Vikings turn to an ex-Viking to guide football


Siuslaw graduate Sam Johnson (Class of 2014) has been named head football coach of the Vikings, district superintendent Andy Grzeskowiak announced Thursday.

"This is a dream job for me," Johnson told Coast Radio. "It's where I grew up, the people I love, it's everything I could ever want in a job."

Johnson played football, basketball and baseball for the Vikings. He was first-team all-Far West League as a wide receiver and defensive back his senior year.

Most recently, Johnson has served as an assistant football coach at Pleasant Hill.

Oddly enough, the Vikings will open the season with a jamboree featuring the Billies and Bandon, then play Pleasant Hill in a league game Oct. 18 at Hans Petersen Field.

SIUSLAW COACHES
Based on research by Don Hunt
T.S. Thompson, 1938, no record available
Pop Britton, 1939-?, no record available
James Bitonti, 1949-50, 5 wins, 11 losses, 1 tie
R. F. Richardson, 1951-54, 11-18-1
Cliff Saxton, 1955-56, 12-5-1
Jerry Judy, 1957-59, 15-11-1
Russ Morris, 1960, 1-7-1
Erv Garrison, 1961-64, 19-16-1
Jim Sweagarden, 1965-66, 12-5-1
Len Lutero, 1967-95, 196-90-2
Tim Dodson, 1996-2015, 151-58
Jamin Pool, 2016-17, 3-13
Chad Smith, 2018, 0-8

Johnson replaces one-year coach Chad Smith. Smith will continue as head girls basketball coach at Siuslaw.

Johnson played his Vikings football under Tim Dodson, the last Vikings player to later head the program.

As a senior, Johnson was a first-team all-star at wide receiver and defensive back in the Far West League. He had 48 pass receptions for 692 yards (eighth in school history) and six touchdowns.

Johnson will join the mathematics department at Siuslaw High School.

2019 SIUSLAW VIKINGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

  • Monday, Aug. 19 — First practice
  • Friday, Aug. 30 — Jamboree, Hans Petersen Field, vs. Pleasant Hill 5 p.m., vs. Bandon 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 6 — at Elmira, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 13 — at Philomath, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 20 — Newport, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 28 — McLoughlin/Griswold, Madras High School, 4 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 4 — Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 11 — at Santiam Christian, Adair Village, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 18 — Pleasant Hill, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 25 — La Pine, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 1 — at Sutherlin, 7 p.m.