Johnson moving on

About a month ago, Loren Johnson realized something was amiss in his life.

He couldn't pinpoint it, but it was pulling at him enough that he decided to act on it and see where it leads.

The first step came Friday when the Stonewall Jackson High School head football coach submitted his resigna-tion.

Johnson, who has coached the Raiders for five years, said he did not have another job lined up yet, but said he has options.

He is considering coaching opportunities in the college and high school football ranks as well as in an academic or corporate setting.

Johnson said he has interviewed for jobs, but has not been offered anything. He would not specify what jobs he had interviewed for.

Johnson, 30, said he hopes to have a better idea what his next move will be after this weekend.

"A lot of things were wearing on me, but it was nothing I could put my hand on," Johnson said. "This is a good administration, but something was missing and I need to find out what that is."

In five years, Johnson led the Raiders to a 25-27 record.

He was the Potomac News & Manassas Journal Messenger's High School Football Coach of the Year follow-ing the 2004 season after leading the Raiders to the playoffs.

The year before, his first at the helm, Stonewall went 2-8. In 2004, the Raiders went 9-3 and advanced to the Group AAA, Division 6 Northwest Region final.

This past season, Stonewall went 4-6. The Raiders began the season 3-1, but they struggled the rest of the season following injuries to standout running backs Ryan Williams (Virginia Tech signee) and Damien Thigpen.

Johnson informed his players of his decision Friday morning.

Johnson said the move was aided in part by family reasons.

"My wife has sacrificed a lot for me to do what I do," Johnson said.

Johnson's wife Kim currently works as a quality assurance engineer for Northrop Grumman.

Some possibilities include moving either closer to his wife's family in North Carolina or his family in Miami or Atlanta.

Another possibility might be going back to Virginia Tech, where Johnson and his wife met. Johnson, a former all-Big East Conference defensive back for the Hokies' football team, has expressed an interest in going for his doctorate.

"My heart is still with these kids here and I love what I do and I love the environment," Johnson said. "But something was just missing."

Johnson will continue to teach at Stonewall until his contract runs out at the end of June. He will also continue to help his players in the recruiting process.

One of them is Thigpen, who is rated among the nation's top 100 juniors. Thigpen has already received Division I offers from U-Conn, Stanford, West Virginia, Tennessee, Boston College and Minnesota.

"I was a little surprised, but he's got to do what he's got to do for his family," Thigpen said. "I've had fun playing for him. He's been a good mentor. I wish him the best wherever he goes."

When he took the job at Stonewall, Johnson said his plan was always to gauge himself every three years so he wouldn't become stagnant.

"After year No. 3, I felt good," Johnson said. "But with this the second year of the second three-year period, I knew this had to be done."