The National High School Basketball Coaches Association recognizes and honors individuals that have contributed to our sport in their respective states.
They honored three inductees in this 2025 ceremony.
Marty Johnson is best known from his time as boys’ basketball coach at East Noble, where he compiled a 306-182 record in 21 seasons from 1985 through 2006. In Kendallville, his Knights won seven sectionals (1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2001), two regionals (1996 and 1997) and six Northeast Hoosier Conference titles. He was an All-Area Coach of the Year seven times and an IBCA District 2 Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1997. He was the head coach of the 1997 Indiana All-Star team.
Johnson became coach at Whiteland in 2006, posting a 32-35 over three seasons and being named 2009 IndyStar South Coach of the Year. He stepped down as coach at Whiteland for family health concerns. He then served as athletic director at Perry Meridian from 2012 to 2016 before moving into an administrative role for Perry Township Schools.
Johnson is 1976 graduate of Highland High School. He attended University of Indianapolis, playing four years of basketball and graduating in 1980. He was voted second-team all-Great Lakes Valley Conference as a senior at Ulndy. Johnson later earned a master’s degree from Ball State in business education and a second master’s degree from IPFW in administration. After college, Johnson spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Pendleton Heights. He then went 21-21 in two seasons as the Pendleton Heights’ varsity coach (1983-85) before becoming the coach at East Noble. Overall, Johnson posted a career mark of 359-238 in 26 seasons as a varsity coach.
Johnson served on the IBCA board of directors in 1990-91, was the IBCA president in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and the IBCA past president from 2000 to 2002. He was an IBCA assistant executive director from 2002-14 and associate executive director from 2014-22 prior to becoming the IBCA executive director in June 2022.
Johnson was inducted into the East Noble Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
He and his wife. Traci, have two adult children — Kyle and Morgan.