Northwood’s new boys basketball coach Zach Johnson prepares to replace a legend

Zach Johnson (second from left) replaces Tim O’Brien (far left). Among the other assistants were Jamal Johnson and Mel Miranda. (Photo courtesy Northwood basketball, Mia Fujii)

Replacing a legend can be challenging and Northwood High School’s interim boys basketball coach Zach Johnson indicated Monday he is fully aware of that.

Johnson fills the spot vacated by long-time Northwood Coach Tim O’Brien, who died in October after a battle with cancer.

“Taking over for Coach O’Brien will not be easy,” Johnson said Monday. “He was one of the best to ever do it and I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to coach at Northwood. I am blessed to have called him a mentor and a friend.

“He was one of the best people that I have ever been around, and I became better man because of him. I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to work with him and be around him for the time that I did.”

Johnson, 29, has considerable coaching experience. From 2012 to 2013, he was the assistant men’s basketball coach at Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz.

Then from 2013 to 2015, Johnson was an assistant coach at Orange High. Johnson was then the associate head coach at Aqua Fria High School in Avondale, Ariz. from 2015-2016. From 2016 to 2019, he coached at Foothill before joining the Northwood program.

Johnson is a long-term substitute at Irvine Virtual Academy after receiving his credential in social science in February.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com