SAN JOSE — Stephen Johnson will step down as head coach of the Branham football team after the conclusion of the Bruins’ 2024 season, he exclusively told the Bay Area News Group on Friday.
Johnson, who has coached the Bruins since 2018, said multiple factors played a role in his decision to leave Branham’s sideline after this year. The most impactful one? He needs to focus on his own overall well-being.
“At the end of the day, I’ve got to put myself first,” Johnson said. “I’ve never put myself first ever. I’m a very selfless person, and I really put everything else before me, and I figure it out when it comes to me. But I think it’s time for once in my life to finally say, ‘Hey, it’s time to grow up. It’s time to get your act together.’ It’s time to think about long-term security and stability financially, emotionally, mentally, all that stuff.”
In his seven years in charge of Branham’s program, Johnson has compiled an overall record of 50-22. During his seven-year tenure, the Bruins have been promoted from the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Santa Teresa Division to its Santa Teresa – Foothill Division, and finally this season to its highest division, the Mt. Hamilton.
Branham advanced to the CCS Division IV championship game in 2022, losing 23-15 to Santa Teresa. The Bruins won outright or shared league championships under Johnson in 2023, 2022 and 2019.
Substitute teaching has been Johnson’s day job while coaching the Bruins. He loves working with Branham’s players, but at this point, he feels he needs to prioritize his professional career over his passion.
“Not even just a teaching position, I’m just looking for just a job in general,” Johnson said. “If I can coach, that’s great, but right now I just need a job, a job with benefits, a job that allows me to live comfortably and not go to bed hungry during the summer time. I don’t work during the summer because I sub.”
Branham coach Stephen Johnson is photographed on the sidelines in the in the second half of a game at Lincoln-San Jose in 2022. (Photo by Josie Lepe)
This decision, which Johnson informed his players of after their 42-13 win over Leigh on Friday night, is one he has wrestled with. The emotions of parting ways with his players are difficult to handle.
“Being the head coach at Branham High School is my identity,” Johnson said. “The job and the title, every ounce of it through and through, it is me. The idea that this thing that I’ve identified with for so long and made it my personality, my whole entire being, it’s definitely a tough pill to swallow. It’s not that I want to do it. I have to do it, unfortunately.”
Johnson will finish out this campaign with Branham in the CCS playoffs, which the Bruins have qualified for after a 7-3 overall regular season and third-place finish (4-2) in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division.
“I want to continue to make these guys the best …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
