Taver Johnson Position: Asst. Head Coach / Def. Coordinator Experience: Second Season Alma Mater: Wittenberg '94

Entering his second season as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Miami is Taver Johnson, who has served five of the last six seasons as a defensive coach within the Miami football program.

In his first season back with the RedHawks, after a one-year stint with the Cleveland Browns organization, Johnson directed a resurgent defensive unit that mirrored his enthusiasm and passion for the game. Despite battling key injuries to its linebacking corps, Miami's swarming style of defense forced a whopping 35 turnovers on the season, ranking it fourth nationally. The RedHawks also ranked among the MAC's top three teams in both scoring and rushing defense, while four members of Johnson's defense earned all-MAC status.

In his first stint at Miami as linebackers coach from 2000-03, Johnson produced four first-team all-MAC selections, including two-time honoree Terrell Jones, who finished his career among the top 10 tacklers in program history. Johnson also was responsible for grooming two-time all-MAC linebackers and NFL signees Terna Nande and John Busing.

Johnson brings a wealth of coaching experience to his second term in Oxford. Most recently coaching with the NFL's Cleveland Browns organization as a special teams assistant. Before coming to Miami for the first time in 2000, Johnson worked as the defensive graduate assistant coach at Notre Dame in the fall of 1999. Prior to his experience with the Fighting Irish, Johnson spent three years at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill.

Following a stellar gridiron career at Wittenberg University, he stayed on with the Springfield, Ohio, school as its defensive line coach for two seasons from 1994-95.

At Wittenberg, Johnson earned Associated Press First-Team All-America honors in 1992 and `93 as a linebacker. He also garnered all-America kudos in 1993 from Kodak (Division III Coaches), Champion U.S.A. and Don Hansen's Football Gazette.

He was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 and `93 and also was tabbed the College Sport Magazine Defensive Player of the Year in 1993.

A graduate of CAPE High School, Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in business administration.

Johnson resides in Oxford with his wife ,Sharday, and son, Tyree.