Kris Johnson enters his second season with the men’s basketball program at UT Permian Basin Johnson Joins the Falcons after serving four seasons with Head Coach Kyle Tolin at the University of Arkansas – Monticello.
Johnson Falcons reached the Lone Star Conference playoffs in his first season. The Falcons boasted one of the best defensive teams in program history, allowing the fewest points in a season since 2012-13. The Falcons were led offensively by point guard DaJuan Jones who shattered the single season program record for assists with 186. Jones was in contention to finish as the nation's leader before an injury late in the season forced him to miss three games. Miles Daniels proved to be one of the best scorers in program history, finishing with 483 points and 107 made 3-pointers. The made 3s rank Daniels second in a single season. Right behind him in scoring was Jordan Horn who scored 470 points. Jones and Daniels earned Second Team All-Conference honors and Horn was named to the Third Team. After the season eight players were named to the NABC Honors Court for their excellent work in the classrooms.
Johnson was instrumental in helping guide the Weevils to three winning seasons including the 2020-21 Great American Conference Regular Season Championship, GAC Tournament Championship and the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament South Central Region. Also finishing the 2020-21 ranked No. 21 by the NABC national coach’s poll.
Prior to UAM, Johnson spent seven years with the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He was last appointed as the Interim Head Coach of SWOSU during the 2017-18 season as well.
Before taking over head coaching responsibilities, he served as the main assistant at Southwestern from 2013-17. Johnson was also a graduate assistant for the men's basketball program at SWOSU from 2011-13 as well.
In four seasons as a full-time assistant at SWOSU, Johnson helped guide the Bulldogs to three winning seasons, with at least 16 victories each year. SWOSU finished 17-12 in 2015-16, finishing fourth in the Great American Conference standings before being eliminated from the GAC Tournament in the quarterfinals.
During his five years at SWOSU, Johnson coached eight players who earned All-Conference honors, including one conference player of the year and two defensive players of the year. The Bulldogs also had two players named to the GAC All-Tournament Team and 12 earn GAC All-Academic distinction. He also helped guide the 2014-15 and 2017-18 teams to the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award.
He helped anchor a Southwestern team that finished the 2014-15 season by reaching the semifinals of the GAC Tournament after knocking off regular season GAC Champion Ouachita Baptist in the opening round.
In his first season as a full-time assistant at SWOSU, Johnson helped lead the program to a finish of 17-10 overall with a 14-6 record in conference action that earned second place in the Great American Conference.
Johnson spent the previous two years as a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs, helping the team earn two GAC Tournament appearances, including a spot in the inaugural championship game in 2012. He also spent two years as the graduate assistant at his alma mater, Northwestern Oklahoma State, where he helped guide the Rangers to a 20-win season in 2011.
A native of Kansas City, Mo., Johnson played in two National Tournaments for Northwestern. After a four-year playing career and playing in 109 games, he helped lead his 2006-2007 team to an Elite Eight finish, finishing his playing career with a record of 77-49, including two 20-win seasons. Johnson also earned a prestigious distinction by being selected as the 2009 Champions of Character award winner.
Additionally, he served as Northwestern's Student Government President during the 2008-09 school year and worked as the sports information assistant for two seasons. Prior to attending Northwestern, Johnson attended Ruskin High School in Kansas City, MO, where he was a recipient of the 2004 Champions of Character Award and was an All-Conference performer.
Johnson holds two degrees from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications in May of 2009 and a master's degree in adult education management and administration in May of 2011.
