Bob Johnson

On March 11th, 2026, legendary Coach Bob Johnson passed away at the age of 80 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Fair warning… this is a long one. Turns out, when someone lives a life with this kind of impact, it takes a minute to tell it. It’s worth the read.

And if you’re the type who skims (Bob would understand)… here’s what you need to know up front:

A public memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be held in the gym at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, April 25, at 1 p.m. Given the extraordinary number of lives Bob touched, the family anticipates a large gathering and kindly asks those planning to attend to leave a message indicating their attendance so they can better prepare. You'll need to scroll all the way to the bottom of this page and skip the automated pop-ups to buy flowers. Bob would be honored to have you consider supporting the Mission Viejo High School football program.

For those who are unable to attend, the family warmly invites you to share a message, memory, or photo below. Your stories and tributes mean more than you know and will be deeply cherished.

Back to the GOAT…

When nursing staff whispered to the family that Bob would likely pass on March 10, they imagined him thinking, “Yeah… that would be a no. Let’s go with the 11th.”

Bob retired from coaching high school football in 2017 after a career that included winning six Southern Section football titles at Mission Viejo and three at El Toro, winning 338 games, the second-winningest in Orange County history, and among the top five in California state history.

On the field, Bob did many things exceptionally well… including winning games, terrifying opposing teams, and giving referees immediate, very passionate performance reviews.

One of his more memorable sideline moments came when a vertically challenged referee ruled the ball short. Bob was convinced they had the first down. The official asked, “Do you not understand what short is?” Bob didn’t hesitate… “Buddy, I know what short is. I’m looking at it.”

Former referees respected him and often described him as “memorable”… and “very, very loud.”

Coach treated every game like it was the Super Bowl. Which is why he never had to cheat or doctor a ball… (if you know, you know).

He took pride in the fact that his teams were never anyone’s Homecoming opponent, believing kids deserved for their school’s big night to end with a dance… not a blowout.

His players always knew exactly how he was feeling by the fate of his paper Gatorade cup. If it went up in the air, things were good. If it got crushed and spiked into the ground… someone was about to get their ass handed to them in the most loving of ways.

Bob had an uncanny ability to turn a smelly weight room full of testosterone-driven young men into an ego-busting comedy show… usually with a single, perfectly timed comment that most definitely would get him canceled today.

Over the course of his career, he coached an estimated 10,000 young men. Many of them still credit him for teaching them discipline, toughness, respect, and integrity.

His commitment to his players never ended with the final whistle. Bob worked tirelessly in the off-season, advocating for their futures and opening doors at the next level.

He helped more than 200 players earn college scholarships and gave dozens the opportunity to play professionally. He believed the real work was shaping young men beyond the game. Wins and losses mattered, but they were never the point. What stayed with them were the relationships, the locker room, the shared battles, and the standard they held each other to. He believed that if you got that part right… the rest would follow.

He valued everyone who made the program what it was… the coaches, equipment staff, trainers, parents, administration, student body, and boosters. He knew success was built by all of them and shied away from any recognition. Nonetheless, he was awarded the NFL High School Football Coach of the Year in 2009; in 2017, Mission Viejo honored him as a “Hometown Hero”; and in 2023, he was inducted into the California High School Football Hall of Fame.

Family always came first. Bob coached both of his sons, winning two CIF championships at El Toro High School with his oldest son, Bret, at quarterback.

Both sons, Rob and Bret, were standout high school athletes before enrolling at USC and UCLA, respectively. Rob went on to play 10 years in the NFL. Later, both sons joined their father, calling plays alongside him at Mission Viejo High School.

Together, the three of them won two more CIF championships at Mission Viejo, with his grandson Brock at quarterback… proudly wearing number 11.

Today, Rob continues coaching at Mission Viejo, where the tradition lives on with his oldest son, Bo, now wearing number 11.

Bob's family cherished being together on Friday nights under the lights. He is survived by his greatest cheerleader, high school sweetheart, and wife of 58 years, Debbie; his sons Bret and his wife Chalene, and Rob and his wife Dana; his sister Linda; and his grandchildren Brock, Cierra, Tatum, Presley, Bo, and Duke.

A public memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be held in the gym at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, April 25, at 1 p.m. (We recommend bringing a seat pad for the bleachers. Due to the extraordinary number of lives Bob touched over the years, the family anticipates a large gathering and kindly encourages anyone planning to attend to leave a message so they can help estimate attendance and prepare accordingly.

For the thousands of young men who passed through his program… You gave him so much pride. You were never just players to him. You were the reason.

In lieu of flowers, if you’d like to honor Bob, consider supporting the Mission Viejo High School football program or an Alzheimer’s foundation… Alz.org A Memorial Gathering will be held on April 25, 2026, at 01:00 PM at Mission Viejo High School Gym 25025 Chrisanta Dr . We recommend bringing a padded seat for the bleachers. Due to the extraordinary number of lives Bob touched over the years, the family anticipates a large gathering and kindly encourages anyone planning to attend to leave a message so they can help estimate attendance and prepare accordingly.