Louis B. “Farmer” Johnson coached the University of Tennessee linemen from 1949 through 1954. He joined the Vol staff after producing one of the best lines in the country for Coach “Red” Sanders at Vanderbilt in 1948. In 1950 Johnson’s defensive line at UT was rated one of the best in the country and was a major factor in Tennessee’s success.
A native of Clarksburg, Ohio, Johnson was known as a precise fundamentalist with a thorough knowledge of line play. He had held down the guard position at Tennessee from 1926 to 1928 and was rated one of the best linemen in the South in his senior season. He also took part in wrestling and won the heavyweight championship in boxing.
Among Johnson’s best-known line products were Ted Daffer, Bill Pearman, John Michels, Doug Atkins, and Darris McCord, all of whom earned All-America honors.
His coaching career included stints on the high school level at various schools, including Franklin County High School, Clarksville High School, and Young High School in Knoxville.
On the college level, Johnson also coached at Copiah-Lincoln (Missouri) Junior College, North Carolina State, the University of Mississippi, and The Citadel.
After leaving coaching, Johnson was employed by the UT Physical Plant, where he was supervisor of UT Safety and Security and manager of janitorial services at Stokely Athletics Center, before retiring in 1974. “Farmer” Johnson passed away in 1997, leaving behind a tradition of football coaching excellence and fine service to the University of Tennessee.