Football
- Title:
- Defensive Line
Johnny Nansen joined the Bruins coaching staff in March of 2020. The Bruins defense led the Pac-12 in lowest rushing yards per carry (3.6) allowed last seasonย and rated eighth in the nation while leading the league in sacks (3.29) per game. The 3.6 mark was the lowestย by a Bruin team since 2007. The overall rush defense ranked second in the conference (135.7) and 30th nationally. Osa Odighizuwa, who earned consensus all-conference honors and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, finished fifth in the Pac-12 in sacks (0.57) and 13th in tackles for loss (0.86). The Bruin team ranked 34th nationally in tackles for loss per game (6.9).
Nansen cameย to UCLA after serving the previousย six seasons on the coaching staff at the University of Southern California. In 2019, he guided the inside linebackers and was the defensive run game coordinatorย at USC. From 2016-18, Nansen held the title of assistant head coach while working with the linebackers and coordinating recruiting efforts.
In 2018, linebacker Cameron Smith ranked 15th in the nation in solo tackles per game (5.8) and became the first player in nearly 40 years to lead the team in tackles for three straight seasons. Nansen was named the 2017 Pac-12 Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports.com. USC ranked fourth nationally in red zone defense (.712), fifth in sacks (3.3) and 18th in punt returns (10.9) in the 2017 season. Two Trojans rated among the top 25 in the nation in sacks and Uchenna Nwosu and Smith were named to the all-conference first team. USC was listed 31st nationally in rushing defense (139.6) and 36th in total defense (367.2) in 2016. The Trojans defeated Penn State in the 2017 Rose Bowl. Nwosu (Chargers) and Smith (Vikings) each went on to playย in the NFL.
In the 2014-15 campaigns, Nansen was assistant head coach, running backs coach and special teams coordinator. In 2015, USC rated 38th nationally in total offense, Ronald Jones II (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), who ranked 11th in the nation with a 6.45 yards per carry average, and Justin Davis each rushed for more than 900 yards while Jackson was 10th in combined kick return yardage (941). In 2014, Javorius Allen (N.Y. Giants), who totaled 1,489 rushing yards and was a first-team all-conference selection, ranked 22nd in the country in rushing yards per game (114.5), while Adoree' Jackson was fifth nationally in punt returns with a 29.7-yard average.
From 2009-13, Nansen worked on the staff at the University of Washington. From 2012-13, he was the assistant head coach, running backs coach and special teams coordinator. In 2012 and 2013, Bishop Sankey put together back-to-back top-20 national rushing finishes. Sankey, who was a Doak Walker Award finalist in 2013, ranked fourth nationally in rushing yards per game (143.8) that season and the Huskies rated 15th-best in the country in rushing offense. In 2012, Sankey was 19th in the NCAA with a 110.7 rushing yards per game mark and went on to play in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans.
In the 2009-11 seasons, Nansen served as the Husky defensive line coach and coordinator for special teams and recruiting. In 2011, UW ranked seventh nationally in net punting, with a 40.3-yard average, and No. 21 in punt return defense. In 2009, defensive end Daniel Teโo-Nesheim was rated 19th in the NCAA in sacks per game (0.83) and would finish his career as the schoolโs all-time leader with 30 sacks.
Prior to joining the Husky staff, Nansen was at the University of Idaho from 2004-08. In 2008, he was the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator. Punter T.J. Conley led the nation in punting (47.4) that season and Idaho ranked 14th nationally in net punting (37.8) average. His first three seasons at Idaho, he worked with the running backs and as the special teams coordinator. In 2007, the Vandals rated third in the NCAA in punt returns (16.95) and Shiloh Keo ranked sixth with a 16.8-yard punt return average. In 2006, linebacker David Vobora, who would go on to play four seasons in the NFL with the Rams and Seahawks, rated seventh in the nation in tackles (11.2).
From 2001-03, Nansen was on staff at Idaho State University as the secondary coach (2003) and cornerbacks coach (2001-02). In 2003, Emery Beckles ranked eighth in the nation and led the Big Sky Conference in interceptions (0.56 per game). The previous season, the Bengals captured the 2002 Big Sky Conference championship. In the 2000 season, he was the running backs coach at Montana State. He undertook his first collegiate coaching job in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Louisville, working with the defensive linemen.
Nansen was a three-year letterwinner at linebacker for Washington State (1992-96). He graduated from WSU with a degree in business administration in 1997. Nansen attended Long Beach (Calif.) Jordan HS. He and his wife, Hale, have three children โ Makena Lei, Kealia Kei, Johnny Jr.
