11 months ago, Principal John Poiroux and Athletic Director Daniel Kertis announced the hiring of Hewitt-Trussville OC Juan Johnson to the Baker Head Coaching vacancy created by the retirement of Steve Normand.
Just 11 months later, Johnson is on to James Clemens High in Madison to take over as head coach of the Jets.
Following the loss of numerous division one athletes, Head Coach Steve Normand to retirement and the implementation of a new head coach, 2024 was not supposed to be a huge year for the Hornets. A “rebuild year” if you will.
However, when toe met leather the Hornets raced to a 3-0 start under the new leadership of Coach Johnson as well as a new-look offense. The first loss of the season came to eventual 4A State Champion Jackson. The Hornets then rattled off another 3 game winning streak with a highly competitive contest against Daphne and 2 dominant showings against Robertsdale and Foley.
If there was one thing Juan Johnson fell short in, it was winning the Battle of West Mobile against local rival Mary G. Montgomery. A feat that every Baker coach since Joe Sicola (2000-2002, 2-28) had accomplished.
MGM went on to win 7A Region 1 as well. Baker finished second in the region, clinching a home playoff game; closing the season with wins against Fairhope and Vigor.
In the first round of the playoffs, Juan Johnson and Baker made history; securing the Hornets’ first playoff win in 40 years. This win was extra sweet for Coach Johnson as it came in a Double-Overtime thriller against his former employer, Hewitt-Trussville.
In the second round, the Hornets did not fare as well. Falling out of the playoffs on the road at Enterprise in a 30 to 14 defeat. The Hornets season was over, but not before an extremely fun, historic, and culture changing year was in the books.
Juan Johnson proved something about Baker. That it CAN win playoff games. At a school where the last 3 coaches had made 7 combined playoff appearances and the community was still searching for that elusive playoff victory, Coach Johnson stepped in and made it happen.
With the nature of High School Football in this state, this resignation is no sign of failure, betrayal, or disrespect to the Baker community. Simply put, as I’m sure you have heard many times, jobs in the northern half of the state (Birmingham Metro and above) are promotions for Coastal Alabama coaches. More money, more resources, etc.
The departure of Johnson is simply the next step in a budding, successful career as a coach.
No member of the Baker community should be upset or disappointed with Juan Johnson’s departure, but instead glad that the historic year in Mobile happened. It speaks volumes to the foresight and fortitude of the leadership of Baker High School’s Principal and Athletic Director.
As Baker turns the page, they look to Eric Scott as interim (for now) Head Coach. Scott, the Hornets Defensive Coordinator led Baker to the 3rd best defense in Class 7A in 2024.
