DJ Johnson is as humble and thankful as an athlete as he is accomplished. While his resume and list of accolades is distinguished, what is most striking about Johnson’s story and person is his selfless focus. “I never played for accolades and trophies and awards,” he remarked. “What I did play for was a true love for the game, respect from my peers, and an outlet. I wanted to win... I wanted to be the best, and most importantly, I wanted to set the best example, showing even though you may be blessed with some natural talent, hard work will always supersede any physical advantage. I enjoyed the inputs just as much as the outputs.”Johnson’s “inputs” led to some powerful dividends. As a Redhawk athlete, he was a 4-year letterman in track and a 3-year letterman in football. Driven by the love of competition, he also took his skills to the basketball court, starting on his freshman and sophomore teams, only losing a single game in those two seasons. He earned All-Conference, All-Area and All-State honors three consecutive years in football, collecting an All-American designation in his senior year as a running back and defensive back. For years, he held the record for most yards per carry at Naperville Central, sitting atop a list of at least four other current Hall of Fame members. Johnson’s speed and strength on the gridiron were also on display each spring on the Memorial Stadium track. He earned All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State recognition each of his four years, and currently holds the NCHS record in the 100m, 200m, 4x100 and 200m relays. He had the fastest 100m time in the state in 1998, ultimately finishing 6th at the state meet. While Johnson’s highlight reel of high school athletics features countless sparkling moments, what he remembers most fondly are his relationships. “Coach Stine, Coach Zientarski, Coach Urban, Coach Bunge, and Coach Kramer all saw potential in me and helped put me in a position to be great. I never wanted to let them down. I wanted their respect. I wanted to be the best player they ever coached – for them.” Johnson’s closest friends were also his teammates, and he smiles to think about how they “pushed each other and competed against each other every day in all sports,” while also sharing lots of laughs beyond athletics. After high school, Johnson continued his football career at the University of Iowa as a defensive back. His favorite experiences as a Hawkeye were winning the 2002 Big Ten Championship as a senior and playing the University of Southern California in the Orange Bowl. After earning a degree in Sociology, he went on to play in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Allouettes. He started on their Grey Cup team as a rookie and was voted one of the CFL’s top defensive rookies in 2003. Following his stint in Montreal, Johnson spent two seasons with the New York Jets and one season in the Arena Football League in Las Vegas. After professional football, Johnson continued to push himself to achieve at high professional and physical levels, inspiring others to a commit to healthy living. His work with young athletes in speed training during his offseason periods inspired him to dive into the fitness industry full time. For the past 15 years, he has made his mark in the commercial fitness world, working first for Xsport Fitness as a Personal Training Manager before moving on to a position with LifeTime Fitness. He is currently an Area Director for LifeTime, helping to manage a multi-million dollar business while training and developing General Managers for the company. Never one to lose his connection to and love for home, Johnson has also worked with the Redhawk track and football programs as a speed and conditioning coach. Johnson credits his parents, Hank and Zara, and his older brother, Rodney, for all that he has achieved: “From them I picked up key traits that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Rodney ignited my competitive spirit and gave me something to aspire to. My dad has always been my biggest fan and my biggest critic. I got my work ethic from my father, and he showed us all what it was like to dream big. My mom is the backbone of our family. She has always been a team player and often puts other people’s needs before herself. It was from her that I learned the benevolence and courage that helped me overcome many obstacles that I would face throughout my life.”As a proud father to sons Daylen and Dawson, Johnson is especially reflective of the legacy he is leaving and how he got to where he is today. Gratitude is a fundamental value for Johnson, who notes, “Thank you to my coaches and teachers for pushing me to be the best version of myself. Thank you for instilling great habits and for giving me a competitive advantage with some of the best tools and resources that at a young high school age we could ask for. Thank you for not letting me become complacent or satisfied and for showing me that I always had another gear.” Always a Redhawk at heart, Johnson hopes that today’s student-athletes are “imaginative and dream big.” His advice: “Once you’ve dreamed it, then make a plan to achieve it. Create the compound effect for yourself by creating great habits and routines. Enjoy the journey and don’t be afraid to make mistake because you will learn more about yourself when you lose than when you win.”