By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  Corban has found their man for their Men’s Basketball Team’s Head Basketball Program:

Austin Johnson.

Johnson will be taking over for Steve Masten, who stepped down at the end of this season due to family reasons.  Masten was 52-64 as Head Coach of the Warriors.

Johnson knows a thing or two of the NAIA though, having coached at NAIA Division-I Lewis and Clark State College as an Assistant Coach for a year and being a part of the program for six years total.

In 2016, Johnson’s Warriors went 28-4, won the Froniter Conference with a 79-70 win over Carroll College on March 7 and now preparing for Number 8 Xaiver of Louisiana in the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo on March 17.

Not to mention that Lewis and Clark State College’s the number one seed in the NAIA bracket, a first for the program.

Before coming to LCSC and being hired at Corban, Johnson started his coaching endeavors as a volunteer coaching assistant coach at Odessa Junior College in Odessa, Texas under NJCAA Hall of Famer, Dennis Helms before spending two years as a Graduate Assistant at Western Illinois University.

Johnson will finish his coaching obligations at Lewis and Clark State College, but is expecting to start his Head Coaching tenure at Corban University April 1.

Atheltic Director Greg Edie spoke highly of the experience of Johnson in a press release earlier today.

“His experience as the Associate Head Coach at NAIA Division I national power LCSC,” he said.  “Outstanding recruiting record in the northwest, desire to elevate our program to new competitive heights, and his love and passion for the mission of Corban University made Austin the perfect fit for this position.

“We are very excited about the future of Warrior men’s basketball!”

For the full release, here is the link:  http://corbanwarriors.com/news/2016/3/11/MBB_AustinJohnson_HeadCoach.aspx

Jeremy McDonald is a professional sports journalist in the Salem/Portland area and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalist in Oregon with B.S. degrees from Southern Oregon University in Journalism (2011) and Health/PE (2013).  Got a story idea? Email him at jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com or on Twitter at @J_McDonald81