Kris Johnson was named the Bulldogs interim Head Men's Basketball coach on December 13, 2017. He is in his seventh season as a member of the SWOSU coaching staff, spending the last four-plus seasons as the lead assistant for Bob Battisti.
In four seasons as a full-time assistant at SWOSU, Johnson has helped tutor the Bulldogs to three winning seasons, with at least 16 victories each year. The Bulldogs finished 17-12 in 2015-16, finishing fourth in the Great American Conference standings before being eliminated from the GAC Tournament in the quarterfinals. SWOSU had two players earn All-GAC honors, with Martell Collins claiming a first team honor and Markeise Champion garnering honorable mention.
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During his five years at SWOSU, Johnson has coached eight players who have earned all-conference honors, including one conference player of the year and two defensive players of the year. The Bulldogs have also had two players named to the GAC All-Tournament Team and 12 earn GAC All-Academic distinction.
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SWOSU finished the 2014-15 season strongly by reaching the semifinals of the GAC Tournament after knocking off regular season GAC Champion Ouachita Baptist in the opening round. Following the season, the Bulldogs had one player earn All-GAC honors as Martell Collins was named a second team selection.
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In his first season as a full-time assistant at SWOSU, Johnson helped the Bulldogs finish 17-10 overall with a 14-6 record in conference action that placed SWOSU second in the Great American Conference. The Bulldogs were led by GAC Player of the Year Rod Camphor, who became just the second SWOSU player of the NCAA II era to earn All-America accolades after being named a honorable mention selection by the Division II Bulletin.
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Johnson also mentored Michael Bradley, who became the Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Year after ranking second in the conference in blocked shots. SWOSU ranked fourth in the GAC in scoring defense while the Bulldogs committed the just 243 turnovers (9.0/game), the fewest in NCAA Division II.
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Johnson spent the previous two years as a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs, helping the team earn two GAC Tournament appearances, including a spot in the inaugural championship game in 2012. He came to SWOSU after two years as the graduate assistant at his alma mater, Northwestern Oklahoma State, where he helped guide the Rangers to a 20-win season in 2011.
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A native of Kansas City, Mo., Johnson played in two NAIA National Tournaments for Northwestern. After a four-year playing stint and playing in 109 games, he helped lead his 2006-2007 team to an Elite Eight finish, finishing his playing career with a record of 77-49, including two 20 win seasons. Johnson also earned a prestigious distinction by being selected as the 2009 NAIA Champions of Character award winner.
Additionally, he served as Northwestern’s Student Government President during the 2008-09 school year and worked as the Sports Information assistant for two seasons. Prior to attending Northwestern, Coach Johnson attended Ruskin High School, where he was a recipient of the 2004 NAIA Champions of Character Award and an all-conference performer.
Johnson holds two degrees from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications in May of 2009 and a master’s degree in Adult Education Management and Administration in May of 2011.
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THE JOHNSON FILE
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Coaching Career
December 2017-Present: Southwestern Oklahoma State (Interim Head Coach)
2013-17: Southwestern Oklahoma State (Assistant Coach)
2011-13: Southwestern Oklahoma State (Graduate Assistant)
2009-11: Northwestern Oklahoma State (Graduate Assistant)
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Playing Career
2005-08: Northwestern Oklahoma State
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Education
Northwestern Oklahoma State
  Bachelors of Mass Communications, 2009
  Masters of Adult Education Management, 2011
