Joined Staff:   Fall 2002
Wife:  Stacey (16 years in August)
Children:  Lauren, Caleb, Evan, Luke (deceased)
Education:  Taylor U.-'86, Emporia State-00-02

Background:  Jere grew up in Northern Indiana and went to high school at South Adams High School, Berne Indiana where he lettered 10 times in 5 different sports.  Attending Taylor University, he participated in track for 3 years.

Jere went right into coaching boy's basketball in Indiana at Lakeview Christian School.  He was one of the youngest varsity boy's basketball coaches in the state at 22 in 1985.  He coached at Lakeview for 5 years compiling a 70% winning record and won several state and conference titles in the Christian school league.  In 1990, he went to work at Indiana Wesleyan University as an Admission Counselor and Ass't Men's Basketball Coach.  In 1994, he moved to Bartlesville, OK where he assumed a position as Director of Admissions for Oklahoma Wesleyan University.  1998, he became the Athletic Director and Women's Basketball Coach at OWU.  He won 75 games in his four year stint as coach at OWU.

The Johnson's moved back to the midwest in 2002, where Jere followed his love to Christ and sport and joined the staff here in Chicago.  Since joining the staff, he has been active in running camps, huddles, and volunteer chaplain at Northwestern University in Evanston IL.  He has a great passion for writing and has written over 150 sports devotionals for the daily FCA e-devotionals.  

Jere and his family reside in Crystal Lake IL and attend Harvest Bible Chapel.  Jere and Stacey volunteer their time to teach Sunday school and help with an elementary sports ministry called FCA PowerKids in Crystal Lake.  Jere credits his father (Jim Johnson), Chuck Mealy, Aidan McKenzie, the late Randy Walker, and  Dr. Jerry Forbes for having an impact on his life in ministry.

His favorite verses are: Proverbs 3:5-6 and Jeremiah 29:11