Temple University Athletics
Owls Hire Taver Johnson as Defensive Coordinator
1.11.17 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Temple head coach Geoff Collins has appointed Taver Johnson as the Owls' defensive coordinator.
"Taver Johnson is an outstanding coach, a relentless recruiter and a positive role model for his players," said Collins. "He has experience coaching several positions throughout his career and has excelled at every university he's been a part of. What I like most about him is his passion for the game and his love for the players he coaches. He really stood out in this process as a man who fit into the beliefs, philosophies and overall mentality that is Temple Football."
Johnson, who has 23 years of coaching experience, comes to the Owls from Purdue where he served as the defensive backs coach for the past three seasons. Johnson led the Boilermakers as they intercepted 10-or-more passes each year from 2014-16. Previously, Johnson coached at Arkansas for two years first as the Razorbacks linebackers coach in 2012 and then as defensive backs coach in 2013. He also served as interim head coach for Arkansas in the spring of 2012.
Johnson spent 13 years coaching in the state of Ohio. He served as Ohio State's defensive backs coach from 2007-10, where he mentored three consensus All-Americans in Malcolm Jenkins (2008), Kurt Coleman (2009), and Chimdi Chekwa (2010). Johnson's coaching experience in Ohio also includes being at Miami (Ohio) as a defensive coordinator (2005-06) and linebackers coach (2000-03), the Cleveland Browns special team coordinator in 2004.
He also served three years at Millikin University as the strength and conditioning coach (1996), linebackers coach (1997), and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach (1998), along with a season as a graduate assistant for Notre Dame (1999).
The Cincinnati native remained at home for college attending Division III Wittenberg, where he graduated with a degree in business administration. On the field, the four-year letterman was dominant, playing for the Tigers from 1990-93.
Â
Â
"Taver Johnson is an outstanding coach, a relentless recruiter and a positive role model for his players," said Collins. "He has experience coaching several positions throughout his career and has excelled at every university he's been a part of. What I like most about him is his passion for the game and his love for the players he coaches. He really stood out in this process as a man who fit into the beliefs, philosophies and overall mentality that is Temple Football."
Johnson, who has 23 years of coaching experience, comes to the Owls from Purdue where he served as the defensive backs coach for the past three seasons. Johnson led the Boilermakers as they intercepted 10-or-more passes each year from 2014-16. Previously, Johnson coached at Arkansas for two years first as the Razorbacks linebackers coach in 2012 and then as defensive backs coach in 2013. He also served as interim head coach for Arkansas in the spring of 2012.
Johnson spent 13 years coaching in the state of Ohio. He served as Ohio State's defensive backs coach from 2007-10, where he mentored three consensus All-Americans in Malcolm Jenkins (2008), Kurt Coleman (2009), and Chimdi Chekwa (2010). Johnson's coaching experience in Ohio also includes being at Miami (Ohio) as a defensive coordinator (2005-06) and linebackers coach (2000-03), the Cleveland Browns special team coordinator in 2004.
He also served three years at Millikin University as the strength and conditioning coach (1996), linebackers coach (1997), and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach (1998), along with a season as a graduate assistant for Notre Dame (1999).
The Cincinnati native remained at home for college attending Division III Wittenberg, where he graduated with a degree in business administration. On the field, the four-year letterman was dominant, playing for the Tigers from 1990-93.
Â
Ep. 4: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Men's Soccer Captain Lukas Egarter
Tuesday, September 16
Avery Powell, 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
JoJo Bermudez, 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
K.C. Keeler, 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
