Lebanon High School is in the process of hiring a new head coach for the football program after Doug Johnson stepped down from the position this spring.
Johnson, who graduated from Lebanon High in 1977, took over as head coach of the Raiders in 2023. He served as an assistant coach under Herb Hatch in 2022, when Lebanon finished 0-9 that season.
Raiders’ Athletic Director Ben Davis provided a written statement from Johnson.
“I have enjoyed my time as the football coach at Lebanon,” Johnson wrote. “When I began four years ago, my goal was to bring the program back to a competitive level. I believe this has been achieved, and now is the right time for me to retire and hand the football program over to the next leader.”
After the winless 2022 campaign, the Lebanon football dropped to the JV level in 2023. It was a precipitous decline for a program that had been a state title contender just just a few seasons prior.
Lebanon returned to varsity play in 2024 in Division III and finished 2-6. The Raiders improved on that record this past season, finishing 3-5 and narrowly missing the D-III playoffs.
“I am proud of what has been accomplished over my tenure as coach and the meaningful relationships that I have built with our players and coaches. I look forward to seeing the future success of the program moving forward,” Johnson said in the statement.
In an interview, Davis praised Johnson’s commitment to the football program.
“We’re absolutely grateful for all of Doug’s efforts,” Davis said. “He’s in the building — for the past four years — almost every day, in the weight room with the players. … He’s really deeply committed and cares about not only the football team but the community as a whole.”
Lebanon’s athletic director credited Johnson for rekindling interest in the sport.
“We’re certainly going to miss his presence,” Davis said.
Davis said there is plenty of work to be done to build on the program’s new foundation.
“(We want) someone who aligns with the values and missions of the high school, but is also able to cultivate an interest in those youth levels, junior varsity level. And someone that’s looking to build that program not only in-season, but continues to progress the program outside of the football season when appropriate,” he said.
“To continue that trajectory, I think, will be really important because I think we have a lot of positive things in place,” Davis added.
