Coach is enjoying new role with Trojans

HARTINGTON — Several underclassmen who had been waiting in the wings had to step up this season for the Cedar Catholic Trojans.

An assistant coach here had to do the same thing.

Before the start of 2020 conditioning began, Taylor Johnson was promoted to the Defensive Coordinator role at Cedar.

Johnson took over the position after Mike Johnson left the post to work across the street.

“Chad is helping me a lot and the other coaches have been doing a good job watching film,” Taylor Johnson said. “I may be the defensive coordinator, but I do not do all the work by myself. It’s been going well, and a lot of my nerves were calmed once we got that first win and we’ve been riding the train from there.”

Taylor Johnson was the team’s assistant defensive line and tight ends coach prior to 2020. Now he also heads the defensive line and works with the tight ends.

“I know he was nervous about taking the position because it was something that was going to be all new to him, but he jumped in with both feet and has done a great job with it thus far,” Cattau said. “He brings a great amount of energy and excitement to the position, and he continues to get better each week with making adjustments and preparing for practices.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy replacing Coach (Mike) Johnson because he had held the role of defensive coordinator for us throughout my tenure here at Cedar, but Taylor has really done an excellent job with everything that he is expected to do.”

Prior to the Oakland-Craig game, the Trojans allowed less than 18 points a night.

Taylor Johnson knew he was ready for the job as he prepared last year as the Trojans’ junior varsity defensive coordinator.

“What made the transition easier for me was the confidence Chad had in me and Mike telling me before he left, ‘I know you can do this, I know you can,” he said. “I tell myself before every game to be as confident as you can be every game and let the chips fall.’”

Taylor Johnson has found a way to make the most of his time on the clock while learning the position.

“There is an awful lot of time and preparation that goes into this role for him, and he has done a great job of balancing his coaching with his teaching duties, being a husband and father, and also working on graduate courses,” Cattau said. “He has built a great rapport with all the players and other coaches on the staff already, and he continues to learn each and every day.

“I know I am excited for what the future holds for him as he continues to learn each and every day.”

Taylor Johnson wants the defense to be as aggres sive as it can be, and it has added up to a 6-1 start.

“I definitely don’t want to sit back and let teams do what they want to do,” Taylor Johnson said. “I also want to see quickness. I preach to the kids to practice fast, so we can play fast.”

Stay in the know!

To get news alerts on your cell phone, get the Cedar County News app in the ITunes store or  in the Google Play Store.