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Football

Curtis Johnson Attracts Interest from University of Memphis, Tulane

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Curtis Johnson, a highly regarded NFL assistant coach, is gaining interest from the University of Memphis, where his son, Curtis "Trey" Johnson, will be a senior receiver next fall. Johnson, a receivers coach for the New Orleans Saints, has been a member of the team's staff since 2006 and has been a key part of their success, particularly in the receivers' position group. The U of M is conducting a national search for a new coach, with a firm from Texas leading the way, after firing Larry Porter on Sunday.

Key Takeaways:

  • Curtis Johnson, a Saints receivers coach, is attracting interest from the University of Memphis for the vacant head coaching job.
  • Johnson's son, Curtis "Trey" Johnson, will be a senior receiver for the Tigers next fall, making this a potentially intriguing development for the family.
  • Johnson has been a member of the Saints' staff since 2006 and has been a key part of their success, particularly in the receivers' position group.
  • The U of M is conducting a national search for a new coach, with a firm from Texas leading the way, after firing Larry Porter on Sunday.
  • Other potential candidates for the job include Arkansas State coach Hugh Freeze, Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Randy Fichtner, Louisiana-Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth, and Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes.
  • Former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, considered a candidate initially, has accepted an offer from Washington State.
  • The search committee is co-chaired by Willie Gregory and Brad Martin, with Cato Johnson, a member of the committee, declining to comment on the process.

Statistics:

  • 3-21: Larry Porter's record as head coach of the University of Memphis before being fired on Sunday.
  • 2006: The year Curtis Johnson joined the New Orleans Saints' staff as receivers coach.
  • 1: The Super Bowl championship won by the Saints with Johnson on the staff after the 2009 season.
  • 10: The number of catches Curtis "Trey" Johnson had in an injury-plagued 2011 season.
  • 183: The number of yards Curtis "Trey" Johnson accumulated in catches in 2011.
  • 2010: The year Curtis "Trey" Johnson had 22 receptions for 230 yards.

Sources:

  • "Curtis Johnson said there has been some correspondence between him and the U of M for the Tiger opening." (Rocky Arceneaux, agent for Curtis Johnson)
  • "The question with Curtis is not if he's going to be a head coach, the question is when," (Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints coach)
  • "He's going to have a lot of opportunities." (Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints coach)
  • "Look at his position group in six years now," (Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints coach)
  • "One of the things we constantly look at is the productivity (of the group) and how they respond." (Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints coach)
  • "I think that opportunity (to become a head coach) is going to come sooner than later for him," (Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints coach)

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