Billy Ray Johnson - Chief of Staff - Staff Directory - University of Tennessee Athletics

Staff Directory

Billy Ray Johnson

Title:
Chief of Staff
Phone:
(865) 974-1234

updated July 2024

Billy Ray Johnson enters his fourth season with Tennessee football and serves as the program’s chief of staff. He is the program’s liaison to UT administration.

Johnson has worked closely with head coach Josh Heupel since December 2017 when Heupel was tabbed head coach at UCF. Johnson was the Knights’ director of football operations and chief of staff for three seasons, an era that saw UCF reach three straight bowl games, win 28 games and capture the 2018 The American Athletic Conference championship. The Knights posted a 12-1 record that season and earned a berth to the Fiesta Bowl before finishing No. 11 in the final Associated Press poll.

Prior to Orlando, Johnson served as the director of football operations at Indiana for six seasons. His duties with the Hoosiers included serving as liaison between the football program and strength and conditioning, athletic training, academics, video, equipment and media relations. Johnson also oversaw the football program budget and all off-field activities.

Prior to his time at Indiana, Johnson spent more than 15 years in administration at Oklahoma. He joined the staff in Norman as assistant director of athletic housing in 1994 before becoming director of athletic housing in 2000.

Johnson has a varied background in athletics, having worked in ticketing as well. He started at OU as assistant ticket manager. He was eventually promoted to director of ticket operations and later assistant and associate athletic director.

During his time in the OU ticket office, he worked closely with the Sooner Club, marketing and promotions, media relations, event management and all coaches and athletic teams. Johnson played an integral role in more than 30 successful bids to host Big 12 and NCAA events from 2000-10. He was the sport supervisor for softball during his tenure with the Sooners and served on various committees and senior staff initiatives.

Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in history from UMass (1987).

He and his wife, Kara, have two sons, Jake and Luke.