Bill Johnson

Bill Johnson
April 15, 2022
Spokane, Washington - Bill Johnson, 83 years old, passed away unexpectedly on, April 15, 2022, in Spokane, WA with his wife by his side. He was a wonderful family man, a much loved husband, father, and grandfather as well as a highly successful coach and mentor to many, many students, athletes, and young coaches over his extensive teaching and coaching career.
Bill attended Richland High School where he earned All-State honors in football, baseball, and basketball. He then went on to Columbia Basin College where he played all three sports before receiving a baseball scholarship to the University of Idaho earning All- Pacific Coast Conference honors as a shortstop. After graduation and playing one year of professional baseball for the Tri-City Braves, he taught and coached three sports at Connell High School. His baseball teams won three Yakima Valley A-League Championships and his football teams won two titles including a 9-0 record in his second season.
Coach Johnson was hired to teach and coach baseball at Spokane Falls Community College in 1968. During his eleven years at the helm, his teams compiled a 217-173 record and finished in the top three of the tough Eastern Region in ten of his eleven seasons, finishing second in the NWAC in 1977. Bill has six former players elected to the CCS Hall of Fame and four that went on to play in the major leagues. He also coached several international All-Star teams and worked as a scout for the major league Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. After stepping down as Head Baseball Coach, Bill remained in his tenured faculty teaching position and also served as an assistant baseball and basketball coach until he retired from full-time work in 1997. He continued as a volunteer assistant softball and baseball coach for another twenty years putting his total coaching career at SFCC at 50 years (1968-2018.) He has been elected into both the CCS and NWAC Halls of Fame.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce of 65 years, his sons, Chuck and David (Cindy); three grandchildren, Sophie Lee (Brian), Conner, and Meaghan; three great-grandchildren and his sister, Janice Chunn (Malcom.).
Bill's life will be remembered forever as a man grounded in his Christian faith, courageous in facing long-term health challenges, and one who provided all who knew him wonderful memories filled with good times, laughter, hugs, and above all, love and joy.