Coaching with Class
By Justin R. Lessman, Contributing Editor

                   
Merv Johnson remembers his time                                 
with Alpha Gamma Rho fondly.
Johnson was initiated at the University
of Missouri, Theta chapter in 1955.
(Photo courtesy OU Media Relations)

Integrity.

Webster defines it as “firm adherence to a code of values.”

The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as “steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.”

Merv Johnson defines it. Period.

Johnson displayed it as an All-Big 7 tackle for the University of Missouri. He exhibited it as a 37-year assistant college football coach at Missouri, Arkansas, Notre Dame and Oklahoma. And he developed much of it in Alpha Gamma Rho.

“Our chapter was really involved in service activities,” the University of Missouri Theta chapter alumnus said from his Oklahoma office recently. “I
really enjoyed doing those types of things.”

The fact that he participated in various service activities during college is admirable. The fact that he did them while balancing honor-roll caliber grades, graduate school aspirations and college football obligations is downright impressive.

But Johnson dismisses any praise.

“I was glad to do it,” he said. “Actually, I probably didn’t get as active as I should have. But, football took some of that time up.”

Apparently, Johnson made good use of that time.

As a Tiger, he was named an All-Big 7 tackle, a co-captain and Blue-Gray All-Star selection, an Academic All-Big 7 selection and the league’s most Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year.

But all the while he was out tearing up the gridiron, he remained a loyal and
active member of his beloved AGR.

Born in King City, Mo., in 1936, Johnson was the first member of his family to go to college. It was on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia that he first entertained the notion of joining a fraternity.

“I grew up in the country and had a strong ag background,” he said. “I got on campus and went through rush. I knew a couple guys going though the recruitment process and also really liked a bunch of the people they had on campus. It seemed like a good fit.”

After graduation in 1958, Johnson served as a graduate assistant at Arkansas. For a time, he considered a future in veterinary science.

“I grew up on the farm and knew a lot about animals and enjoyed them very much,” he said. “I took an interest in animal husbandry and veterinary science and thought that might be the way to go.”

Instead, the pigskin called him back. And he answered in grand fashion.

As assistant football coach at Arkansas and Notre Dame, Johnson was a part of two national championships.

“I certainly enjoyed my time in Notre Dame,” Johnson said. “We won a national championship there after all. But when Barry Switzer asked me to come to Oklahoma, well, I jumped at it.”

Switzer had long been an acquaintance of Johnson and his wife, and the chance to work with such a great football guy and a great football program appealed to him. Johnson was named the Sooner’s assistant coach in 1978, a position he held for nearly 20 years.

In that time period, Johnson amassed a 150-67-5 record, a national championship, five Big 8 Conference titles and seven bowl game victories. Throw in the development of 19 All-Americans, and it’s easy to see that Johnson was indeed something special to the OU football program.

In 1998, he was named director of football operations at OU and special assistant to the athletic director, positions he currently holds.

“The job I’m in now affords me more of an opportunity to work with the student athletes,” he said. “That’s really the most enjoyable part of this job.”

However, what brings out the more playful side of the long-tenured football coach is yet another of his many prestigious job titles — color man on the Sooner radio network.

“You know, that is the most fun I’ve had in this game,” he said. “I really enjoy that and always look forward to it.”

Merv Johnson has excelled on the football field as both player and coach. He has been a leader and role-model to thousands of student athletes. He has racked up beyond-impressive accolades in the world of college football.
And he has done so with integrity.

Just recently, the Oklahoma chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame presented Johnson with its inaugural Integrity in Coaching Award. The honor, to be awarded annually to a coach best representing the highest standard of truth, honor, veracity and uprightness, is named for Johnson.

“It is a big honor for them to create an award in my name and perpetuate it,” Johnson said. “You feel other people deserve it more than you. But, it’s really gratifying to know that people perceive me as having integrity. That’s really something special, and something that I’ll hold onto for the rest of my life.”
 

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