SAN JOSE – Stephen Johnson will step down as head coach of the Branham football team following the conclusion of the 2024 Bruins season, he exclusively told the Bay Area News Group on Friday.
Johnson, who has coached the Bruins since 2018, said several aspects played a task in his decision to depart Branham's sidelines after this 12 months. The simplest? He must give attention to his own overall well-being.
“At the end of the day, I have to put myself first,” Johnson said. “I have never put myself first. I'm a very selfless person, I really put everything else before myself and figure it out when it comes to me. But I think it's time to finally say for once in my life, 'Hey, it's time to grow up.' It's time to get it together.' It’s time to think about long-term financial, emotional, mental security and stability.”
In his seven years accountable for Branham's program, Johnson has compiled an overall record of 50-22. During his seven-year tenure, the Bruins were promoted from the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League to their Santa Teresa – Foothill Division and at last, this season, to their highest division, the Mt. Hamilton.
Branham reached the 2022 CCS Division IV championship game, losing 23-15 to Santa Teresa. The Bruins won overall or shared championships in 2023, 2022 and 2019 under Johnson.
While coaching the Bruins, Johnson's primary job was teaching in its place teacher. He loves working with Branham's players, but at this point he feels he has to prioritize his skilled profession over his passion.
“I’m not even just looking for a teaching position, just a job in general,” Johnson said. “If I can train that's great, but right now I just need a job, a job with benefits, a job that allows me to live comfortably and not go to bed hungry in the summer. I don’t work in the summer because I’m changing.”
It's a choice Johnson told his players after their 42-13 win over Leigh on Friday evening that he has struggled with. The emotions that include saying goodbye to your players are difficult to cope with.
“Being the head coach at Branham High School is my identity,” Johnson said. “The job and the title, every bit of it, that's me.” The concept that this thing that I've identified with for therefore long and that I've made my personality, my entire being, is certainly a tough pill to swallow . It's not that I would like to do it. Unfortunately I actually have to do it.”
Johnson will finish this season with Branham within the CCS playoffs, which the Bruins qualified for after going 7-3 overall within the regular season and ending third (4-2) within the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division.
“I want to continue to make these guys the best version of themselves and, most importantly, give them everything they want, their goals and ambitions that they want to get out of the season,” he said. “It’s not about me, it’s about them, the goals they have set for themselves and the goals they want to achieve this year.”
Johnson said his decision was not tied to Branham's change in athletic director following the controversial firing of Landon Jacobs, nevertheless it made the departure a little bit easier. The Bruins hired Kaleb Lane as their recent AD before this academic 12 months.
“No fault of Kaleb’s, but it’s easier to do it without Landon now,” Johnson said. “The relationship and what I actually have built with Landon over the course of this time together shows that I actually see Landon not only as a boss, but truthfully more as a task model and father figure. When the connection now not exists, it's easier to walk away.
“Would it have made a difference if Landon was still here? No, because he can't put money in my pocket. He can't put food on my table at the end of the day, and so he would understand. I know that for sure. But I don't think whoever the AD is influences the decision at the end of the day. I definitely took a backseat. I think it’s time, it’s time to put myself first for once.”
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