PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots Cross Country/Track head coaches Rob Conner and Ian Solof announced a new addition to the coaching staff for the 2024-2025 academic year, bringing on Brady Johnson as an assistant coach. 

Johnson spent the last five years with Colby Community College as the Trojans' Cross Country Head Coach and Track and Field Assistant Coach. Johnson was the 2022 USTFCCCA NJCAA Division I Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, three-time KJCCC Cross Country Coach of the Year ('23 Men, '22 Men, '20 Women), two-time KJCCC Assistant Track & Field Coach of the Year ('23 Indoor Men, '23 Outdoor Men), and 2023 USTFCCCA NJCAA Division I Central Region Men's Indoor Track Assistant Coach of the Year. Last season, both the Colby Trojans' men's and women's cross country programs won the KJCCC and Region VI Championships and were ranked as high as 2nd in the nation. Under Johnson, 70 runners received NJCAA All-American honors. The Colby men's cross country program had three consecutive national podium finishes between 2021 and 2023, which is the longest active streak in the NJCAA. 

As a former student-athlete, Johnson transferred to Portland Pilots from Wichita State University in 2016. He was the top runner that season for Portland, finishing 69th at nationals to lead the Pilots to a 13th-place team finish at the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Johnson led the Pilots to No. 2 spot in the West Region and the No. 7 in the national polls in 2016 season. During his time at Wichita State University, Johnson set school records in the outdoor 5000m and cross country 8k races. He also qualified for the NCAA West Regional for both the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Portland Pilots' Cross Country and Track have been two of the top programs on the West Coast. Pilot Men's Cross Country program once again qualified for the NCAA Cross Country National Championships, making it their 23rd appearance, 18 of which have been top-20 finishes under head coach Rob Conner. The Pilot women have qualified for the NCAA Cross Country National Championship three times. The women's cross country team won the 2023 WCC Cross Country Championships, with six Pilots earning All-WCC honors, tying the school record from 2007. Additionally, six Pilots qualified for NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field, while two Pilots qualified for the Indoor Championships in the 2023-2024 season.

Portland Men's XC/T&F Head Coach Rob Conner on Johnson:
"We are very excited to have Brady back in Portland. He built a national championship team at Colby and is a great recruiter. He will make a huge impact on our program. He was our No. 1 man at nationals in 2016 so it is great to hire a former Pilot!" 

Brady Johnson on joining the Pilots:
"I'm extremely excited to return to The Bluff and the University of Portland Cross Country and Track program. I've always been grateful for all the experiences I gained during my time here as a student-athlete, especially with coach RC (Rob Conner), so I'm excited that I will get more time to continue to learn from him while also having the opportunity to work with another great head coach, Ian (Solof), to support both the men and women's programs. I hope to serve both the head coaches and the student-athletes to the best of my ability and do my part to help contribute to an already great program."

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