Spartanburg Methodist College has announced that Eddie D. “Nori” Johnson has been named Head Men’s Basketball coach. Johnson had been serving in an interim role since November, when former Head Coach Jon Cremins left SMC for an assistant coaching position with the USC-Upstate men’s basketball team.
“Nori has been with us for two years as an assistant coach and has been instrumental in our success,” said Scott Cochran, President of SMC. “We’ve made it to the National tournament for the last two years and Nori has been a big part of that. He understands the game and knows how to motivate players. More importantly, Nori understands that coaching at SMC is more about developing the character of our players and their full potential as a student-athlete than it is a win-loss record. He and his players have represented themselves and the college extremely well and I’m thrilled for him to continue being an example to our players of what winning at basketball and at life looks like.”
A four-year letter winner at the College of Charleston under “Final Four” Coach Bobby Cremins and later Doug Wojcik, Johnson helped lead the Cougars to wins over Baylor, Tennessee, Clemson and Boston College, as well as two trips to the Southern Conference championship game.
Johnson has played professionally overseas with BBC Magdeburg Otto Baskets of the German League’s B Division. He returned to his hometown of Greer, South Carolina, after one season to begin his coaching career at Spartanburg Methodist College.
“Nori is a student of the game. He played under legendary coach Bobby Cremins so that’s where his foundation is from,” said SMC Interim Athletic Director Dan Kenneally. “He coaches with passion and his players respect him. He’s very talented and we are happy he accepted the head coaching position.”
Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the College of Charleston. He is a graduate of James F. Byrnes High School where he was the first basketball player to sign a Division 1 basketball scholarship. Johnson also attended Fork Union Military Academy where he played for legendary prep coach Fletcher Arritt.
