Elmhurst University Athletics

Tyler Johnson is entering his first season with the Elmhurst football coaching staff. Johnson coaches the quarterbacks while also serving as the head junior varsity coach. 

Johnson comes to Elmhurst after spending time as a volunteer offensive assistant at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He spent two seasons (2019-21) coaching at Western Connecticut State University. While at Western Connecticut, he coached the quarterbacks and served as the video coordinator. He also coached the defensive line for one season while his team recorded the second most sacks in school history. He began his coaching career by working with the defensive line at Ithaca College in 2017. He helped the Bombers win a share of the Liberty League conference title while having the top-ranked defense in the league. Ithaca ranked 21st in the nation for fewest points allowed. 

Johnson is familiar with Division III after playing football at Alfred University in New York. Johnson was a four-year starter and decorated quarterback for the Saxons. In his senior year, he led the Saxons to an Empire 8t conference championship and to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championship. That season, he passed for 2,903 yards and 29 touchdowns while also rushing for over 1,000 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns. He was named the East Regional Player of the Year and a second-team All-American by D3football.com and was named the Empire 8 Player of the Year. He closed his career with nearly 3,000 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns on the ground while also passing for over 8,300 yards and 72 touchdowns, setting 13 school records in the process. 

Johnson played and coached overseas for two seasons. He played quarterback and served as the offensive coordinator with the Lazio Ducks in Italy in 2019. In 2018,  Johnson played quarterback and coached the developmental team for the Hildesheim Invaders in 2018. He also played professional arena football for the Green Bay Blizzard, Bismarck Bucks and Jacksonville Sharks.