NC State basketball assistant James Johnson will not return for Wolfpack next season
N.C. State’s men’s basketball staff is getting a complete overhaul this offseason.
James Johnson, who has served as an assistant coach under Kevin Keatts since 2017, is leaving. N.C. State sports information director Craig Hammel confirmed the news Tuesday.
The Wolfpack went 11-21 last season and just 4-16 in the ACC. Many felt Keatts, who got a vote of confidence from athletic director Boo Corrigan late in the season, needed to make some changes on the bench.
Keatts hired two new assistants earlier this year — Levi Watkins and Kareem Richardson — replacing Roy Roberson and Mike Summey.
Johnson, a college teammate of Keatts at Ferrum, was the Wolfpack’s longest-tenured assistant coach.
Keatts and Johnson previously worked together at Hargrave Military Academy. Johnson arrived in Raleigh after two seasons at Miami. He also had coaching stops at Virginia Tech, George Mason, Penn State, College of Charleston, Elon, Old Dominion and Longwood.
He was the Hokies’ head coach for two seasons, with an overall record of 22-41.
The offseason turnover has not been limited to the coaching staff. Four players entered the transfer portal, while Keatts has signed three players — Dusan Mahorcic, Jarkel Joiner, Jack Clark — from the portal so far.
N.C. State is waiting on decisions from guards Dereon Seabron and Terquavion Smith, who entered the NBA Draft but did not hire an agent, meaning both could return to the school with eligibility remaining.
This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 12:23 PM with the headline "NC State basketball assistant James Johnson will not return for Wolfpack next season."
