Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Nevada [Exh] on October 17, 2025
![Nevada [Exh]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Futahutes.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2FNevadaAthletics_Navy.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
Men's Basketball
vs Nevada [Exh]
![Oregon [Exh]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/crop?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Futahutes.com%2Fimages%2Flogos%2Foregon.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
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Men's Basketball
Johnson, Justin
Justin Johnson
- Title:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach
- Email:
- jj@huntsman.utah.edu
- Phone:
- 385-547-4454
Justin Johnson enters his fourth year with the Utah men's basketball team and first year as an assistant coach after serving as the special assistant to the head coach on Craig Smith’s staff in a similar capacity at Utah State (2018-21).
Johnson and Smith formed their relationship back in the late 90s when he played at Minot State. After playing three seasons (1997-2000) for the Beavers, he served as a student assistant for the 2000-01 season. Johnson then moved on to North Dakota State (2001-03) where he served as a student assistant alongside Smith, who was then an assistant coach under Tim Miles.
Prior to joining Smith at Mayville State as an assistant coach (2004-07), Johnson was an assistant coach at Berthold High School. During his time as an assistant coach under Smith, the Comets basketball program made the biggest turnaround in school history and went from 1-27 the year prior to earning a berth in the NAIA Division II National Tournament. The Comets would make the national tournament all three seasons they were at Mayville State together, culminating in an appearance in the NAIA Division II National Championship game. Along the way, the Comets won back-to-back regular-season and tournament championships their last two seasons.
Johnson then took over the Comets program after Smith departed for Colorado State from 2007-12. While at the helm, he guided Mayville State to a third-place finish in league play after losing 10 seniors from the national runner-up team a season prior. In his third season, Johnson led the Comets to an upset over Division I North Dakota – the first victory over a Division I team in program history. Johnson’s teams were ranked in the top-five nationally in several categories throughout his tenure and coached six players to all-conference selections under his watch. Johnson was also the school’s sports information director while he was the head coach.
After leading the Comets for five seasons, Johnson went into the private sector where he had a successful business career as well as becoming North Dakota’s top-ranked racquetball player – winning 27 amateur tournaments in six years. Johnson also competed part-time on the International Racquetball Tour, racquetball’s professional circuit, where he recorded an upset against the No. 17-ranked player in the world in September of 2017. He teamed up with Hall-of-Famer Sudsy Monchik in January of 2018 to win a doubles championship in his last pro event before reuniting with Smith at Utah State.
He received his bachelor’s in mass communications at North Dakota State in 2003 before earning a master’s in sport and recreation management at NDSU in 2006.
Johnson is married to Jaime Nett-Johnson and have a son, Alex.
Johnson and Smith formed their relationship back in the late 90s when he played at Minot State. After playing three seasons (1997-2000) for the Beavers, he served as a student assistant for the 2000-01 season. Johnson then moved on to North Dakota State (2001-03) where he served as a student assistant alongside Smith, who was then an assistant coach under Tim Miles.
Prior to joining Smith at Mayville State as an assistant coach (2004-07), Johnson was an assistant coach at Berthold High School. During his time as an assistant coach under Smith, the Comets basketball program made the biggest turnaround in school history and went from 1-27 the year prior to earning a berth in the NAIA Division II National Tournament. The Comets would make the national tournament all three seasons they were at Mayville State together, culminating in an appearance in the NAIA Division II National Championship game. Along the way, the Comets won back-to-back regular-season and tournament championships their last two seasons.
Johnson then took over the Comets program after Smith departed for Colorado State from 2007-12. While at the helm, he guided Mayville State to a third-place finish in league play after losing 10 seniors from the national runner-up team a season prior. In his third season, Johnson led the Comets to an upset over Division I North Dakota – the first victory over a Division I team in program history. Johnson’s teams were ranked in the top-five nationally in several categories throughout his tenure and coached six players to all-conference selections under his watch. Johnson was also the school’s sports information director while he was the head coach.
After leading the Comets for five seasons, Johnson went into the private sector where he had a successful business career as well as becoming North Dakota’s top-ranked racquetball player – winning 27 amateur tournaments in six years. Johnson also competed part-time on the International Racquetball Tour, racquetball’s professional circuit, where he recorded an upset against the No. 17-ranked player in the world in September of 2017. He teamed up with Hall-of-Famer Sudsy Monchik in January of 2018 to win a doubles championship in his last pro event before reuniting with Smith at Utah State.
He received his bachelor’s in mass communications at North Dakota State in 2003 before earning a master’s in sport and recreation management at NDSU in 2006.
Johnson is married to Jaime Nett-Johnson and have a son, Alex.
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