Ewu Athletic Director Heads To Weber State Johnson Moves On, But Stays In Big Sky

REPLAY: Sports, January 23, 1997: John Johnson will become athletic director at Weber State in 1998. Until then, he will be senior associate atheltic director.

John Johnson announced Tuesday that he will step down as athletic director at Eastern Washington University to accept a similar position at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

Johnson, 37, will replace Dutch Belnap, 64, who has tendered his resignation, effective April 1, after serving just one year at Weber State.

Johnson said he will take over his new duties the first of March and work with Belnap through a transition period. “I think it’s a good move for me,” said Johnson, who took over as Eastern’s A.D. in 1993, after serving as a marketing intern, assistant A.D. and associate A.D. following his graduation in 1982.

Johnson, a graduate of East Valley High School, was a starting wide receiver for the 1981 and ‘82 EWU football teams after transferring from Montana State.

“I was an athlete as Eastern, I went to school at Eastern and I started my career at Eastern,” he said.

“Basically, I’ve never left. This gives me the opportunity for a new and broader experience with different people in a different part of the country, and I think that’s beneficial.”

Questions concerning the process to find Johnson’s replacement were directed toward Ken Dolan, assistant to president Mark Drummond. But Dolan was said to be in meetings late Tuesday and did not return phone calls.

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