Feb. 12, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University men's soccer head coach Cameron Rast announced Wednesday that former Bronco Rusty Johnson will be the program's second assistant coach effective immediately. Johnson returns to his Alma Mater after spending some time in the private sector following his graduation in 2001.
"We are very excited to have Rusty back at the University," said Rast. "As an alum we know he is a very bright individual and will be very good at the administrative side of his job. Hw will also excel at the tactical aspects that goes with coaching."
While playing on the Mission Campus, Johnson etched his name into many goalkeeper categories of the Santa Clara record books. He holds the school record for most consecutive shutout minutes with 526:14, most ever saves in a postseason game with nine and most saves in a postseason career with 19. His career goals-against average of 0.79 and 164 saves are the fourth best totals in Bronco history, while his 23.5 career shutouts is second in SCU history, trailing only Eric Yamamoto who is also an assistant coach for the Broncos.
Johnson stepped into the goalkeeper position late in his freshman year and helped guide the Borncos to back-to-back College Cup appearances in 1999 and 2000.
A two-time All-West Coast Conference selection, Johnson was also selected to the NSCAA All-Far West Region team in 2000. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Johnson was also honored for his academic prowess as well, garnering All-Academic honors for both the WCC and the West Region.
He graduated with honors from Santa Clara with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in December of 2001, maintaining a 3.64 overall GPA and a 3.83 GPA in his major. Following graduation Johnson worked as a Manufacturing/Design Engineer for n&k Technology, Inc., located in Santa Clara. While working full time he continued to play for a local club team while also coaching the freshman boys' team at Presentation High School in San Jose.
The addition of Johnson gives the men's soccer program a coaching staff comprised entirely of Santa Clara University graduates who also played soccer on the Mission Campus. Rast and Yamamoto were both members of the 1989 team that captured the school's first National Championship.
