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“I am indebted to Fairfield University not only for allowing me to lead our men's basketball program to success on the court but also for supporting me in my desire to serve our students in positive and impactful ways across our campus,” Johnson said.
He lost out to Zach Spiker — the newly hired head coach at Drexel University — when the award was announced Monday in Houston at the men's NCAA men's basketball championship.
Johnson led the Stags to 19 wins this year, only the 10th Fairfield squad in the last 50 years to win that many games.
Fairfield had one of the best single-season turnarounds in Division I this year, ranking among the top five in the nation all season long. The Stags, who won seven games in 2014-15, posted a 19-14 record overall and a 12-8 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
The team’s win improvement was as high as third in the nation at different points this season.
Named after the late head coach at Wake Forest who died in 2007, the Skip Prosser Award is presented annually to those who not only achieve success on the basketball court but who display moral integrity off of it as well.
Prosser posted a career record of 291-146 in 14 seasons as a head coach at Loyola, Xavier and Wake Forest. During his time at Wake Forest, Prosser’s teams averaged 21 wins per season while playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Prosser Award also recognizes a coach’s commitment to the community and his willingness to give back to individuals through his work off the court.
Johnson was recently recognized for his efforts in the community. He was named one of the recipients of Fairfield University’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Award, presented to a faculty member, an administrator, a staff member or a student who demonstrates a commitment to the ideals and values of the civil rights leader.
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