Corban Names New Director of Athletics

6/16/2009 9:05:52 PM

SALEM, Ore. – Former Olympic bronze medalist and current South Salem High School Director of Athletics Dave Johnson has been named as Corban's new Director of Athletics, as announced Wednesday by Dr. Dave Bale, Dean of Athletics and Athletic Activity at Corban College.

“I am very excited about having Dave Johnson as our next Director of Athletics.” commented Bale. “Dave brings a number of things to Corban Athletics, one of which is an upbeat winner’s attitude. When you put together a world-class athlete who loves the Lord, sincerely cares about the lives of student-athletes, and has a passion to develop programs, how can we not look forward to a great future for Corban College Athletics. We were looking for someone who could generate local and regional excitement for our programs and I believe we have found him in Dave Johnson.”

During his two years at nearby South Salem High School, Johnson helped spearhead a $1.3 million facility renovation campaign that included a new 70,000 square-foot synthetic FieldTurf surface and the christening of the new Giedo Caldarazzo Stadium used for all major Saxon football and soccer events. Johnson was also instrumental in a project updating scoreboards at South Salem High School athletic venues. At South, Johnson was responsible for the administration and leadership of 17 sports programs, which included oversight of athletics schedules, staff, eligibility standards and event management.

“A goal of mine over the past few years has been to join the Corban family,” said Johnson. “I feel that the Christian College atmosphere is a great asset to an job-setting and that Corban is the place where God is calling me to be at this time. With the new direction that Dr. Bale is taking the athletic department, I feel that I can come in and help the process as well as move Warrior Athletics towards the future.”

Prior to coming to South, Johnson served two years as Director of Athletics and Vice Principal at Jefferson High School. In addition to administrative duties at Jefferson, Johnson worked with other schools and the Oregon School Activities Association to create a new PacWest Conference when the OSAA re-classified competitive divisions in 2006.

Johnson, a graduate of Cresent Valley High School in Corvallis, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University in 1986 before returning to his alma mater to receive his Master’s Degree in Special Education in 2003. As a member of APU’s nationally-known track & field program, Johnson tutored under former Olympic head coach Terry Franson. During that time and for more than a decade, Johnson ranked among the top international decathletes of his day, competing in four straight Olympic Trials (1984, ’88, ’92, & ’96), while qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team twice, first in 1988, and then again in 1992. While training for the 1992 Olympic, Johnson suffered a broken foot. Resisting medical advice urging him to discontinue, Johnson pressed on to capture the bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics and became the first American medalist in the decathlon since Bruce Jenner's gold medal effort at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Johnson's inspiring Olympic experience and Christian faith are highlighted in the 1994 autobiography Aim High, published by Zondervan.

Leading up to the ’92 Summer Games, Johnson was involved in an eight-month, world-wide Reebok campaign known as Dan and Dave featuring Johnson with fellow Olympic-hopeful Dan O’Brien in a series of popular TV commercials. Reebok’s goal was to promote a “Clash of the Titans” theme in Barcelona, as both Oregonians battled for the gold medal and coveted title of “World’s Greatest Athlete.” Unfortunately, O’Brien failed to qualify at the Olympic Trials, forcing Reebok to re-work its campaign with the focus on Johnson’s pursuit of Olympic gold.

“The goals were high for myself during the summer of ’92,” commented Johnson. “Despite competing on a broken foot, I knew that God had a vision for my future. Since then, I have seen a lot of things happen in my life that have led up to this point and I feel that the Lord has molded everything in my life for a reason. God brought me to Corban for a reason and I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Johnson, who will assume duties at Corban on July 1st, currently resides in Salem with his wife, Sheri, and four children (Alexandra, Makenzie, Gabriel, and Eliason), while also working as an Olympic & motivational speaker for clients such as Reebok, IBM, VISA, and Billy Graham. Johnson and his family attend Morning Star Community Church in South Salem.

NOTE: Along with the announcement about the college's new Director of Athletics, Dr. Bale stated that Donny Zavala will also be joining the Warrior Athletic family as the Gym Facility Manager effective July 1st.