Mitch Johnson is retiring as coach of Fountain-Fort Carson. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
After days of speculation over the future of his status at Fountain-Fort Carson, legendary football coach Mitch Johnson has decided to retire.
His son Bret made the announcement on Facebook on Thursday morning, saying, “Today my Dad officially announced that he will be retiring as the Head Football Coach of Fountain Ft-Carson High School after 37 years. This was a very tough decision for him.”
Johnson confirmed his retirement in an open letter to “Trojan Football Players, Parents, FFC Staff and Trojan Nation” on Thursday afternoon.
“The reality of saying goodbye to the people I love and respect is a difficult challenge: coaches, teachers, support staff and parents,” he wrote. “It is really difficult to say goodbye to the most important group; the 3,000-plus student-athletes who participated and supported the football program from 1986-2015.”
Johnson had been the coach of the Trojans since 1987 and finished his career with 207 wins, according to the CHSAA football record book. That total places him 18th all-time.
His retirement ends three days of questions raised about his future. Rob Namnoum of KRDO in Colorado Springs reported Monday night that changes in the school’s administration led to coaches being notified that they needed to reapply for their positions.
According to various media reports in the market, Johnson felt at that point that his time as the coach of the Trojans had come to an end.
Rather than dive into the process and let it play out, he decided to make the choice on his own and step away.
Since moving up to Class 5A in 2010, FFC reached the state playoffs every year under Johnson. In 2014, the Trojans advanced to the 5A quarterfinals where they fell to Granvdiew 28-7. Johnson’s team had jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the game.
Johnson played high school football for the Trojans before playing college ball at what was then the University of Southern Colorado. The school is now known as CSU-Pueblo.
Johnson joined the FFC coaching staff in 1979 before becoming in the head coach in 1987. He was inducted to the Colorado High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012.
Johnson’s departure creates another opening for a head football job. Follow all of the movement this offseason here.
Johnson’s full open letter is below.
An Open Letter to Trojan Football Players, Parents, FFC Staff and Trojan Nation,
It amazes me how time goes by so quickly and it was only yesterday when I fielded my first varsity team in 1986. Fast forward to the 2015 season twenty nine years later with the Trojans completing another successful winning season in Colorado’s largest classification. The reality of saying good-bye to the people I love and respect is a difficult challenge: coaches, teachers, support staff and parents. It is really difficult to say good-bye to the most important group; the 3000 plus student/ athletes who participated and supported the football program from 1986-2015.
The greatest title one can hold is to be called “Teacher and Coach”. Every coach wants to WIN but the real measurement of success has been focused on the growth and development of our players as they enter the real world of competition- LIFE. The game of football is a blueprint to becoming better sons, husbands, fathers and contributors of our society. Collectively, the players and I have shared a common bond of loyalty and trust as we navigated our journeys together. In the end, each player has impacted and blessed my life daily with memories, joyful moments of victory and the emptiness of defeat. I want to thank EACH player for being my “Teacher and Coach.”
As I reflect on my career, the true prize was not always focused on the scoreboard, records, awards and titles but the lasting relationships that were built along the way. I cannot begin to recognize everyone but please know that ALL of YOU hold a very special place deep in my heart as the memories we have built will be cherished for a lifetime.
Today is extremely difficult as I retire from my position as Head Football Coach. Next year will be tough and almost unbearable for me not being involved in Trojan Football. All of the memories from early morning S.O.B Camp, Practices, Scouting Reports, Coaching Meetings, Assemblies, Parent Nights, Varsity Games, JV Games, Freshman Games, Bus Rides, Playoff Games, Saturday Film and Lord’s Prayer hand in hand huddled together as a TEAM on the thirty yard line will be missed next football season.
In closing, all journeys are made to have a start and finish so please don’t be sad because our time has ended, instead be happy because we experienced an opportunity to be a part of something GREAT TOGETHER! I will always be a Trojan, but the time has come for me to pass my armor and sword, to another. I entrust them to fight the good fight by Honoring and Protecting the Proud Tradition of Trojan Football!
I thank all of you for the wonderful memories that are etched deep in my heart, and may God Bless our journeys until they bring us together again.
Coach Johnson