Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson hired as Arkansas women’s assistant coach

FAYETTEVILLE – Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson has been named women’s assistant coach for the Razorbacks track and field program as Chris Johnson begins his first season as women’s head coach with the program.

The 48-year-old Lawrence, an older brother of Chris (46), has twice been selected as United States of America Track & Field National Coach of the Year, first in 2013 and again in 2019.

“First and foremost, I’m super proud of Chris and what he’s been able to accomplish as a coach on that staff with Lance, Bryan, and the entire support staff, for a decade or so has been amazing,” said Boogie.

“I’m tremendously happy that he gets an opportunity to continue doing what he’s been doing while at Arkansas, but now in the head coaching capacity. I’m super grateful to Lance for seeing it through and passing the torch to Chris. I’m super excited for him as his brother, but more so as a coach, it’s so special to coach with him.”

Chris Johnson noted: “It’s exciting. I think there are some rare things that happen in life, and this is one of those occurrences that is happening for us. I’d like to thank Terry Prentice and Hunter Yurachek for allowing this vision to come to light. We’re anxious to get started.

“It’s a unique opportunity being able to hire someone of his caliber and expertise in terms of sprints, hurdles, and even jumps as well. He’s been Nike Coach of the Year twice with USATF and multiple-time region Coach of the Year in the collegiate ranks.

“That plethora of experience, the ability to connect with athletes, and to be able to come home, if you will. He went to school here and ran for Coach McDonnell. He understands the system and tradition we have here at Arkansas.”

Among the greatest sprint and hurdle coaches in the world, Boogie Johnson has guided the careers of numerous Olympians who have become Olympic, World, and national champions while their efforts have included several records. He is the owner and head coach of Hurdle Mechanic, one of the top professional training groups.

In the 2019 season, Dalilah Muhammad set a world record in the 400m hurdles at the USATF Championships and then improved her world record in winning the World Championship title in Doha. During 2013, Johnson coached Briana Rollins McNeal to an American record in the 100m hurdles as well as a gold medal in the 2013 World Championships held in Russia.

“We have three other brothers between us, but we’ve always been super tight growing up,” noted Lawrence. “So, having an opportunity to work together for the first time in a profession we both love is like a dream come true.

“Now I get to live in the same city with my brother, and he happens to be my best buddy in the world. We have an opportunity to work together to build things for the Razorback program in his vision is just icing on the cake. I’m just uber excited about the opportunity to return to the Hill and to work with a professional like Chris Johnson and to add on to what is already a solid foundation.”

Chris Johnson shared those sentiments, adding: “With me taking over the role as head coach, he’ll be able to alleviate some of that burden from me in terms of the sprints, hurdles, and jumps. We’ll be able to balance the program out in terms of what we’re going to do and what we’re going to focus on.

“Our staff, which includes Megan Elliott and Bryan Compton, is a combination of people who can work together to continue to build this program and hold it accountable to where it’s already been. Our goal and mission will remain the same, we want this program to be successful, to win conference and national championships. We also want to develop great young ladies to go out into the world and be successful, not just in the realm of track and field.”

Boogie Johnson coached three medalists in the 2016 Rio Olympics with McNeal and Muhammad claiming gold in the 100m hurdle and 400m hurdle races, respectively, while Kristi Castlin added a bronze medal in the 100m hurdles.

In the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Muhammad collected a gold medal on the United States 4 x 400m relay and silver medal in the 400m hurdles. In the 2022 World Championships staged in Eugene, Oregon, Muhammad finished as the bronze medalist in the 400m hurdles.

At the recently held 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Anna Cockrell set a career best in placing fifth in the 400m hurdle final.

Serving on the coaching staff for Team USA in international competitions, Johnson was a member of USATF’s 2014 World Indoor Championship staff as well as the 2015 World Relay Championships.

Previous collegiate coaching experience for Johnson includes five years as Clemson’s Director of Track and Field from 2008 to 2013. He served as an assistant for four years with the Virginia Tech program, which included him being the Associate Head Women’s Coach for the 2007-08 season.

Johnson spent two years at Southern Illinois, working with the women’s sprinter, hurdlers, and jumpers initially, then added the men’s group in those event areas in the fall of 2004.

After coaching at Clemson, Johnson joined the Cal State Northridge program as an assistant coach prior to the 2015 season and then was named interim head coach of the men’s and women’s programs in July of 2017 through the 2019 season.

In total, Johnson coached five NCAA champions, nearly 100 All-Americans and over 80 conference champions among 16 conference team titles over the span of his collegiate coaching career.

Additional coaching honors for Johnson through USTFCCCA include six accolades as Southeast Region Women’s Coach of the Year with three honors apiece for the indoor and outdoor seasons covering 2010 to 2012.

As a graduate assistant with the Arkansas women’s program, Johnson also assisted with the instruction of sprints, hurdles, and jumps from 1999-2002 when the Razorbacks claimed consecutive SEC triple crowns during that time frame.

Johnson earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Arkansas in 2000 while a sprinter with the Razorback track and field program under head coach John McDonnell. During his time with the program, Johnson competed on four SWC championship teams as well as the 1998 NCAA Outdoor Championship squad.

Prior to competing at Arkansas, Johnson was a member of the National Championship triple crown program at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, in 1994-95. In 1996, Johnson won the South Coast Conference 400m title at Long Beach City College.

Johnson is married to the former Lilly Montgomery, a member of the Arkansas marching band from 1994-96, who earned undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas. The couple have four children, Desirae (29), Lawrence (23), Laniah (19), and Lukas (18).