Skip Johnson - Head Coach - Baseball Coaches

Photo by: Joe Buvid

Skip Johnson

Title:
Head Coach

Widely regarded as one of the premier pitching coaches in the country, Skip Johnson enters his 10th season at the helm of the Oklahoma Baseball program in 2027. Since taking over the reins after serving one year as the Sooners’ pitching coach, he has led the Sooners to a 310-198 (.610) record in nine seasons, including six NCAA tournament appearances, two College World Series showings, two conference titles and the 2026 national championship.

The 2026 ABCA National Coach of the Year, Johnson recorded his 300th win as OU head coach in 2026 en route to an historic national title that saw the Sooners become the first team in NCAA Tournament history to beat nine national seeds. The Skipper’s pitching staff registered a single-season program record 660 strikeouts, while the offense hit 95 home runs, the most since 2010, including a program-best 30 in NCAA postseason play.

Additionally, 56 players have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft under Johnson’s tenure, 17 have been named to All-America teams and 23 have been all-conference selections (22 in the Big 12 and four in the SEC). Since his arrival at OU as pitching coach prior to the 2017 season, the Sooners have had a total of 41 pitchers selected in the MLB Draft, including 20 drafted in the top 10 rounds and three first-rounders.

Under Johnson's leadership, Oklahoma is 28-14 (.667) in the NCAA Tournament and 8-3 (.727) in the College World Series.

Prior to coming to Oklahoma, Johnson spent a 25-year coaching career in the state of Texas, including 10 years as an assistant and associate head coach at the University of Texas.

Johnson was hired as the pitching coach at Texas for the 2007 season under legendary coach Augie Garrido. In 10 seasons, Johnson helped the Longhorns to seven NCAA Regional appearances, four Super Regionals and three College World Series appearances.

During his tenure in Austin, 32 Texas pitchers were selected in the MLB Draft, including 14 in the first 10 rounds and three first-round picks. Johnson also oversaw the development of six Longhorn pitchers who have made it to the big leagues.

Prior to his time in Austin, Johnson was the head coach for 13 years at Navarro College of the NJCAA’s Texas Eastern Athletic Conference. From 1994-2006, he guided the Bulldogs to 13 NJCAA Regionals, nine TEAC championships and four regional titles while compiling 450 wins.

Johnson has mentored a number of players outside of those he has coached at OU, UT and Navarro, regularly working with three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Homer Bailey of the Kansas Oakland Athletics and Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles, among others.

A standout baseball player at Denton High School, Johnson began his collegiate playing career at Ranger (Texas) College. After a two-year career there, Johnson moved on to play baseball at the University of North Texas in 1988 before the school dropped its baseball program. He completed his collegiate playing career at UT-Pan American, lettering for the Broncs in 1989 and receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1990. Johnson earned a master’s degree in education from UT-Tyler in 1993.

A native of Denton, Texas, Johnson and his wife, Cathy, have two sons, Tyler and Garrett.