In six seasons at Cleveland East Side, Tavares Johnson took a football program noted for its strong tradition to new heights.

In Johnson’s last two seasons, East Side went 24-4. This included the best season in school history, 14-1, and a spot in the Class 3A semifinals.

Johnson now awaits his next challenge. On Friday morning, he was introduced to the Vicksburg Warren Board of Trustees as the new football coach at Vicksburg High School. He replaces Alonzo Stevens, who retired in November after 11 seasons as the Gators’ head coach.

Johnson said he is excited about the opportunity.

“I want to hone my craft and I want to be challenged,” Johnson said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to learn and go up against schools like a Madison Central.”

Vicksburg Warren District superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford said Johnson is the right fit for the Gators.

“We felt like we’ve done our homework and have found an excellent individual,” Swinford said. “We want to hire teachers first who also coach. That’s what we’ve found in Coach Johnson, a teacher who coaches. He’s proven to be a leader both morally and athletically.”

Zelmarine Murphy, the Board of Trustees president, was also enthusiastic about the hiring of Johnson.

“We’re impressed that he pushes academics,” Murphy said. “We feel we have a mature coach.”

Johnson brings a military background to the Vicksburg High job. He spent 11 years in the United States Navy as a petty officer in the Atlantic Ordnance Command, and served in both the Gulf War and in Operation Enduring Freedom.

“I did a lot of the search and seizures when we ran the blockades off Yemen,” Johnson said. “I’d be in my little boat and then have to stop and get aboard those big boats and check for contraband.”

Johnson feels his military service gave him the guidance he needed after finishing high school at East Side, where he was a standout guard and linebacker from 1990-92.

“The United States Navy did a great deal for me. I live by its motto: “Honor. Courage. Discipline,” Johnson said.

During his time in the Navy, Johnson worked on his bachelors degree and earned it in 2002 at the University of Southern Illinois. When he left the service, he got his first football coaching job at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Fla.

“They had not had football there for 50 years, but we resurrected the program,” Johnson said.

He coached linebackers in his first season and produced an honorable mention All-American. In 2004, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and helped lead Edward Waters to a conference championship and No. 14 ranking in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities poll.

In 2005, Johnson moved back to his native Bolivar County to be with his ill mother. He took the head coaching job at John F. Kennedy in Mound Bayou.

“Mound Bayou had gone winless the year before, but we turned it around and won some games,” he said.

A year later, he took the head coaching job at East Side and went 7-5 in his first season. After two rebuilding seasons, Johnson had the Trojans moving upward in 2009 with an 8-4 finish. In 2010, he moved his ninth grade son, Tavares, Jr., into the starting quarterback role and the Trojans went on to a 10-3 season, which included a playoff win

Last season, the Trojans went 14-1 and advanced to the Class 3A semifinals where they lost to eventual state champion Charleston. Johnson’s son keyed the Trojans’ attack by passing for 2,839 yards and 28 touchdowns. In two seasons as a starter, Tavares Jr. has thrown for 4,479 yards with 47 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

Johnson Sr., said he will bring his version of the spread he calls the “Hobo” to Vicksburg. The offense led Class 3A in scoring at 41 points per game.

“It’s what I call ‘High Octane, Big Offense.’ We want to score points. We want to score points as fast as we can. It’s my version of the spread. It’s a lot of spread, but it also has option, and some Wing-T elements mixed in,” Johnson said.

On defense, Johnson said the Gators will be aggressive.

“I play an odd front. I like it because you can adjust it to any kind of offense that you face. I love linebackers and we’re going to have four out there and maybe a fifth, if I can work it in. We’ll have three down linemen and they’ll be the best three we have. We’re going to be sound,” Johnson said.

As for player discipline, which VHS principal Derrick Reed said was a determining factor in choosing Johnson over 11 interviewed applicants and 50 overall, Johnson said he has a firm approach.

“We’re going to focus on attention to detail and hold kids accountable,” Johnson said. “Kids crave structure and that’s what we’ll bring. Coaching is a very unique profession. They are no set hours. I will do the time necessary to get the job done.”