Fresh faces lead Princeton: Sydney Johnson '97

"I can tell why this guy's got a lot of steals: He's got really long arms," senior basketball team captain Noah Savage said, reminiscing on his first impression of Sydney Johnson '97, the first-year head men's basketball coach. Johnson, who took the helm after former head coach Joe Scott '87 left to coach at the University of Denver, still holds the school record for career steals. Since that first introduction, more than just Johnson's long arms have made an impact on Savage.

"He's a competitor," Savage said. "You can tell that in everything that he does, and you just don't want to let a guy like that down."

Though this is Johnson's first year as Princeton's head coach, it's a desire many Tigers have had under his guidance. As the only three-time captain in Princeton basketball history, Johnson has spent his fair share of time leading on the court. Now, however, he is leading from courtside.

Having played under the legendary Pete Carill and Bill Carmody, as well as having coached with John Thompson III '88 for the past three years, Johnson feels he is up to the challenge.

"I think I bring enough experience to show us the way," Johnson said. "I think the best coaches in the country with the most experience you can imagine have learned something about their team today that they didn't know yesterday. I don't think there's any shame in the fact that we're all kind of learning no matter how old we are."

His players agreed wholeheartedly.

"Him being young or this being a transition, it doesn't take away in any way that he's the head coach. He's the guy," Savage said. "Everybody's just hungry and wants to learn from him as much as possible."

Part of that desire may stem from how natural and sincere Johnson's interactions with the team have been. Since arriving on campus, he has been connecting with the team, whether they were in Jadwin for practice or spread across the country.

Over the summer, Johnson sent the team an email with a link to a motivational youtube.com video: a Charles Barkley highlight reel set to '80s rock that featured the tagline, "Who says pros can't compete?"

"It just made you want to go to the gym and work out," Savage said.

It hasn't been all fun and games, however. Johnson has quietly assumed control and demanded a lot of effort from the Tigers. No one has ever wondered whether Johnson is working hard or hardly working.

"I do think hard work is fun because at some point it pays off," Johnson said.

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And when the effort pays off he rewards both himself and his players with a high five and a "good job."

That positive attitude carries over when his players do something wrong. Quietly demanding their best, Johnson is there with a kind reminder about position, technique or strategy.

"[Johnson's] a great coach," sophomore guard Marcus Schroeder said. "He's kind of soft-spoken, but everybody listens when he talks because you know that he means what he's saying when he does."

Johnson, who captained the legendary 1995-96 Princeton basketball team that upset defending national champions UCLA in the first round of the NCAA tournament, knows his team is not favored to reenact that moment this year, but he isn't focused on the past at all.

For the Tigers, being competitive, working hard and learning to respect themselves are Johnson's stated goals for the season. He also wants the team to learn something about itself in the process.

"I think you succeed here at Princeton when you know this place needs you, that you have something to add," Johnson said. "That's what I want to share with our guys. Give what you have to give because this place needs your talents; it needs your character and your work ethic and your commitment. That may be a more intangible thing, but I certainly hope it transfers to our players."

If anyone believes those goals are too lofty, they should take a look at Johnson. As Savage noted in their first encounter, very little is out of Johnson's reach.