For my friend, Paul Johnson, coaching isn’t about wins and losses, it’s about life lessons, just like it should be.

In this episode, I sat down with my longtime friend, Paul Johnson to talk about his 30 years of coaching baseball in the inner-city of Philadelphia.  A recipient of the Quarter Century of Leadership & Dedication to Baseball Award from the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) in 2014, Paul has dedicated his life to giving back and teaching leadership skills and life lessons through the game of baseball.  A coaching philosophy that we have both shared throughout our careers.  Paul has a legacy of producing young men who have gone on to be productive members of society.

Paul has used the game of baseball to give back to the youth of his community.  He is a man of faith and has dedicated his life to mentoring the youth of his community.  Growing up in West Philadelphia, Paul grew to love the game of baseball.  As his playing days were coming to an end, his passion for the game and wanting to give back to his community grew even stronger.  He saw coaching as a way that he could stay involved with the game that he loved growing up while also helping the kids in his community.

Beginning in 1990, Johnson has coached on the youth and/or collegiate levels each year. These include stints as the Salvation Army West Philadelphia Orioles (ages 9-12), the White Sox (ages 13-15) in Yeadon, the Gray Sox (ages 16-18/19) and most of the seasons since 1995 as the Philly Area Black Sox (ages 16-19) with several affiliations including the Sayre Recreation Center, The Lighthouse and the Philadelphia Phillies RBI program.

At the collegiate level, Johnson had head coaching stints with Lincoln University and Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University).  He has also been an assistant with Bucks County Community College, Montgomery County Community College, Drexel University (club baseball), and Coppin State University.

After 30 years, Paul is still going strong and is as passionate as ever.  Like most of us who have coached, the connection that he shares with his players, both past and present is what continues to fuel his drive.