DerMarr Johnson enters his second season as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Tennessee State in 2026-27, serving as the program’s lead guards coach. A former NBA lottery selection, Johnson brings 16 seasons of professional playing experience and a background in collegiate coaching, player development and mentorship to head coach Nolan Smith’s staff.
Johnson joined Tennessee State before the 2025-26 season and helped the Tigers capture Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships. TSU finished 23-10 overall and 15-5 in conference play, establishing a program record for victories in the NCAA Division I era and earning its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994.
The Tigers defeated Morehead State, 93-67, in the OVC Tournament championship game, setting championship-game records for points scored and margin of victory. Tennessee State advanced to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 15 seed in the Midwest Region and faced No. 2 seed Iowa State in St. Louis.
Working with the Tigers’ guards, Johnson helped a perimeter group that produced three All-OVC selections. Aaron Nkrumah was named OVC Player of the Year and joined Travis Harper II on the All-OVC First Team. Dante Harris earned All-OVC Second Team and All-Newcomer Team recognition. Nkrumah averaged 17.7 points and totaled 92 steals, Harper averaged 17.1 points, and Harris contributed 11.7 points per game while leading TSU with 149 assists.
Before joining Tennessee State, Johnson served as an assistant coach at West Virginia during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. He joined the Mountaineers on Jan. 16, 2023, reuniting with his former college coach, Bob Huggins, before remaining on staff under Josh Eilert the following season. His responsibilities included player development, scouting and preparation for Big 12 competition.
Johnson arrived at West Virginia after serving as Cincinnati’s director of player development beginning in May 2021. In that role, he oversaw individual development plans for student-athletes and coordinated connections with former Bearcats players. He had previously returned to Cincinnati in 2017 as a student assistant under Mick Cronin while completing his undergraduate degree, which he earned in spring 2019.
A Washington, D.C., native, Johnson emerged as one of the nation’s top high school prospects at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine. He was named Parade National High School Player of the Year in 1999 and earned McDonald’s, Parade and USA Today All-America recognition.
Johnson played one season at Cincinnati under Huggins in 1999-2000, averaging 13.0 points and 3.7 rebounds while earning Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors. Playing alongside national player of the year Kenyon Martin, Johnson helped the Bearcats finish 29-4, win the Conference USA regular-season championship and hold the nation’s No. 1 ranking for 12 weeks.
The Atlanta Hawks selected Johnson sixth overall in the 2000 NBA Draft. His selection, alongside Martin’s selection at No. 1, marked the first time Cincinnati produced two top-10 picks in the same NBA Draft.
Johnson appeared in 344 NBA regular-season games, including 136 starts, across seven seasons with Atlanta, the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 6.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game during his NBA career.
After his second NBA season, Johnson sustained a serious neck injury in an automobile accident and missed the 2002-03 season. He returned to the league with the Knicks in 2003-04, played three seasons with Denver from 2004-07 and appeared with San Antonio in 2007-08.
Johnson continued his professional career internationally through 2016, playing in countries including China, Italy, Venezuela, Colombia, Lebanon, the Philippines, Argentina, Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic. His experience across the NBA and international basketball informs his work developing and mentoring Tennessee State’s guards.
