Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence

Marlon Johnson

November 21, 1954 – November 27, 2019

 The volleyball community lost a beloved coach on November 27, 2019. Marlon Johnson influenced hundreds of players during his 16 years with Northern Lights. He enjoyed working with athletes of all ages and abilities. His booming voice and brash exterior hid a caring and gentle man who often anonymously paid the fees for players who couldn’t afford to participate.

In honor of Marlon, we are renaming the “Maurice Batie Award of Excellence” to the “Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence” and adding an annual award for coaches.

Passion, Tenacity, and Integrity

By Crystal Dohlman

These are the characteristics that made Marlon an impactful person and coach. Whether a coach or a player these are qualities many of us strive for in our own lives.

Passion:  A strong and barely controllable feeling of enthusiasm and excitement for something or about doing something.

Marlon’s passion for volleyball and the people surrounding the game was unmeasurable. Every day he was in the gym, you knew it. You heard him, you saw him, and he interacted with you. It didn’t matter what kind of a day he had. He showed up with all his energy, love of the game and especially the people he encountered.  He was sure that EVERY person he encountered was worth his greeting and smile.

Tenacity: Extreme persistence, being unwilling to accept defeat or stop doing or having something.

Marlon’s tenacity was admirable. His words were – Don’t you EVER quit on anyone or anything. He believed if you wanted it, you could achieve it.  Every game was winnable. No matter the points or games lost, he believed in his team. You can do anything!

Integrity: Doing what is right even when it is not popular or when no one is looking.

Marlon lived a life of integrity. He didn’t care if his opinion was popular, and he would let you know if you were acting immorally or unethically. He stood up for what he believed in whether in a crowd or if no one was watching.  He pushed himself to do the right thing and he was proud of how hard he worked for himself and what he made of his life.

Marlon Johnson – an incredible person and an example of  Passion, Tenacity, and Integrity.