Being a football coach is the best thing in the world

Eric Johnson will turn 42 in May. He has twin daughters about 11-years-old. I've met them. They are pure joy and energy.

Johnson had been at Iowa since 1999, but was the lowest paid member of the staff (yes, it's all relative) at $200,000. The next-lowest salary is linebackers/special teams coach LeVar Woods at $225,000.

Johnson has always been the movable part as far as coaching position goes. Since 2003, he's coached tight ends, linebackers and again tight ends before settling in as a D-line assistant before the 2012 season. He worked with Reese Morgan on the D-line.

He basically came in with Norm Parker. Johnson worked under Parker as a grad assistant for two seasons at Vanderbilt. Norm Parker was his 'in' with the Iowa staff and it lasted 15 seasons.

All that said, there was no indication of any unhappiness. I interviewed Johnson on signing day, something we've done maybe a half dozen times. He had a lot of fire talking about Iowa's recruiting class, specifically running back Markel Smith, who Johnson recruited out of St. Louis. (Johnson worked the St. Louis area over the years for the likes of Adrian Clayborn and Marvin McNutt.)

If there were any disgruntlement, no way Kirk Ferentz would've allowed Johnson to address the team at the end of practice on Saturday, presumably a farewell speech for Johnson. Iowa put out the news later Saturday afternoon.

And, so now, it's off to Culver's. Yes, the odd twist is that Johnson is off to Nashville, Tenn., to open up a Culver's. Yes, the butter burger place. If the Wisconsin Badgers hockey team scores five goals in a game and wins, everyone with a ticket gets a free cup of custard at Culver's. That Culver's.

It's a business opportunity in a city where Johnson went to college. Opening a fast-food restaurant will be a grind, but it will be nothing — N-O-T-H-I-N-G — compared to being a college football assistant coach.

That was the race Johnson ran for 15 years. Ferentz will always be quick to say that they're not splitting atoms in the Iowa football offices, but they are striving to maximize their athletes and scouring hours of digitized video to find the one little tweak in scheme that might win them a half step in a game.

Yes, $200,000 is a lot of money. Does it line up with the effort and emotional and familial toll 100-hour weeks take? For some, yes, but not everyone is built the same. Situations change. You have families, and time starts to speed up. That 10-year-old is driving a car before you know it. Suddenly, they're wearing a funny hat with tassels and moving out. Moving ... out.

The little trade off you make with yourself is that you focus on what's ahead, the possibilities over the memories. At least, that's the bargain I've made with myself. No, I don't work 100 hours a week, but the hours can pile up and, yes, I've missed a few things that kick me in the back of the heart. So, I tell myself, the next moments are what matter. Dwell on the possibilities, not the memories, not what's already slipped through our fingers.

I'm here to tell you that's not a great bargain.

So, Eric Johnson changed his situation. A lot of people on the outside are looking in and thinking this is crazy.

I look at it as a brave move.

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Here's the news from Iowa last weekend about assistant coach Eric Johnson leaving Iowa for a business opportunity outside of football:

IOWA CITY, Iowa — — Eric Johnson, a member of the University of Iowa football coaching staff for 15 years, is leaving the Hawkeye coaching staff to pursue a career opportunity outside of football. The announcement was made Saturday by Johnson and UI head football coach Kirk Ferentz.

'I know Eric and his family have given this decision great attention and thought, and we all wish them the best as they move forward,' said Ferentz. 'Eric has been a valued staff member since he joined our original staff in 1999 and has made many contributions to our program and team as a coach, recruiter and mentor. I am very appreciative of Eric's efforts and his commitment to Iowa and wish him all the best in the future.'

'My family and I can't thank everyone enough for our 15 years at Iowa,' said Johnson. 'It has been a great time in our lives. From a family standpoint, we had a chance to raise our children in a tremendous community. From a professional standpoint, I have worked for the best person in college football. Coach Ferentz is the best teacher, leader, and person I have ever been around; he truly embodies the Iowa way. I have also been mentored by three great coordinators in Norm Parker, Phil Parker and Ken O'Keefe, and had the opportunity to work with one of the best people anyone can ask for in Reese Morgan.'

Eric and his wife, Patsy, have twin daughters, Jamie and Sydney.

Johnson joined the Iowa staff in 1999 and has served as Iowa's recruiting coordinator for 10 years. In addition to his duties as recruiting coordinator, Johnson has assisted with the defensive line the past two seasons. Johnson coached Hawkeye tight ends in 2010 and 2011 after assisting with Hawkeye linebackers in 2008 and 2009. Johnson coached Iowa's tight ends for five seasons (2003-07) and served as Iowa's quality control assistant for three years. He was a defensive graduate assistant during his first year on the Iowa staff.

Johnson has been heavily involved in Iowa's recruiting efforts since joining the Hawkeye staff. Iowa's 2006 recruiting class was ranked extremely high by all the recruiting experts. Iowa's 2005 recruiting class was ranked among the top 10 in the nation by all of the top recruiting services, while Iowa's classes in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2009 were all ranked in the nation's top 25. Sporting News ranked Iowa's 2011 recruiting class second best among Big Ten programs and the 2012 class was ranked third among league programs.

Johnson ranked as one of the top ten recruiting coordinators in the country by Tom Lemming in 2001 and was named one of the Top Ten Recruiters in the Big Ten Conference by Rivals.com in 2007.

'I want to thank all the student-athletes who I have known throughout my time at Iowa,' added Johnson. 'Their hard work, dedication and character are what have made coming to work every day enjoyable. They will always be part of our family and we will always be Hawkeyes.'

Iowa will conclude spring drills with the spring scrimmage next Saturday, April 26, at 2 p.m. in Kinnick Stadium. Pre-event activities begin in Krause Family Plaza at 11:30 a.m., with gates to Kinnick Stadium opening at 1 p.m.

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