RICHMOND, Ind. â€" Earlham College announced on Tuesday that Nick Johnson '01 has been promoted to head football coach.

Johnson, who was in his 12th year as the head men's and women's track coach, also has nine years of coaching experience with the football program. From 2003-07, he was linebackers coach, and from 2007-12 he was defensive coordinator.

"Nick brings a wealth of real-life Earlham experience to the program that will be valuable as we enter a new era of Quakers football and recruit future classes of successful scholar-athletes to campus," Director of Athletics Mike Bergum says. "He understands what it takes to be a successful on and off the field.

"He is also committed to helping us find new ways to reconnect alumni to the football program," he says.

Johnson replaces Neil Kazmierczak, who coached the Quakers the last three seasons.

"My goal is to enhance the student-athlete experience for our football players," Johnson says. "We want to attract student-athletes who are proud to play for Earlham. They have to have a desire to not only succeed on the field, but contribute as members of this community and aspire to become outstanding graduates.

"Winning isn't a product of having the best schemes or the best quarterback, but by doing things the right way," he says.

Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and Social Relations from Earlham in 2001. As an athlete, he was a four-year letterman in both football and track. He also shares an Earlham football record with four quarterback sacks in a single game and led the team in sacks as a senior with nine.

In addition to his coaching duties, Johnson serves as Athletics, Wellness, and Physical Education course instructor. Nick and his wife, Melissa, live in Richmond with their daughter, Jayden, and son, Jacob.

"Nick has proven himself to be an ideal candidate to lead Quaker football and advance our goal of recruiting more student-athletes who can succeed in the classroom as well as on the playing field and contribute to the vitality of campus life," President David Dawson says. "We are committed to building a program that will make our students, faculty, staff and alumni proud."

Check out the interview with Troy Derengowski here.