Nori Johnson 2023

Nori Johnson

  • Title
    Assistant Coach
Nori Johnson enters his first season with the USC Upstate men's basketball program in 2023-24.

Johnson joins the program following a six-season run as the head coach at Spartanburg Methodist College, leading the program to 100 victories and four NJCAA Region 10 top-three regular season finishes. Over his six seasons helming the Pioneers’ program, he helped 14 student-athletes earn NCAA scholarships while coaching six All-Region 10 players.
 
During the 2022-23 season, Johnson led SMC to its second straight NJCAA Division I Atlantic District Semifinals appearance, winning 21 games. The 21-win season marked the third such season under his direction as his teams won a combined 43 games over his final two seasons as head coach.
 
His first 20-win season leading the Pioneers came during his first season in 2017-18 as he led the program to a 21-8 record and an 11-1 mark in Region 10, earning a first-round bye in the District Tournament. For his efforts, Johnson garnered Region 10 Coach of the Year honors.
 
Prior to taking over atop the SMC program, Johnson spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Pioneers, earning a spot on the CoachStat.net Top Small College Assistant List in 2017. Over the two seasons, the Pioneers won 55 total games, advancing to the NJCAA Division I Championship, winning the Region 10 District Tournament in both seasons. In 2016-17, Johnson also oversaw the development of Anthony Adger, helping Adger earn Second Team All-American honors.
 
Aside from his coaching duties at SMC, Johnson has coached Upward Stars 3SSB’s 17u team since 2018, helping develop elite players from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. With Upward Stars he’s worked with two NBA professionals, Bryce McGowens and McDonald’s All-American Julian Phillips.
 
Before embarking on his coaching career, Johnson was a four-year letterwinner at the College of Charleston for head coaches Bobby Cremins and Doug Wojcik. Over his four seasons, he appeared in 107 games, scoring 549 points and pulling in 171 rebounds.
 
A native of Spartanburg, S.C., Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the College of Charleston in 2014.