Navy Coach Johnson To Coach Georgia Tech

Friday, December 7th 2007, 2:42 pm

By: News On 6

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Navy football coach Paul Johnson, who turned around a struggling Navy football program, told his team Friday he has accepted the head coaching job at Georgia Tech, Navy's associate athletic director for sports information said.

Johnson, who has coached the Midshipmen for six years, informed the team at an 11:45 a.m. meeting at the service academy's Ricketts Hall, where the football offices are located, said Scott Strasemeier, Navy's associate athletic director for sports information.

The Midshipmen had a miserable 1-20 record in the two seasons before Johnson took over. He had a 2-10 record in his first season, but turned things around quickly. He led the Midshipmen to five-straight bowl games, a school record. Navy will play Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 20 in San Diego.

Johnson has a 45-29 record at Navy.

Johnson also has been very successful against the other service academies. He got his sixth straight win against rival Army last week, an unprecedented streak.

Earlier this season, Navy beat Notre Dame for the first time in 44 years, 46-44 win in three overtimes.

Navy has been known for its rushing attack under Johnson, breaking school records for rushing yards per game.

Johnson will replace Chan Gailey, who was fired after the 7-5 regular season.

Johnson came to Navy from Georgia Southern, where he lead the Eagles to two national championships. Overall, Johnson is 107-39 in 11 seasons as a head coach.