2022 Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence Recipient

2022 winner Beth Larson presented by Adam Beamer

The following speech was made by Crystal Dohlman, Marlon Johnson’s longtime friend who coached with him at Northern Lights and at Jefferson High School on June 2, 2022 as she announced the 2022 Marlon Award of Excellence for a Coach.

Marlon Johnson an incredible person and an example of passion, tenacity, and integrity.  I am incredibly honored to be presenting the Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence for the first time in Northern Lights history to a well deserving coach.  I had the honor and privilege of knowing and coaching with Marlon for over 16 years.  In that time, I was able to learn an incredible amount from him and will be forever grateful.  Sure, I learned things about volleyball skills, technique, strategy, but also, I encountered his unstoppable tenacity in his own life, in what he pushed every player to do and what he encouraged me to push through.  I witnessed his integrity, his drive to do what is right in all situations and not care about popularity.  I was immersed in his passion, his desire to coach every single player.  He didn’t care if you were a top player on a ones team or the last player picked at tryouts.  He was determined that every player could succeed and was worth his efforts.  He had an incredible spirit and energy he brought with him every single day.

The recipient of this award is deserving in every aspect of the definitions I previously provided.  They support every player they come in contact with as well as their coaches.  This coach also has the overwhelming support of their colleagues in the Northern Lights gym.  It is my hope that they will continue their coaching journey with passion, tenacity, and integrity.  Please join me in congratulating the 2022 recipient of the Marlon Johnson Award of Excellence, Beth Larson.