The last time Bingham High School needed a new head football coach, administration went in a different direction. They sent feelers out far and wide, and after a few rounds of interviews, Roy defensive coordinator Eric Jones got the job after coach Dave Peck retired. 

In an interesting turn of events, Jones then hired the legendary Fred Fernandes as the offensive coordinator and associate head coach at BHS despite having been Roy’s head coach at the time. Together, Jones and Fernandes and the rest of Bingham’s coaching staff guided the Miners back to the big stadium on the hill [Rice-Eccles Stadium] for the first time in several years, reaching the 6A semifinals in their first year and the 6A quarterfinals in their second year. 

But, Jones is a math teacher with a young family and so he told City Journals in an exclusive that it was better for him and the program to step down after two years and leave it in the hands of someone else who lived closer. So, Bingham turned back around to find another coach and Jones himself recommended Josh Johnson. 

“He’s a perfect fit! For me personally, Josh was very helpful and supportive when I had the opportunity to coach at Bingham,” Jones said. 

“He [Johnson] was a tremendous assistant and special teams coach while we worked together. He was instrumental in helping me learn the lay of the land around Bingham and its storied football program. I’m very thankful and appreciative of Josh and how much he helped me.”

Johnson was hired as the Miners’ fourth head coach since 2015 this past winter and he brings both a wealth of knowledge and experience. As a Bingham alum who played there and at Snow College, Johnson has a total of 20 years of experience as an assistant in various capacities—two alone under Jones on the Miners’ varsity as Bingham’s special teams coordinator. Johnson has also served as Bingham’s offensive coordinator and as the Miners’ JV head coach and OC, as well as receivers coach. 

In his 20th season in some way, shape or form as a Bingham coach, Johnson will head into the 2024-25 season with a new title, a brand new Jumbotron that you’ve really got to see to believe at Ron Thorne Stadium and a team filled with experienced kids who either went to the 6A quarterfinals last year or the 6A semifinals in the 2022 season. 

For Jones, he holds no ill will toward anyone at Bingham and wishes the new head coach of the Miners and everyone associated with the program all the best going forward. 

“The program is in great hands with a fantastic staff and a very talented roster,” Jones said, who is now the head coach at Westfield, a new high school in West Weber County. “I’m excited for them and the great season I suspect they’re about to have. I’ll be following closely and cheering for some Miner Magic in November!” λ