A leader is someone who has the ability to inspire others, has a clear vision, and helps the ones around them grow. That is what coach David “Tee” Johnson has done for the Jackson-Reed boys’ varsity basketball program.
On January 15, Johnson reached 100 wins as head coach of the boys varsity basketball team with a 90-11 victory over Bell Multicultural High School, boosting his all-time record to 101-22. He also became the fastest coach in the history of JR athletics across all sports to reach that milestone in just four seasons.
“I’m definitely grateful to be in this position, it’s something not everyone gets to experience. I’m honestly ready to get more,” said Johnson. “I’m happy to be able to do it here and with this coaching staff. I wouldn’t be able to do it without the guys on the teams over the years. Shout out to all of the players that put a Jackson-Reed jersey on and all of the coaches that have helped me get to this point.”
Johnson was announced as the head coach of the program in August 2021, taking over from Angelo Hernandez. Having served as a varsity assistant five years prior, Johnson knew he could make an immediate impact.
“It was about continuing the momentum. I helped kind of change the culture, but I wasn’t the lead guy so it was tough for people to see that,” added Johnson, who was an assistant in the program’s previous era when the Tigers won a DCSAA state championship in 2017. “The image and brand of Jackson-Reed from day one, I felt like I helped build that. I kept the same idea, but I’m now able to be in the forefront so people see that the method is working.”
Former JR Athletic Director Mitch Gore shared that same hope. “It would’ve been the biggest miss if I didn’t hire him as the next head coach,” said Gore, who hired Johnson. “We did a search, we had some good candidates, one former Wilson alumni and coaches at different programs.“
“Coach Tee outshined all of them by leaps and bounds. What I saw him do with player development, his next step was becoming a head coach,” said Gore. “If we didn’t hire him, someone else would’ve. He is one of the top coaches in the DC metro area.”
Gore added that Johnson’s biggest strength was player development and his attention to detail. Johnson’s relationship with players significantly influenced their growth.
“I’ve been with Tee since middle school. He was the one that was developing my game and building my confidence,” said senior forward JJ Massaquoi, who transferred from DeMatha a year ago. Massaquoi recently committed to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and is averaging 21.5 points and eight rebounds a game, a 13 point increase from his junior year.
“The coaching at JR is like a college system. It holds us to a high standard. But my commitment is the product of what Coach Tee has helped me become.”
Over the past three years, Johnson won two DCIAA championships, was named conference Coach of the Year in 2022, and has only lost two home games. Last season, Johnson led a Tigers team to their first ESPN ranking and finished 33-3— the best season in school history. On a regional stage, he was named head coach in the All-American Capital Classic District All-Stars game and is currently a Team Durant AAU 17U coach.
”He has a unique way of getting guys to buy in to greater goals and playing winning basketball. Tee also has a way of relating and connecting with young kids that is unmatched and it shows by how many kids want to come to a public school rather than other prestigious programs in the DMV,” said 2024 JR basketball alum and Gannon University guard Lucas Sekasi. “He also will give you the platform with a national schedule even from a public school which is unprecedented in this area.”
Johnson has sent 12 players to play collegiate basketball over his four seasons to schools such as Georgetown, George Washington, Texas A&M, and Old Dominion.
”He followed his head coach as an assistant. He wasn’t a yes man and iron sharpens iron,” said Gore. “God gave me a great alley-oop in the hiring process. Coach Tee has done an amazing job and has great assistants. He is one of my favorite hires.”
This season, Johnson’s team sits 13-6 as they soon gear up for the postseason. In regards to moving forward after hitting a milestone he says, “I tell the guys all the time, ‘leave it better than you found it, therefore more people want to be here.’ The brand speaks for itself.”