Michael Johnson Joins Clemson Baseball Staff as Volunteer Assistant

by Press Release - Wed Aug 20 16:42:15 GMT-04:00 2008

Clemson, SC -

Clemson Baseball Head Coach Jack Leggett announced the addition of former Tiger All-American Michael Johnson to the coaching staff on Wednesday. Johnson, who will work primarily with the infielders and hitters, will serve as the Tigers’ volunteer assistant coach. He replaces Toby Bicknell, who became an assistant coach at Davidson in early August.

“We are very excited to have Michael back in our program as our volunteer assistant,” said Leggett. “He has a tremendous understanding of what our baseball program is all about. He will be a valuable member of our coaching staff. His experience, success as a player at Clemson, and having played in the College World Series and professionally will be a great asset in teaching our young players what it will take to be successful.”

Johnson lettered four times as a first-baseman at Clemson from 2000-03. His 58 career home runs (#3), .636 career slugging percentage (#5), and 213 career RBIs (#6) are all among the top-six figures in school history. Johnson was also a career .344 hitter with 275 hits, 52 doubles, a .465 on-base percentage, and 25 stolen bases in 235 games as a part of four NCAA Tournament teams and two College World Series squads (2000,02). The two-time captain for the Tigers was also a two-time recipient of the Bob Bradley Award as Clemson’s MVP of the season series against South Carolina thanks in part by hitting 10 home runs in 16 career games against the Gamecocks.

Johnson red-shirted in 1999 and played 44 games as a red-shirt freshman in 2000. As a sophomore in 2001, Johnson hit .321 with 18 homers and 54 RBIs. Then as a junior in 2002, he became part of one of the top trios in college baseball history. Johnson, National Player-of-the-Year Khalil Greene, and Jeff Baker all hit at least 25 home runs to lead the Tigers to a top-four finish at the College World Series. Johnson, a second-team All-American by ABCA, hit .384 with 25 homers and 81 RBIs in 2002.

Despite being drafted in the second round by the San Diego Padres in the summer of 2002, Johnson elected to return for his senior season in 2003. That year, he hit .338 with 12 homers, 51 RBIs, and a .498 on-base percentage thanks to 63 walks.

He later signed with the Padres in the summer of 2003 and played at every minor league level from 2003-07. He also had a brief stint in the Houston Astros’ farm system in 2007. In his minor league career, Johnson totaled 90 doubles, 11 triples, 69 homers, and 264 RBIs in 391 games.

Johnson, married to the former Carrie Breed of Hilton Head, SC, is a Georgetown, SC native and was born June 25, 1980 in Georgetown, SC.