Coach Mike Johnston

Coach Mike Johnston, the legendary head football coach of Katy High School and a beloved mentor, leader, and man of faith, passed away on January 10, 2026.

For decades, Coach Johnston served the Katy community with distinction, leaving a legacy defined not only by championships, but by character, discipline, and an unwavering belief in the young men that he coached.

Eugene Michael (Mike) Johnston was born on June 28, 1947, in Huntsville, Texas, and raised in Galena Park. He developed a strong work ethic and love for football early in life. As a student-athlete at Galena Park High School, he was a member of the school's football team that reached the 1964 state finals, an experience that shaped his competitive spirit and lifelong respect for teamwork and perseverance. He went on to play football at Stephen F. Austin State University, competing as a linebacker and center, while learning from mentors who influenced his own coaching philosophy.

After graduation, Coach Johnston launched his career in high school football at Hull-Daisetta High School and later included coaching positions at Nacogdoches High School, Beaumont Forest Park High School, and Abilene High School.

In 1980, he joined Katy High School as an assistant coach, and in 1982 he was named head football coach and campus athletic coordinator. At that time, the Katy football program was seeking direction and consistency. Through discipline, belief, and tireless effort, Coach Johnston transformed the Katy Tigers into one of the most respected high school football programs in the state of Texas.

Over 22 seasons leading the Katy High School football team (1982–2003), Coach Johnston ended a years-long playoff drought and led the Tigers to three Texas state championships (1997, 2000, 2003), five state championship game appearances, numerous district titles, and more than 200 career victories. The culture of excellence that he established at Katy High School continues today.

Shortly after retiring from Katy High School in 2003, Coach Johnston became the head football coach at Houston Christian High School where he continued establishing lifelong friendships with athletes and their families. Many of those relationships endured long after he stopped coaching football in 2011.

While his accomplishments on the field were extraordinary, Coach Johnston believed his greatest responsibility was to mold his athletes into young men of character. He was a devoted man of faith who was never afraid to share God's message with his players, whether during team meetings, practices, or quiet one-on-one conversations.

He taught his teams and staff that faith, integrity, humility, and accountability mattered far more than the final score and his influence is still felt in the lives of countless former players and coaches.

Known for his trademark red suspenders and commanding presence on the sideline, Coach Johnston led with compassion, conviction, and heart. Coach Johnston's leadership, however, extended beyond Katy High School, as he served as president and director of the Texas High School Coaches Association and was inducted into its Hall of Honor, earning respect across the state of Texas.

In recognition of his extraordinary impact on Katy ISD and the broader community, the playing surface at Legacy Stadium proudly bears his name - Mike Johnston Field - a permanent tribute to a coach whose influence will endure for generations.

Coach Mike Johnston is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Donna Johnston; their two sons, Russ (Cynthia) Johnston and Paul Johnston; his brother, Steve (Judy) Johnston; his grandchildren, Elliott, Reece, and Sidney Johnston; his step-grandchild, Joshua Greenmun; and his nieces and nephew, Staci Johnston, Kyle Johnston, and Deetra (Dr. Chad) Hammett.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Burl and Altha Johnston.