Andre Johnson isn't getting much sleep these days. In addition to his new position as assistant football coach, the Muskegon native is finishing his bachelor's degree in Social Work at Ferris. Between practices, games and classes, the former Miami Dolphins' wide receiver is kept running.

Johnson, one of the greatest wide receivers and kick return specialists in Ferris State football history, was a second-team All-American who set 13 school records including six for kickoff returns.

His stardom did not go unnoticed. He played in the 1990 preseason for the Miami Dolphins and later had stints in the World League at Raleigh, the Canadian Football League in Saskatchewan and the Arena Football League with Charlotte. When injuries to his knee and neck interrupted his career as a player, Johnson picked up the phone.

"Before I came back, I gave Coach (Jeff) Pierce a call. He brought me in to help with the coaching staff," said Johnson.

An Easy Choice
Hiring Johnson was an easy decision for Pierce, who was an assistant coach at Ferris when Johnson totaled 5,075 all-purpose yards, including 2,276 in pass receptions and 2,609 in kickoff returns.

"He'll work very well with our wide receivers," said Pierce. "They realize that he was among the best athletes at that position. Through his experience as an accomplished receiver, he can help our players by instilling in them the fundamental techniques of the position."

Having a former pro football wide receiver as their coach excited players Clarence Coleman and Neil Mozdzierz. Coleman said Johnson's expertise helped him to run better pass routes.
"I was able to use them to separate myself from defensive backs," he said.

"He definitely knows what he's talking about," said Mozdzierz. "He's already taught me different techniques that I didn't know about."

Coaching On and Off the Field
Coaching is not new for Johnson. He was a graduate assistant coach for Ferris basketball in 1991. In 1997, he was assistant defensive backs coach for Wingate Univer-sity's football team in North Carolina.

While in North Carolina, Johnson worked at Atlantic Behavioral System, a group foster home for troubled youth. Counselors served "teacher/parent" roles and lived in the home several days at a time.

"I was there about five months," said Johnson. "It was where I learned I work best with young men around 10 to 15 years old. My favorite kid - he was just so bad - had a really short attention span, couldn't read and wouldn't spend more than a few hours at a time in school. There were problems in his home that didn't help either. You wouldn't believe what some of these kids have lived through. I worked with him quite a bit, and I could see changes starting to take place...I don't know how he'll end up.

"All I can really do is try to make their lives better. I challenge myself to find out what makes the kids tick so I can find a way to communicate with them and motivate them.

"In football, you can see the guys jell from their freshman season," he continued. "You help them improve. And in social work, you're kind of a parent figure. You help your clients however you can. That's like being a coach too.
"One reason I was hoping to play pro football was that I knew about all of the work the players did with disabled kids. I got satisfaction out of seeing people doing better after you've helped them out."

Barb Pillsbury, a professor of Social Work, believes Johnson has great potential in the field.
"He has an understanding of the oppressed population and is committed to helping people who are dysfunctional and in trouble," she said. "He cares about people and understands that they can change."

A Full Life
Johnson's schedule won't lighten any time soon. Next semester he'll be coaching, taking his final classes and serving his internship at Mecosta County Medical Center where his primary assignment will be helping individuals cope with personal crises.

"I'll be working with children who have been abused and with families of children who have been in accidents," he said.

Johnson has a full plate, but trying to decide which career path to pursue isn't troubling him.
"I love coaching, and I love working with kids," he said.

Whether he continues coaching and volunteers his time to work with troubled youth or accepts a job as a social worker and starts his own youth football league, Andre Johnson will find a way to blend his two goals.