DeMarco Antonio Johnson is entering his sixth season as assistant coach with the Hampton University men’s basketball program. He is primarily responsible for developing post players, recruiting, film exchange, and scheduling team workouts.
Johnson saw senior forward Du’Vaughn Maxwell flourish in 2013-14, as he earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a First Team All-MEAC selection after leading the conference in blocked shots and ranking third in rebounds (on top of leading the Pirates in scoring at 14.9 points per game).
Maxwell, who was a six-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2013-14, was also a finalist for the Lefty Drisell Award – as well as a BoxToRow All-American. The Hampton Roads Sports Commission also named Maxwell its Defensive Player of the Year.
Johnson also oversaw the development of Jervon Pressley, who in 21 games in 2013-14 averaged 6.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest.
Under Johnson’s tutelage in 2012-13, Maxwell ranked fourth in the MEAC in blocked shots with 2.4 per game, fifth in the MEAC in rebounding with a team-high 7.2 rebounds per contest, and 11th in field goal percentage at .492.
Maxwell had eight double-doubles that season.
Johnson came to Hampton from Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C., where in his one season he led the team to 18 wins and its first quarterfinal appearance since the 2006-07 season.
Johnson played his collegiate ball at UNC Charlotte from 1994-98, while earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He was named Metro All-Freshman after the 1994-95 season, and in his next three seasons, Johnson was an All-Conference USA performer and Team MVP. The 49ers made three NCAA Tournament appearances during Johnson’s career.
After being named an Honorable Mention All-American in 1997, Johnson was the Conference USA Player of the Year in 1997-98, while also being named to the All-America Third Team. UNC Charlotte retired Johnson’s jersey, No. 4, in 2000. Johnson finished his collegiate career third in school history in both scoring and rebounding.
After being drafted 38th overall by the New York Knicks in the 1998 NBA Draft, Johnson played 12 years of professional basketball in the NBA and overseas. Among Johnson’s international stops were Italy, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Israel and Puerto Rico. Johnson was voted Europe’s best power forward four times in his career: 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Prior to playing at UNC Charlotte, Johnson competed in and won a bronze medal at the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival.
A native of Charlotte, N.C., Johnson is the proud father of 8-year-old Demarzia, and he enjoys music, billiards, movies and traveling.
