Fresno State Athletics
Scott Johnson Named Athletics Director
 |  A 21-year member of the administration, Scott Johnson was named Fresno State athletics director Monday. |
Jan. 7, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State president Dr. John D. Welty today appointed Scott Johnson as athletics director. Johnson has held the position on an interim basis since July 3, 2001 since former athletics director Al Bohl left Fresno State last June to take the same position at the University of Kansas.
"I am very pleased to name Scott Johnson as the new athletics director," said Welty. "Scott earned this job by clearly being our top candidate in an outstanding field of individuals, and because of his many years of creative and committed service to Fresno State. Scott exemplifies what it means to be a Bulldog. He has advanced this university to a new level of recognition and achievement and I'm counting on him to build on that excellent tradition."
Johnson's selection followed a national search conducted by a 12-member committee, which included faculty, administrators, a staff member, a student member and a community member. The committee was chaired by Dr. Benjamin F. Quillian, Fresno State's vice president for administration.
As director of athletics, Johnson will oversee programs that generate annual revenue of more than $16 million. Fresno State has one of the largest and most rapidly expanding fan bases in the nation, consistently enjoying sellout crowds for football and men's basketball. Fresno State's athletics program competes at a national level in nearly each of its varsity sports.
The university also has nationally known and highly respected facilities. The university's softball, baseball, tennis and football facilities are considered to be some of the best in the country, and the $103 million Save Mart Center, scheduled for completion in Fall 2003, will be the finest arena and public events center at any California college.
Johnson has served as Fresno State's associate athletics director since 1994. He joined the Fresno State staff in 1981 as sports information director and advanced to serve as the assistant athletics director for communications.
He is the athletics department liaison for fundraising for the Save Mart Center and the center's $10 million personal seat license fundraising campaign. Many Central California residents know Johnson as co-host of the popular "'Dog Talk" call-in radio show on KMJ. During his tenure as associate athletics director, Johnson worked behind the scenes as the sports supervisor of the football, men's basketball and baseball programs. Those programs have made postseason appearances in each of the last two years. Johnson was responsible for football scheduling and developed the most aggressive non-conference schedules in school history. He negotiated contracts with UCLA, Wisconsin, Washington, Ohio State, Oregon, Oregon State, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. The strength of Fresno State's sports schedule has prompted admiration from the national news media and new respect for Bulldog athletics.
Johnson's 25 years of Division I collegiate athletics experience have included responsibilities in public relations, radio and television, sports information, media relations, fund raising and special projects.
At Fresno State, his responsibilities in radio and television included all radio and television contracts for Fresno State athletics. Johnson also developed the WAC's most comprehensive media package for women's sports.
Johnson's extensive radio and television experience came into play this year as the university successfully negotiated national broadcasts of Fresno State football games on ESPN. While supervising the areas of marketing, communications and the sports medicine staff, Johnson developed the Bulldog Authentic Apparel merchandise entity and the highly successful Bulldog Shop.
Johnson started his career in 1972 at Clackamas Community College in Clackamas, Ore., where he was sports information director and assistant basketball coach from 1972-74. From 1972-76 he was publicity director for the Oregon Community College Athletic Association. In 1976 he was named assistant sports information director at Oregon State University.
He has worked NCAA basketball regional tournaments, been director of NCAA regional and WAC baseball championship tournaments and coordinated publicity campaigns for national caliber athletes, including Heisman Trophy campaigns for Kevin Sweeney and Trent Dilfer.
Johnson, 51, is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He obtained his master's degree in sports administration from Fresno State in May 2000. Johnson has a daughter, Alexis, and two sons, Troy and Austin. His wife, Karen Johnson, is Director of Housing at Fresno State.