Lawrence Johnson is in his second season as a member of the Gamecocks' coaching staff with primary responsibilities that include coaching the pole-vaulters and coordinating recruiting efforts. Johnson comes to South Carolina as one of the most decorated pole-vaulters in American history. He competed professionally from 1996 to 2004 as a representative of the United States, adidas and Oakley.
In his first season at South Carolina, Johnson guided Liza Todd and Vica Shobe to personal bests indoors while guiding Sallie Gurganus to a seventh place finish at the SEC Outdoor Championships. In just one season at South Carolina, Johnson led the Gamecock women to two of the top three outdoor heights in program history. Gurganus's height of 13-1 1/2 is the second best clearance in South Carolina history and was five inches higher than her previous career best. Todd won the Penn Relays at 12-9, marking the third best clearance in program history. Johnson also guided freshman Matt Shuler to a ninth place finish at the SEC Indoor Championships.
A two-time Olympian, Johnson's strongest year came in 2001 when he brought home a gold medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portugal at 5.95m (19-6.25). The same year he also took first place at the U.S. Indoor and Outdoor Championships. He ended the year ranked second in the United States and fourth in the world, his highest spot in both rankings.
In 2000, Johnson earned the silver medal with a clearance of 5.90m (19-4.25) at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He also placed first at the U.S. Trials and the U.S. Indoor Championships. In 1997, Johnson earned his first U.S. championships, taking gold at both the indoor and outdoor championships in addition to being a silver medalist at the World Indoor Championships in his first full year as a professional. Turning professional after a stellar collegiate career at the University of Tennessee, Johnson finished eighth at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga., after taking first at the U.S. Olympic trials. Earlier that same year, Johnson set an American and NCAA record at 5.98m (19-7.50) at Tom Black Track in Knoxville on May 25, 1996. He went on to become the 1996 SEC Indoor and Outdoor champion, the SEC and NCAA record holder, an NCAA All-American and Athlete of the Year as well as NCAA outdoor champion.
Throughout his career, Johnson is a seven-time U.S. national champion, four-time NCAA champion, six-time conference champion, six-time All-American and seven-time All-SEC selection. He was a three-time SEC All-Academic team member and a Student Athlete Advisory Committee member.
Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in sport management from the University of Tennessee. He has a wife, Christina, have four daughters: Sandra, Aliyana, Excelsia and Illycia. |
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