Bob Foos
It was like a reunion Tuesday night at the Cardinal Dome when coach Eric Johnson’s former players came to celebrate his recent induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
Johnson coached Webb City High School boys basketball from 1984 to 2008 and holds a record of 421-247 at Webb City. Overall he boasts a career coaching record of 681-537.
He took three teams to the final four while at Webb City. His 1997 team won the Class 3 state championship, beating Chillicothe 46-41 in the title game and completing a 26-4 season.
The 1998 team returned to the final four and placed third after a convincing 79-54 victory over Mexico. That team’s record was 28-4.
Johnson’s final season at Webb City, in 2008, the Cardinals brought home third place by defeating Lincoln College Prep 70-52.
His squads also captured 10 conference titles and 11 district championships. Johnson was named district coach of the year in 1986, 1992 and 1997. He was the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1997.
Johnson coached numerous all-conference and all-district honorees over his tenure and saw 11 of his players named to all-state teams.
He was inducted into the Webb City Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
The Webb City Schools Foundation recognized him as a Pillar of Education in 2025.
Johnson didn’t retire after leaving Webb City High School. He coached basketball at New Heights Christian Academy until recently and is still coaching golf there.
He began his coaching career at Horton and Columbus in Kansas.
As a player at Pittsburg (Kan.) High School he was an all-state honorable mention in basketball. He went on to play at Highland Junior College and for his father, Bob Johnson, at Pittsburg State University.
