Years In Coaching: 3rd
Years at USF: 1st
Alma Mater: Purdue, bachelor’s degree in law and society, 2022
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Lawrence Johnson joined head coach Brian Hartline’s first USF staff as assistant defensive line coach in February of 2026.
Johnson came to USF from Auburn where he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line and where he completed his playing career. Johnson was a three-year starter on the defensive line at Purdue before finishing his playing career at Auburn (2023). He played in 59 collegiate games and posted 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
PLAYING CAREER
Finished his playing career at Auburn in the 2023 season where he posted 12 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in 13 games on the defensive line. Transferred to Auburn from Purdue where he played five seasons and was a three-year starter, logging 46 career games for the Boilermakers while contributing 88 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks. He was wo-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. In high school, he recorded eight sacks as a senior at Snider High, helping Coach Kurt Tippmann’s Panthers to the 6A regional championship with an 11-1 record as he earned all-state and all-area honors as a junior and senior.
PERSONAL
Born on July 19, he earned a bachelor's degree in August of 2022 from Purdue University in law and society with a minor in organizational leadership.
COACHING CAREER
2026- South Florida Assistant Defensive Line Coach
2024-25 Auburn Graduate Assistant – Defensive Line
