Pratt Community College is excited to announce the hiring of Larry Johnston as its new athletic director. Johnston started on campus on Wednesday, January 3 and hit the ground running with in-service meetings, training, and games. Johnston comes to Beaver Nation from Frederick Community College in Federick, Md. where he served as director of athletics since September 2021.
During his time at Frederick Community College, he hired the college’s first athletic academic advisor and compliance officer. He implemented a mandatory Learning Center tour and class that all student-athletes must attend to better understand the academic resources available to ensure their academic success. Johnston also provided input on facility design, programming, layout, cost analysis on a proposed new 75,000 square foot Wellness Center to include an indoor banked track slated for 2025.
In addition, he secured over $600k for the installation of new contemporary scoreboards for all sports, new digital scores table for basketball and volleyball, new LED 14’ x 8’ digital screen for the gymnasium/marketing purposes, Hudl cameras for both inside and outside venues for streaming purposes during COVID, worked with stats to stat every home game, new NCAA compliant backstop baseball fencing, new softball bullpens and infield, upgraded athletic training facilities, new strength and conditioning equipment, and branded the entire Athletics Center.
“I’m looking forward to partnering with a great group of PCC coaches, the campus, and greater community to provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes at PCC,” said athletic director Larry Johnston. “The true blessing of being an Athletic Director is the opportunity to interact with and watch the PCC student-athlete excel both in the classroom and on the field while becoming a future leader in our community and abroad.”
Prior to his role at Fredick Community College, Johnston served as commissioner of the Texas Trinity League, athletic director of the Texas Christian Athletic Leage, and finally the interim athletic director and interim dean of students and faculty at the Sterling Classical School in Leander, Texas.
Before Johnston’s time in Texas, he worked as the associate dean of exercise science, health, and athletics at Santa Anna College from 2007-2010. During his time at Santa Anna College Johnston was responsible for organizing, functioning, and supervising 20 intercollegiate athletic programs for over 350 student-athletes and ensuring program compliance with the California Community College Athletic Association. Before his time at Santa Anna College, he served as the athletic director/physical education instructor at Los Angeles Harbor College, served as enhancement coordinator at Spencer Hospital in Iowa, and as athletic director of the Union Rescue Mission in California.
“Larry brings extensive experience as a director of athletics at the community college level, and we are excited to have him be a part of Pratt Community College, said college president Dr. Michael Calvert. “I am confident he will make a positive impact in our athletic department, for our coaches and student athletes and at Pratt Community College as a whole.”
Johnston has a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University where he was a member of the 1992 NAIA national championship track and field team competing in the hammer throw. He received a master's in science, kinesiology degree from California State University Fullerton.