Remembering Coach Randy Johnson

LEWES, Del. –  The Delaware sports community recently received devastating news with the death of beloved coach Randy Johnson.

Johnson served as the head softball coach of Caravel academy starting in 2007, and in the 18 seasons under his leadership, Caravel softball brought home five Delaware state championships.

But beyond his legendary high school coaching career, Johnson also leaves behind an incredible individual athletic legacy.
As a Lewes native and member of the class of 1977, Randy Johnson earned six varsity letters at Cape Henlopen High School–winning individual state championships as a wrestler and pole vaulter.

“When you talk about athletes, when you look at people who are able to pole vault and do it well, that’s a pretty special thing to be able to put together,” Bill Collick said, “And you can play baseball and you can win the wrestling championship–but I mean, I just don’t think anybody has come close–and there’s some pretty special athletes that have come through here, but I don’t think anybody’s come close to doing the things that he has done.”

Former Cape football coach Bill Collick became a friend and mentor to Johnson, with Johnson assisting Collick in coaching the Delaware State wrestling team in the 80’s.

“He wanted people to be their best self. He gave his time. He motivated people that way, he really did. He motivated people to become champions that way, by giving his time,” said Collick.

Brittany Joseph played as an infielder under Johnson on the Delaware Magic team from age 14 until she headed off to college. As in the case of Joseph, Randy Johnson helped many players develop and navigate the recruiting process. In part thanks to Johnson’s guidance, Joseph was able to play softball at the Division 1 level at Florida State for three years.

“He just was always looking for ways for us to enhance our game and to increase our recruiting chances,” Joseph recalled, “and so many kids were able to go to the higher level from this area because of him and because of his dedication and the impact that he had on so many of us.”

Brittany Joseph remembered Randy Johnson not just as an excellent coach but also a friend, with her sisters also receiving instruction from him.

Joseph was blindsided by the news. “I just spoke to him a couple of days before he had passed, one of his kids were going down to a camp, and he was asking me for information about that,” she said, “So the fact that I had just talked to him and then I found out was–added a little more to the shock factor…No matter what, we would always miss him.”