Joshua Johnson never expected to end up here. Coaching wasn't the lifelong dream he chased as a kid or the career he envisioned when he first put on a uniform. But the path he didn't plan has become the one he loves most. As the head cheer coach at Friends University, Johnson has found a calling that energizes him every day — a place where faith, community, and competition all align.

"Truthfully, I never wanted to be a coach, but I'm glad that this is the path that God led me down," he said. "I love what I do, and I think that's why I'm so eager and antsy to do it every single day."

Now several years into his role, Johnson's passion is unmistakable. He's built a program defined by discipline, joy, and relentless effort — and in the process, he's become a mentor who helps students grow on and off the mat.

Finding His Place at Friends

When the opportunity to coach at Friends University arrived, Johnson didn't see it as a destination he'd been working toward. Instead, it felt like the right place at the right time. "I was put in the right position when the Friends University cheer coach position came open, and people trusted in me to get it to the next level," he said.

That trust — from colleagues, mentors, and the athletes themselves — has become the foundation of his program. "There's not too many bad things about this place, if there are any," he said, pointing to the university's faith-based mission and tight-knit community as reasons he feels so at home. "I've never felt more a part of a community. I've never felt more close with other colleagues. It's just a great place to be."

Born and raised in Wichita, Johnson grew up knowing Friends University. Today, he's determined to help it grow and reach even greater heights. "Now it's time to help this university become what it can be," he said.

Building a Program — and a Culture

What keeps Johnson at Friends isn't just proximity to home or a familiar campus — it's the success, support, and sense of belonging he's found. "I've stayed at Friends because of the success that we've had," he said. "We've built a name for ourselves. I genuinely enjoy the position that I'm in."

He credits much of that success to an athletic department that truly values cheer and dance. "I have a great boss who supports cheer and dance, and you don't find that at many universities," Johnson said. "What excites me is being wanted at a school, the buy-in that I get from the athletes and from other coaches, and just the university in general."

That support has allowed him to create a program where athletes are expected to give their best — and where they're surrounded by people who help them do it. "I get good support and good backing, and you don't find that most places," he said. "I'm very thankful and grateful to be at Friends."

The Grind and the Joy

For Johnson, the best part of coaching is being in the trenches with his team — the daily work, the repetition, the pursuit of perfection. "My favorite part about coaching is the hands-on, the routine, the 5, 6, 7, 8, the 2 minutes and 30 seconds, the grind," he said.

But he's just as passionate about the piece that happens before anyone steps on the mat: recruiting. "Recruiting is where you can tell your story," Johnson said. "Recruiting is where you get people to trust you. Recruiting is where it all starts."

It's a process he embraces every day, knowing how critical it is to the program's future. "I love recruiting. I recruit every single day," he said. "I get to tell my story. I get to relate to them. I love getting to hear other people's stories and wanting them to be part of something bigger."

That authenticity — sharing who he is and what the program stands for — has become one of his greatest strengths as a leader.

Mentors and Motivation

While Johnson learned the X's and O's of coaching from his own cheer coaches, the mindset and discipline he brings to the job come from a different place: the baseball diamond. "The motivation piece of it, the grind, the process, doing the same thing every single time — I get that from my baseball coach in high school, Jason Wysong," he said.

Wysong became a mentor and a father figure, teaching him what it means to lead with consistency and purpose. "He set an example, he set a standard, and in my eyes, he was a great coach," Johnson said. "He came with that same energy and passion every single day, and I try to do the exact same thing."

That standard — do things the right way, every time — now shapes how Johnson teaches and inspires his athletes. "Walk the line," he said, repeating the lesson his coach instilled in him. "You see them doing the right thing, you do the right thing."

Why Friends University?

Ask Johnson why a student-athlete should choose Friends, and his answer is clear: it's a place where you can grow in every direction. "Friends is a great place," he said. "We make sure that kids go to study hall. We make sure that they keep their grades up so they can compete."

But academics and athletics are only part of the equation. For Johnson, the university's faith-based mission is just as important. "Alongside that, growing in your faith background as well — that's definitely a highlight of why athletes should come to Friends," he said.

He wants recruits to find the best fit for themselves — and he believes Friends can be that place for many. "I want to be the best place and the best position for somebody to come in and live out a college dream of being a college cheerleader, getting a degree, and giving back to what you're passionate about," he said.

The same goes for coaches. "We're set up pretty well here at Friends," Johnson said. "If you are somebody who loves to work, loves to grind, loves to be a part of a good community, then Friends is the spot for you."

Gratitude and the Bigger Picture

As much as Johnson loves the spotlight on his athletes, he's quick to shine it on the people behind the scenes. "There's a lot of people who do a lot of great things here at Friends who don't get a lot of credit," he said. "For everybody who puts on behind-the-scenes work, you know who you are — you're the real MVPs and you make us shine."

For Johnson, coaching at Friends University isn't just a job; it's a purpose he never saw coming but now can't imagine living without. "Go Falcons!" he said, smiling — a simple phrase that carries all the pride, gratitude, and energy of a coach who's exactly where he's meant to be.

Johnson, having led the Falcons to back-to-back KCAC championships in 2021-22 and 2022-23, will guide his squad in the season opening Falcon Invite next Friday (Jan. 16) inside the Garvey Center.