The Army West Point attackman enters his final Patriot League championship weekend as one of the Black Knights' most successful men's lacrosse players in their 100-year history. From day one though the senior has been playing with a chip on his shoulder.
That chip has carried him to West Point and has helped him become one of the most lethal scorers. With his next goal, Johnson can become just the fourth player in program lore to be in the career top-10 list for goals, assists and points.
Johnson grew up 2,862 miles from the Banks of the Hudson in Bellevue, Wash., which is across Lake Washington from Seattle. It's not exactly a hot bed for lacrosse, but his father, Craig, a former lacrosse player himself, talked his son into trading in his baseball mitt for a lacrosse stick.
"I was in fourth grade and my dad got tired of watching me play baseball," Johnson said. "He used to play lacrosse, so he wanted me to try it and handed me a stick. We went out in the front yard and tossed the ball around and you could say the rest is history."
Ever since he picked up that stick he wanted to make it to the highest level.
"The second I picked up a lacrosse stick my aspirations were to become a Division I lacrosse player," Johnson added. "I knew that it would take a lot more effort, time and energy to do that because there are no west coast schools that has the sport. The closest one is Denver."
That time and energy spent was not only put on Johnson, it was also something his parents had to sacrifice to give their son the best experience with the game he loved.
"Thankfully my parents were willing to afford me the opportunity with their time and energy, as long as I put in the work," Johnson said. Cole with his father Craig prior to his first lacrosse trip in the fifth grade
It wasn't easy to get noticed out in Washington, so the Johnson's had to commit a lot of time between their trips to Texas and Long Island, as well as New England. He must have showed a lot of promise during those outings as he was invited to a 'Blue Chip' select camp, where coaches from the top programs around the country can recruit the next stars.
The long plane rides were all worth it though because Johnson got to play against elite talent and ended up being spotted by a Long Island coach that knew Army head coach Joe Alberici. The two were in contact about a different player, but the coach had glowing remarks about Johnson.
"Cole had a really unique recruiting process," Alberici said. "I was calling a Long Island coach regarding one of his players and he had mentioned that they had played a team from Washington during a Long Island swing. He added that the best attackman he had seen all year played for a team from Bellevue. Cole was the player he was referring to."
Johnson remembers hearing that the coach was Farmingdale's Bob Hartranft and he had told Alberici he was one of the best lefties he had seen in a while. Hartranft talked to Johnson following the game and the west coaster told him he was looking at another academy.
"Hartranft said he spoke with Cole and he said he was looking at the Naval Academy," Alberici added. "So Coach Hartranft asked, 'why not Army?' He then relayed this story onto me about the encounter."
Johnson had a connection with Annapolis as his grandfather was a graduate, but he was willing to listen to the possibility of West Point.
Unfortunately at the outset Alberici couldn't find any information on Johnson, not even a full name. So he called up a former teammate of his from Alfred University, Kevin Mincio, who is currently coaching out in Washington, about Johnson.
"He knew right away who I was talking about." Alberici said.
From there, he contacted Johnson's coach at Bellevue, John Bauman, and flew the attackman in for a visit and a commitment to come to West Point followed shortly after.
It was definitely new territory for the program as Johnson was Alberici's first recruit out of the state of Washington. Evan Condon, from Mercer Island, Wash., has since joined the Black Knights from the state, which has seen a growth of kids playing the game.
Johnson, a 6-1, 171-pounder, isn't the biggest or strongest player out on the field, but that is why he loves the game.
"I enjoy the game because it doesn't matter what size you are or your athletic ability, you can just go out there and make a difference," Johnson added. "You can still be a great player. I think it's different in some sports in that way because you don't have to be big or physically gifted. I think that is cool and unique."
He has turned that enjoyment into becoming one of the greatest players to walk the hallowed grounds at West Point. He is currently 10th all-time in career points with 179 and in assists with 73. He is also now 11th on the all-time list with 106 career goals. He has been named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List twice and is a two-time first team All-Patriot League performer.
A player with those type of numbers and recognition has to have an inspiration, a drive and the determination to be the best.
"I attribute it to the idea of being a west coaster," Johnson said. "Having to come over here with a chip on my shoulder and having something to prove. All my life I have been told that you can't do this and you can't do that, and I go out there and show people that I can do it. I think that is what has made me so successful here."
He understands the challenges faced by athletes playing in the northwest. It is still hard to be seen by recruiters. But Johnson and other west coasters try and help other players coming up in the system when they can.
"Everyone who is from the West Coast tries to build lacrosse growth out there," Johnson commented. "I have definitely done that myself. I have reached out to players that have had potential and try to help them get in contact with schools that they want to pursue."
West Point is the premier leader development institution in the world and provides cadets with endless opportunities both here in the United States and also abroad. Cadets are part of the Long Gray Line, and Johnson doesn't forget that when he takes the field on the road or at Michie Stadium.
"You represent something bigger than yourself," Johnson said. "There are a lot of teams that have unique jerseys with their names on their back, here we are playing for something a lot bigger than us and the ones that have come before us.
"You also represent your team and your family. I like the idea of playing for a bigger something."
With three 10-win seasons under his belt and two trips to the Patriot League championship game, Johnson's Class of 2017 has achieved much, but when asked about the lasting legacy of his class, there hopefully is more to come.
"I want a championship."
The Black Knights have been so close over the last two seasons, but Johnson is confident that this is the year.
"We have been knocking on the door my entire career here," Johnson said. "I believe this team has the ability to go much farther than a league championship, so I think the first step is getting that championship."
Johnson and the Black Knights will have their chance to right the couple of wrongs over the last two years and bring the title back to West Point for the first time since 2010. The Cadets postseason hopes begin in the Patriot League semifinals, which kicks off Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against Boston University in Baltimore, Md. The championship game follows on Sunday at 1 p.m. with an NCAA berth on the line.
He is branching infantry with a signal corps detail and will head to Fort Benning in Georgia following graduation, then Ranger School followed by his post assignment at Fort Hood in Texas.
The Black Knights and Alberici, along with Johnson, are thankful his father set the baseball mitt aside and gave his son his first lacrosse stick in the fourth grade.
