Texas Wesleyan doesn’t have to look far to find new head football coach
Texas Wesleyan has found its next head football coach.
The university announced the promotion of offensive coordinator Fran Johnson to replace Brad Sherrod, who left to coach Morehouse College in Atlanta.
Johnson has served as interim head coach since Feb. 18 in Sherrod’s absence.
Johnson turned the Rams into one of the best offenses in NAIA since arriving in 2021, including helping running back Ernest Ceasar set the division record for touchdowns in a season in 2024. Texas Wesleyan has made the playoffs the past two seasons.
Johnson is the program’s third head coach since the program was reinstated in 2017. His promotion comes at a critical time for Texas Wesleyan, which is planning to move up in Division II and is upgrading its facilities, with a newly opened fieldhouse and a football stadium expected to be completed in winter 2027.
University President Dr. Emily Messer explained why the school chose to hire internally.
“Coach Fran Johnson represents the leadership, discipline and vision that reflect the spirit of Texas Wesleyan,” Messer said in a statement. “Promoting Coach Johnson from within provides continuity for our student-athletes and momentum for our winning program. He is known as a leader who embodies our core values of connection, commitment, compassion and courage. We look forward to Coach Johnson taking our football program to the next level.”
Athletic director Ricky Dotson said promoting Johnson was a “natural decision.”
“Fran has been a key part of our program as offensive coordinator and has earned the respect of our players, coaches and the entire Texas Wesleyan community,” Dotson said in a statement. “He understands our culture and believes in developing student-athletes while bringing a clear vision for where Rams Football is headed.”
Johnson played quarterback for Benedictine College in Kansas, then served as an assistant coach there from 2005 to 2020 before moving to Texas Wesleyan.
