Nearly two years after their last athletic director resigned, Nation Ford High School is in the market for another one.
Falcons’ athletic director Dave Johnson resigned from his job earlier this week after holding the position for roughly two years. Johnson took the job as an interim in August 2022 after former athletic director Jaybe Shackleford resigned following a motorcycle accident. Ironically, both resignations came during the third week of August roughly two years apart.
“It is a good job and I appreciated it and I enjoyed working with Chris (Chandler), but it is awfully demanding,” Johnson said. “This will give me time to spend more time with my two little ones (children). I have enjoyed my time there. It is a great school and I can’t wait to watch it grow. The future is bright for Nation Ford High School.”
Johnson said he will look back on his time at Nation Ford fondly, but really wanted to just coach.
“We have had some really good teams over the past couple of years and all the coaches do a really good job,” he said. “I have loved working with all of them. I really have. It is a very demanding job. It is something I have enjoyed and hope I did a good job for the school, but it is time to make some changes.”
Johnson has been at Nation Ford since the 2019-2020 school year after being hired in the spring of 2019. He was head football coach at Cuthbertson for six seasons and at Hopewell for two seasons prior to coming to Nation Ford. He started with the Falcons as offensive coordinator for the football team and taught at the school.
After Shackleford’s accident, Johnson took over as interim athletic director in 2022 and eventually moved full time into the role while still being the offensive coordinator for the Falcons’ football program. The offensive coordinator duties for Nation Ford were turned over to Jason McManus this season for the Falcons.
Johnson is currently still with the Fort Mill School District and is teaching social studies at Oak Grove Academy, the district’s alternative school. He is also an assistant football coach at Palisades High School in south Charlotte.
“He got an opportunity to get back into coaching and that is something he has really wanted to do,” said Nation Ford Principal Chris Chandler. “I am happy for him and happy he will be able to do something he truly loves to do. We will miss him. One thing I will say about Coach Johnson is he stepped in for us a couple years ago and got our athletic department to a really good place. He is leaving our athletic department in a really good position.”
Johnson said he feels like the athletic department at Nation Ford is ready to go to another level.
“Whoever takes over next is inheriting a great group of coaches,” he said. “A great principal to work for who understands the athletic piece and its importance. Whoever comes in next has a clean slate, has a chance to rebrand a little and take it to the next level.”
Nation Ford head volleyball coach Craig Brown will be serving as interim athletic director for the Falcons, Chandler said. The Nation Ford athletic director job has been posted on the Fort Mill School District website.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
