Laurent Johnson

Laurent Johnson was athletic director and coach a FHC in the early years of the school's athletic programs and his contributions to the forming of our programs make his selection to the Sports Hall of Fame only fitting.

Johnson lettered in football, basketball and baseball for three years at Waverly Central High School in Waverly, TN. He was captain of the football squad during his junior and senior seasons. He entered Lambuth College upon graduation and received his degree from that institution in 1931. He lettered in the big three sports all four years at Lambuth, enjoying great success, especially in football. He was named quarterback of the All Mississippi Valley Conference team for three years and was named captain of that same squad one year.

He became athletic director at FHC in 1931 and started an intercollegiate football team while coaching basketball and baseball. He left Freed-Hardeman in '33 to become the athletic director at his alma mater, Lambuth College.

Between "33 and '37, his girls' basketball team won four straight MVC championships and twice lost in the semi-finals of the national AAU tournament in Wichita, Kan. His men's team won the conference tourney one year and finished as runners-up twice. One of Johnson's biggest games was when Lambuth beat the University of Tennessee in 1936. That year the Vols won the SEC championship.

He retired from coaching in 1937 to enter the business world in order to support his growing family. But the name of Laurent Johnson can be placed next to the term "founding father" in FHC sports.