Pace Academy Head Football coach attends class of players to see how they learn.

From the trenches to the top — meet Pace Academy's new head football coach After 15 years in the trenches coaching Pace Academy's offensive line, Kevin Johnson is stepping into the head coach role — and he brings one of the most decorated resumes in Georgia high school football with him. In this episode, Coach Johnson sits down with us to talk about his journey from Brooklyn youth football to the sidelines at Pace, what it means to lead a program with championship DNA, and why his mission goes far beyond wins and losses. "More than winning games, my goal is to help our student-athletes grow as leaders and individuals who carry these lessons beyond the field. It starts by building a foundation within. This is the opportunity of a lifetime." ABOUT COACH JOHNSON Kevin Johnson's coaching career is built on a simple belief — the lessons learned on the football field shape you for life. Before arriving at Pace in 2010, he cut his teeth coaching youth football in Brooklyn, New York, where his teams reached four state title games and won three, earning him Big Apple Coach of the Year honors in 2006, 2008, and 2009. At Pace, Johnson transformed the Knights' offensive line into one of the program's most consistent units, earning Offensive Line Coach of the Year recognition in 2014, 2015, and 2023. He was a key piece of the 2015 state championship staff — a team that produced four NFL players. As a student athlete himself, Johnson was a four-sport standout who earned all-state honors twice before going on to play college football at the University of South Carolina. He knows exactly what it takes to develop from a young athlete into a serious competitor — and now he's bringing that perspective to the head coach role. If this episode fired you up, hit subscribe and drop a comment below — we want to hear from you. Share this with a coach, parent, or student athlete who needs to see it. #PaceAcademy #KevinJohnson #TheAthletesPortal #HighSchoolFootball #StudentAthletes #CollegeRecruiting #FootballCoach #YouthSports #GeorgiaFootball #NFLPipeline #CoachLife #ServantLeadership #Athletedevelopment #2026Football #KnightsFootball #SportsPodcast #NIL #WinningCultureAbout TAP PodcastThe TAP Podcast offers a powerful look into the fast-changing landscape of youth sports through the lens of those who shape it. Each episode spotlights the voices that make up the student-athlete ecosystem—parents, coaches, trainers, mental health professionals, videographers, financial advisors, and NIL agents—capturing how they guide, support, and influence today’s athletes. Through insightful conversations and real stories, TAP examines how student athletes are navigating the pressures of recruiting, the rise of social media, and the expanding opportunities within the NIL era. The show goes beyond the game, exploring the mental, emotional, and practical tools needed to help student athletes thrive on and off the field. Our Mission To deliver the essential playbook for student athlete success—in the classroom, in competition, and throughout life.