The Bobcats' storied offensive line added to its lore in 2023, when MSU produced three All-Americas, four All-Big Sky choices (including two 1st Team selections), and a Freshman All-America under the direction of first-year offensive line coach Al Johnson. The Cats finished second in the FCS in scoring and rushing offense, and 10th in fewest sacks allowed, meshing a freshman left tackle and two other position changes into the lineup. Johnson brought an NFL pedigree and multi-level college coaching experience to Bozeman. The three-year starting center for Wisconsin earned Third Team All-America honors as a senior in 2002, before playing for four NFL teams from 2003-09. He began his coaching career at Southern Door HS in 2013, 15 years after starring there, then became offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at NCAA DIII St. Norbert in 2014 and 2015. He spent the next two seasons as a grad assistant at Wisconsin, was head coach at DII East Central (Oklahoma) in 2018-21. He coached Wisconsin running backs in 2022. Johnson finished at Wisconsin in 2003, and completed his undergraduate work at Southern New Hampshire in 2014.
Personal Information
Birth Date: January 27, 1979
Hometown: Brussels, WI
Education: ex, Wisconsin, 2003; BA, Southern New Hampshire, 2014
Player: Wisconsin 1999-2002; Dallas 2003-06, Arizona 2007-08, Miami 2008, 2009 New England
Family: Wife Brandy, son Cyrus, daughters Skylar, Makayla, Chloe
Coaching Timeline
2023-present: Montana State, Offensive Line
2022: Wisconsin, Running Backs
2018-21: East Central (Oklahoma), Head Coach
2016-17: Wisconsin, Offensive Assistant
2014-15: St. Norbert (Wisconsin), Offensive Coord./Offensive Line
2013: Southern Door HS, Offensive Line
Coaching Honors and Achievements
St. Norbert – 2015 staff member for Dan McCarty’s Great Midwest Conference North Division Coach of the Year Award.
Team Accomplishments
Monntana State – 2023 FCS Playoffs, 8-4 record... MSU finished 2nd in FCS in scoring offense (39.9), 2nd in rushing offense (291.0), 10th in fewest sacks allowed (0.92), leading hte Big Sky in rushing offense scoring offense, and total offense
Wisconsin – 2022 7-6 and Guaranteed Rate Bowl Champions. 2017 13-1 and Orange Bowl Champions. 2016 11-3, Cotton Bowl.
East Central – Led East Central from last place in the year before his arrival to a tie for fifth (of 12) in his final season, and the Tigers advanced to the Heritage Bowl in the year after his departure.
St. Norbert – 2015 MWC champs (5-0 league record) and Division III Playoffs
Individual Achievements
Montana State – By 2023 PFF grades Justus Perkins finished as 3rd-rated center, in the FCS, Marcus Wehr as top-rated tackle in FCS and tied for 2nd in Division I, and Omar Aigbedion finished as top-rated guard in FCS... Conner Moore named Freshman All-America
Wisconsin – 2022 Braelon Allen 2nd Team All-Big 10 2022
St. Norbert – 2015 D3.com All-West Region and Midwest Conference Offensive Lineman of Year Jacob Bunk (LT)
All-Americas Coached as Position Coach
at Montana State – 2023 RT Marcus Wehr (1st Team), RG Omar Aigbedion (1st Team), LG Rush Reimer (2nd Team), C Justus Perkins (3rd Team)
at St Norbert – 2015 LT Jacob Bunk D3.com All West Region.
All-Conference Players as Position Coach
at Montana State – 2023 RT Marcus Wehr (1st Team), LG Rush Reimer (1st Team), RG Omar Aigbedion (2nd Team), C Justus Perkins (HM)
at St Norbert – 2015 LT Jacob Bunk. 2014 LT Jacob Bunk
