being contacted by others interested in applying. He said he is confident they will have a coach selected by early August, with plenty of time to begin building a relationship with a young, but more experienced Lady Blackhawks team.

Hare said the situation with Johnson is very unfortunate for the program. He and others were excited about the direction the program was going in, and pleased with Johnson’s desire for a long-term commitment.

“The ones ultimately hurt the most are the girls,” he added.

Johnson said he was looking forward to the building project, not only with his team but also within the larger Cheney basketball community as a whole.

“It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” he said. “They deserve a long-term commitment.”

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].