June 4, 2007

BETHANY, Okla. - Southern Nazarene University athletic director, Bobby Martin, announced on Friday that current Olivet Nazarene University head baseball coach, Elliot Johnson, will become Southern Nazarene University's head baseball coach. Johnson replaces Scott Selby, who stepped down two weeks ago to take the Southwestern Oklahoma State University head position after ten years at the helm of the baseball program.

Johnson has been the head coach at SNU's sister Nazarene school, Olivet Nazarene. ONU is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. In eight years at the helm of the Tigers program, Johnson has compiled a recordof 303-115-3, and guided ONU to the NAIA World Series twice.

During his tenure at Olivet, Johnson led the Tigers to four Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships. This past season, Johnson led the Tigers to a 26-18 record, the CCAA Tournament Championship, and an NAIA Region VII Tournament appearance.

Johnson began his coaching career at Trevecca Nazarene University.After leaving Trevecca, Johnson was an assistant at Middle Tennessee State University, where he earned a doctorate in physical education. At Middle Tennessee State, Johnson helped lead MTSU to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship. Johnson then headed to LeTourneau University in Texas before taking the head position at Olivet.

As a player, Johnson was an all-conference pitcher and shortstop at Trinity College and the University of Northern Colorado. Johnson went on to earn his B.A. from the University of Northern Colorado and an M.A.from Chadron State College in Nebraska.

In 27 years of collegiate coaching, Johnson has compiled an 803-414-3 record. During his coaching career, Johnson's teams have appeared in17 NAIA district or regional tournaments; claiming 12 district, regional or conference titles. He has also earned six coach of the year honors.

Elliot and his wife, Judy, have two children; two sons, Todd and Ben, who both played for Johnson at LeTourneau University.

"We are excited about the addition of Elliot and his family to the SNU family," said SNU Director of Athletics Bobby Martin. "He has an impressive resume and has done an outstanding job at Olivet."

Johnson inherits an SNU baseball program that is coming off one of the program's best seasons to date. The Crimson Storm posted a 35-21 record in 2007 and a 12-8 mark in the Sooner Athletic Conference. SNU fell one run shy of the SAC Tournament title, falling to Oklahoma City, 14-13, in the SAC Championship game. SNU also earned a regional tournament bid and claimed the program's first NAIA Region VI tournament victory with a 3-2 win over Oklahoma City.

"We believe Elliot is the right man for the job," continued Martin. "We believe he can take the solid foundation built by Scott Selby, and continue to build the Crimson Storm baseball program."