Northern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball coaching staff features a fresh face this season. Cincinnati native Max Johnson has joined the Norse to head sports performance and is ready to help the team compete.
“We’re going to get stronger, faster, and more powerful,” Johnson said. “I want to increase the raw athletic output that these guys are able to have, so when they step out on the floor, they’re able to compete at a high level.”
Johnson’s approach to strength and conditioning has brought a new mentality to the team. One thing in particular stands out to Norse guard Tae Dozier.
“Consistency,” Dozier said. “Upper body, full body, lower body, we’re just consistent with what we do.”
Johnson’s path in coaching has been a short yet prolific one. He was a strength and conditioning intern at both the University of Cincinnati and Ole Miss before landing a job as a graduate assistant for the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team in 2023.
“Every stop I was at, it was like I was learning how to do the job,” Johnson said. “Seeing more athletes is always going to help. Different personalities, different ability levels, it just adds to your toolbox as a coach.”
Johnson comes from a winning background. Over the span of his two seasons coaching at Auburn, the Tigers were one of the winningest teams in the country, boasting a 5914 record overall. Auburn also won an SEC championship and reached the Final Four during that time.
For Johnson, this new role allows him to come back to his Cincinnati roots, which he talked about the first time he met with Norse head coach Darrin Horn.
“One of the things that I told him was that I take a lot of pride in the area,” Johnson said. “It was an opportunity for me to come back to a program in this area and help them find success.”
NKU’s coaching staff mostly remains the same as it did last season, with Johnson being the only addition. To Johnson, the familiarity between the staff is palpable.
“They gel and know each other and get along,” Johnson said. “They’ve been together for a while, so they know the flow of what’s going to happen.”
The Norse will look to bounce back this year after last season ended with a loss to Cleveland State in the quarterfinal of the Horizon League Tournament. While the team is working hard with a 14-8 record, Johnson has his own goals in mind to help the team reach the next level.
“Long term, I want to keep getting…better myself, be the best coach I can be,” Johnson said.