John Johnson was awarded as the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association (OSSCA) Soccer Long Term Service Award Winner for 2023. He received this award on December  10, 2023, at the OSSCA state banquet. 

Johnson was given this award for his years of service to the organization. 

“It’s beyond coaching, it’s service to high school soccer,” Johnson said. 

OSSCA is the largest organized state high school coaches association in the country, with over a thousand members. 

It is an organization that works closely with high schools in Ohio. 

“It is designed to represent and promote high school soccer,” Johnson said.

OSSCA was formed in the 1970s when soccer was not being sponsored by Ohio high schools. They serve the purpose of representing both coaches and players, as well as giving awards such as All Ohio Honors and Coach of the Year.

Johnson has been active in this organization for many years. In the past, he has served as president of the organization for a total of 20 years. 

In addition to being president, he has served as vice president and currently heads multiple committees for OSSCA. 

“He teaches his players about responsibility on and off the soccer field as well as the importance of giving back to the community,” said Alex Innocenti, a member of the WHS varsity soccer team. 

Johnson was encouraged to give back to the community by his own high school soccer coach, who was also an economics teacher and had served as president of OSSCA. He inspired him to get involved in the organization. 

Johnsons was originally inspired to get involved by his own high school soccer coach, who was also an economics teacher and had served as president of OSSCA. 

He has been involved in soccer from a very young age. Johnson played soccer in high school and began coaching the sport when he started teaching. 

In total, he has coached soccer for 35 years. 

“He is a very passionate coach who loves soccer,” Innocenti said. “He committed to the team and looked out for his players.”

Johnson’s favorite part of coaching soccer is the practices, as he is able to be more involved. 

“I enjoy sitting down and trying to put together a session that makes us better,” Johnson said. “I get to see it in the game.” 

Johnson learned that he would be given the award in September before the soccer season began. 

He is grateful for the recognition he has received from his peers and the sacrifices that his family has made to get him to this point. 

“It’s an award that we all share,” Johnson said.