[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/13/06

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Strength coach for OSU leaves

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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Allan Johnson resigned as Ohio State’s football and conditioning coach yesterday, as expected. Whether he decided to leave on his own or was encouraged is unclear.

One source close to the program who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Dispatch that Johnson was forced out.

But assistant strength coach Butch Reynolds vehemently denied that.

"It was nothing like that; that’s not accurate," Reynolds said. "Coach (Jim) Tressel and Al never bumped heads, from what I saw."

Johnson has not returned phone calls. In a release, Johnson thanked Tressel for the chance to work at OSU for the past five years and said he wanted to get out of the strength-coach business.

"At this point in my career, I would like the chance to pursue other opportunities, including getting into athletic administration, motivational speaking and consulting," Johnson said.

Tressel was complimentary of Johnson in the release.

"It was obvious to me (that) any time we took the field, we were the best-conditioned team out there," Tressel said. "Much of the credit for our success over the past five seasons goes to Al Johnson and his staff."

Johnson’s resignation is effective Aug. 31. He came to OSU in June 2001, five months after Tressel was hired.

A successor is expected to be named by early June.

Assistant Bernardo Amerson is a potential candidate, as is former OSU assistant Mike Cochran, who worked with Tressel at Youngstown State and is now strength coach at Marshall.

Reynolds’ area of expertise is speed and nutrition, and he has just one year of experience. He does not consider himself a candidate.

"I’m sure before the weekend is over with, (Tressel) will have 15 or 20 potential candidates," Reynolds said. "This is a big job."

kgordon@dispatch.com