The Vermont State University of Johnson community is in mourning after the latest news surrounding one of the university’s basketball coaches. VTSU Johnson men’s basketball head coach Alfred Johnson passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 2. He was 66 years old. Johnson athletic director Greg Eckman describes Johnson as a selfless individual who puts others’ needs over his own. “He’s the type of individual that always felt he had all the time in the world for somebody else and really left an impact,” Eckman said. Johnson just wrapped up his fifth year as the team’s head coach, but has accumulated over 40 years of coaching experience on the sidelines. That led him to earn his 300th career win, which punched Johnson’s ticket into the North Atlantic Conference championship game in 2025. “That was the highest we were able to achieve through our men’s basketball program,” Eckman said. “He just really worked hard with the guys he believed in, an inside-out philosophy within the game, but overall, he just really believed in his players. Once the game was over, he was right there with arms right around them, caring for them no matter which way the situation went.”Johnson also worked as Eckman’s right-hand man in the school’s athletics department. He was the assistant athletics director and was the university’s compliance officer. Eckman emphasized that Johnson showed an unwilling desire to foster relationships with as many people as he could on campus. “He would personally meet with several students one-on-one to connect with them,” Eckman said. “Whatever support services they needed, and make sure their coach was looped in.”The same passion and care for others extended outside of school and to his surrounding neighbors in Johnson, VT. “He loved this community and the community really loved him for what he brought to it,” Eckman added. “Not only just the basketball camps and his mentorship, but he was really able to speak to kids on their level at a mature level. He was always there for the guys and the girls that he associated with.”The University has a tentative memorial service date scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, at 1 p.m. That service will take place at VTSU Johnson’s Carter Gymnasium.
The Vermont State University of Johnson community is in mourning after the latest news surrounding one of the university’s basketball coaches.
VTSU Johnson men’s basketball head coach Alfred Johnson passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 2. He was 66 years old.
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Johnson athletic director Greg Eckman describes Johnson as a selfless individual who puts others’ needs over his own.
“He’s the type of individual that always felt he had all the time in the world for somebody else and really left an impact,” Eckman said.
Johnson just wrapped up his fifth year as the team’s head coach, but has accumulated over 40 years of coaching experience on the sidelines. That led him to earn his 300th career win, which punched Johnson’s ticket into the North Atlantic Conference championship game in 2025.
“That was the highest we were able to achieve through our men’s basketball program,” Eckman said. “He just really worked hard with the guys he believed in, an inside-out philosophy within the game, but overall, he just really believed in his players. Once the game was over, he was right there with arms right around them, caring for them no matter which way the situation went.”
Johnson also worked as Eckman’s right-hand man in the school’s athletics department. He was the assistant athletics director and was the university’s compliance officer. Eckman emphasized that Johnson showed an unwilling desire to foster relationships with as many people as he could on campus.
“He would personally meet with several students one-on-one to connect with them,” Eckman said. “Whatever support services they needed, and make sure their coach was looped in.”
The same passion and care for others extended outside of school and to his surrounding neighbors in Johnson, VT.
“He loved this community and the community really loved him for what he brought to it,” Eckman added. “Not only just the basketball camps and his mentorship, but he was really able to speak to kids on their level at a mature level. He was always there for the guys and the girls that he associated with.”
The University has a tentative memorial service date scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, at 1 p.m. That service will take place at VTSU Johnson’s Carter Gymnasium.
