Utah football: Brian Johnson leaving the Utes for Mississippi State

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) acknowledges the cheering crowd as the Utes face Alabama during the 4th quarter in the 75th annual Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Friday, January 2, 2009.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Fans swarm Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) as time expires and the Utes go beat BYU on November 22, 2008, at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Paul Fraughton | The Salt Lake Tribune.
Brian Johnson, who was named the new offensive coordinator for the University of Utah, talks to the media about his new position
Thursday, February 2, 2012

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham and Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) hold their trophy aloft after the Utes defeated Alabama in the 75th annual Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Friday, January 2, 2009.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
University of Utah football team's Brian Johnson runs through plays with quarterback Logan Bateman during the Utes practice, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Johnson has been demoted from offensive coordinator, but still coaches the quarterbacks as the "co-coordinator" with the newly hired Dennis Erickson.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
After directing the tying drive and running in the two-point conversion, Ute QB Brian Johnson accepts the crowd's praise. Utah wins 31-28 on a last second FG by K Louie Sakoda on October 2, 2008.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) and many of his teammates prepare to take the field as the Utes face Alabama in the 75th Anniversary Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, Friday, January 2, 2008.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
University of Utah football team's Brian Johnson runs through plays with quarterback Brandon Cox (right) and Adam Schulz (left) during the Utes practice, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Johnson has been demoted from offensive coordinator, but still coaches the quarterbacks as the "co-coordinator" with the newly hired Dennis Erickson.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah defensive end Paul Kruger (11) and Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) celebrates a win over BYU Saturday, November 22, 2008 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) is surrounded by reporters after the Utes defeated Alabama in the 75th annual Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Friday, January 2, 2009.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
University of Utah football team's Brian Johnson runs through plays with the quarterbacks during the Utes practice, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Johnson has been demoted from offensive coordinator, but still coaches the quarterbacks as the "co-coordinator" with the newly hired Dennis Erickson.

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Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) acknowledges the cheering crowd as the Utes face Alabama during the 4th quarter in the 75th annual Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Friday, January 2, 2009. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Fans swarm Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) as time expires and the Utes go beat BYU on November 22, 2008, at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Paul Fraughton | The Salt Lake Tribune. Brian Johnson, who was named the new offensive coordinator for the University of Utah, talks to the media about his new position Thursday, February 2, 2012 Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham and Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) hold their trophy aloft after the Utes defeated Alabama in the 75th annual Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Friday, January 2, 2009. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune University of Utah football team's Brian Johnson runs through plays with quarterback Logan Bateman during the Utes practice, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Johnson has been demoted from offensive coordinator, but still coaches the quarterbacks as the "co-coordinator" with the newly hired Dennis Erickson. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune After directing the tying drive and running in the two-point conversion, Ute QB Brian Johnson accepts the crowd's praise. Utah wins 31-28 on a last second FG by K Louie Sakoda on October 2, 2008. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) and many of his teammates prepare to take the field as the Utes face Alabama in the 75th Anniversary Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, Friday, January 2, 2008. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune University of Utah football team's Brian Johnson runs through plays with quarterback Brandon Cox (right) and Adam Schulz (left) during the Utes practice, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Johnson has been demoted from offensive coordinator, but still coaches the quarterbacks as the "co-coordinator" with the newly hired Dennis Erickson. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah defensive end Paul Kruger (11) and Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) celebrates a win over BYU Saturday, November 22, 2008 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah quarterback Brian Johnson (3) is surrounded by reporters after the Utes defeated Alabama in the 75th annual Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Friday, January 2, 2009. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune University of Utah football team's Brian Johnson runs through plays with the quarterbacks during the Utes practice, Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Johnson has been demoted from offensive coordinator, but still coaches the quarterbacks as the "co-coordinator" with the newly hired Dennis Erickson.

By Lya Wodraska The Salt Lake Tribune

· February 8, 2014 1:18 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

After being demoted from offensive coordinator to co-offensive coordinator to quarterbacks coach, Brian Johnson is looking to revive his coaching career with a longtime mentor.

Sources have confirmed that Johnson is leaving Utah to become a part of Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen's staff.

Mullen recruited Johnson to Utah and has remained one of Johnson's close confidants.

Johnson, Utah's winningest quarterback in history with a 26-7 record, became the youngest offensive coordinator in the Football Bowl Subdivision when coach Kyle Whittingham appointed the then 24-year-old to the position in 2011.

However, Johnson's time as a coach hasn't gone smoothly as Utah's offense has failed to be the dynamic force Whittingham envisioned. Johnson served as the co-offensive coordinator last season along with Dennis Erickson, then was demoted to quarterbacks coach when Whittingham hired Dave Christensen as Utah's new coordinator in December.

Mississippi State had an opening since offensive coordinator Les Koenning left to join Charlie Strong's staff at Texas. Mullen is 36-28 since he was hired as Mississippi State's coach in December 2008.

Johnson did not return messages left on his phone.