Edward Waters College head baseball coach Reginald Johnson II began his college career on a full music scholarship at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida but transferred to Edward Waters on a full baseball scholarship, playing first base. He later coached and was the assistant band director at Ed White High School before becoming head baseball coach at EWC starting with the 2012 season.
Though his goal for the Tigers is to win, Johnson is more of a coach who believes first and foremost for the student-athletes to come together as a family unit and not take academics for granted. Johnson, A graduate of Edward Waters, puts the focus on a mutually exclusive group that deals with education both on and off the field. A belief system that focuses both in and out the classroom, where communication is as important as baseball potential.
He believes his team can succeed through family values that lead towards balance within a team atmosphere. It has also resonated on the field as well.
Johnson was selected as GCAC Coach of the Year Award during the 2015 season after leading the Tigers to the GCAC regular season title. Under Johnson helm, EWC finished the regular season with a 34-22 mark, including going 13-2 against GCAC competition. Their 34 total wins that season is the most since the 2011 season when they finished with a 35-26 record.
Johnson also coached Jesse Baker EWC’s first baseball player to receive the GCAC Player of the Year award and was also awarded a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-America designation. His naming was the first in the college’s history.
Black College Nines caught up with the crafty baseball coach as part of our on-going podcast series that reflects on the daily grind of coaching Historically Black College and University (HBCU) baseball.
