
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Jim Johnson won more than 400 games as a high high school basketball coach. He only had one losing record in his 30 years of being a head coach. However, he is probably best known for what he did in 2006. His kindhearted gesture of giving an autistic student (now known affectionately as "J-Mac") on his team the chance to make his dream come true has captivated the hearts of millions of Americans. How could it not? With the help of his teammates, J-Mac scored twenty points (including six three-point baskets) in just over four minutes, becoming an instant national celebrity.
Coach Johnson has been featured in major news outlets around the country, making a number of radio and television appearances, including the Oprah Winfrey and Jim Rome shows. He has met President George W. Bush, Governor George Pataki, and Senator Hillary Clinton, to name just a few luminaries. His team was paid a visit at school by NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and J-Mac's magical moment won the ESPY for "Best Sports Moment" at the ESPN awards show later that year.
You can find out more about Coach Jim Johnson and his book "A Coach and a Miracle" by visiting www.CoachJimJohnson.com
By Jamy Bechler4.8
9191 ratings
Jim Johnson won more than 400 games as a high high school basketball coach. He only had one losing record in his 30 years of being a head coach. However, he is probably best known for what he did in 2006. His kindhearted gesture of giving an autistic student (now known affectionately as "J-Mac") on his team the chance to make his dream come true has captivated the hearts of millions of Americans. How could it not? With the help of his teammates, J-Mac scored twenty points (including six three-point baskets) in just over four minutes, becoming an instant national celebrity.
Coach Johnson has been featured in major news outlets around the country, making a number of radio and television appearances, including the Oprah Winfrey and Jim Rome shows. He has met President George W. Bush, Governor George Pataki, and Senator Hillary Clinton, to name just a few luminaries. His team was paid a visit at school by NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and J-Mac's magical moment won the ESPY for "Best Sports Moment" at the ESPN awards show later that year.
You can find out more about Coach Jim Johnson and his book "A Coach and a Miracle" by visiting www.CoachJimJohnson.com

1,344 Listeners

1,288 Listeners

21,255 Listeners

14,009 Listeners

281 Listeners

2,301 Listeners

162 Listeners

1,203 Listeners

515 Listeners

66,631 Listeners

252 Listeners

62,861 Listeners

445 Listeners

930 Listeners

21,240 Listeners