Finalizing his coaching staff for the 2026-27 campaign, University of Evansville Head Men’s Basketball Coach David Ragland has announced the hiring of Terry Johnson as Associate Head Coach for the Purple Aces staff.
“I’m excited to welcome Terry, Kristen, and their three boys (Jalen, Jordan, and Caden) to our UE family,” Ragland said. “TJ has a ton of experience in the D1 college basketball ranks and has won everywhere he has been. His experience and success will be greatly beneficial for our student athletes and staff.”
“We had a ton of interest from a good number of qualified candidates for our associate head coaching position. TJ stood out to be the clear candidate for this position because of his level of experience, winning, relationship building, discipline and passion for serving those around him,” Ragland continued. “I look forward to working alongside Terry as we strive to revive UE’s storied basketball program.”
Johnson joins the Evansville staff after spending the last five seasons on the men’s basketball staff at Purdue. Johnson’s tenure with the Boilermakers coincided with the best stretch in program history. Purdue was ranked No. 1 in the country in four of his five seasons on staff becoming the first team in Big Ten history to accomplish the feat.
Purdue enjoyed the third 30-win season in program history in 2025-26 while advancing to the West Region Final in the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers earned wins over Queens, Miami (Fla.), and Texas before falling to #2 Arizona. It marked the fourth time in his five seasons that the program advanced to at least the Sweet 16.
“Coach Ragland and I have known each other a long time, and throughout that time I’ve always respected the way he’s built his career. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to join his staff and help execute and build on his vision for the program,” Johnson exclaimed. “As I step into this role, my goal is simple: serve our players, our staff, and everyone connected to this program, while helping our student-athletes reach their full potential on and off the court.”
“One thing that has stood out to me is how much this city rallies around the basketball program, and all sports at UE. The passion and pride here are special, and we don’t take that for granted. This university means a great deal to the community, and we’re committed to coaching a team that reflects the work ethic and pride of the people who support us every single day.”
Highlighting his time with the Boilermakers was a 34-5 campaign in 2023-24 where his squad won the Big Ten regular season title and played in the National Championship game. Working on the defensive side of the ball, his work helped Purdue ranked 12th nationally in defensive efficiency. During his first season in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history.
Prior to joining the Purdue staff, Johnson spent four seasons at Ohio State. His tenure in Columbus saw the Buckeyes post an 87-44 record while reaching the NCAA Tournament on three occasions. The 2019-20 Buckeye squad was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally before finishing the year ranked No. 7 in the final AP Top 25 poll.
Before making his way to OSU, Johnson spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Butler where the Bulldogs enjoyed unprecedented success. Butler made eight NCAA Tournaments including consecutive Final Fours and berths in the National Championship game. The Bulldogs were ranked in the Top 25 in eight of his seasons with the program.
He played both basketball and baseball at Lincoln Trail from 1992-94, where he was named all-conference in both sports and was named an honorable mention All-American in basketball. From there, he went to Lamar University and again played both sports from 1994-96, leading the basketball team in assists and steals two years in a row. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree from IPFW in 1998, earning all-conference, team MVP and Co-Male Athlete of the Year honors while playing baseball for the Mastodons. Johnson went on to play baseball professionally for the Tri-City Posse of the Western League for two years and the Anderson Lawmen of the Heartland League for another season. In addition, Johnson earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Western Kentucky in 2011.
Terry Johnson named Associate Head Basketball Coach at Evansville
