Johnson Building RailHawks Brand After Pack Playing Days
6/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
June 26, 2012
Raleigh, N.C. - Curt Johnson has seen how far soccer has come in the Raleigh area. From playing in local youth leagues, to high school, to college, to his current position as president of the NASL's Carolina RailHawks, Johnson has seen how the sport has grown locally while spending most of his life in Raleigh.
Johnson found his love for the international game at only age 7, "because when I was growing up, soccer was the only sport you could sign up for that young".
Johnson was a standout defender at local Ravenscroft High School, and stuck around the area and played for the Wolfpack from 1987-90. During that time, Johnson started 72 games during his four-year career, and as a senior, helped the Pack to the ACC Championship and the NCAA semifinals as a team captain.
"From the time I was eight and rolling down the grassy bank at Carter-Finley Stadium, I always knew I wanted to go to NC State," Johnson told the Wolfpacker in a feature story. "As I developed in soccer, it became my dream to play Wolfpack soccer.
"I still get chills thinking about that ACC Championship and our NCAA run."
After Johnson's playing days were over, his career has taken him around the country. After earning his degree in mass communications in 1991, Johnson started out as a volunteer with the Pack under George Tarantini, which led to a job with Adidas during the 1994 World Cup. He then had a stop with the U.S. Soccer Federation in Chicago, before returning to Raleigh to be a coach at Ravenscroft and then back to NC State as an assistant coach.
Johnson then was named the vice president of business operations with the Richmond Kickers, and eventually was elevated to general manager. He continued to see his role in professional soccer progress, as he spent seven years as the general manager of the Kansas City Wizards of MLS, where he helped the squad to the 2000 MLS Cup and the 2004 U.S. Open Cup.
"In sports, often times you have to move to advance," said Johnson. "I have been very fortunate over the years to work with a lot of good people that keep helping me improve throughout my career."
An opportunity arose for Johnson to return to Raleigh and work for the Carolina Hurricanes, and after a couple of seasons working in the NHL, the RailHawks transitioned to a new ownership group and named Johnson the team's new president in the spring of 2011.
"There is a tremendous market for soccer in this area," said Johnson. "From a participation standpoint, we have some of the best youth organizations in the area. From a sports standpoint, we have tremendous fans and facilities and a great commitment from our community leaders. It was an easy choice to come back to Raleigh"
Johnson's first year with the RailHawks was the franchises best to date. The squad finished last summer with the best record during the regular season, but was upset in the first round of the NASL playoffs.
During that season, it was announced RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie would leave after the season for the MLS and the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps. As it turned out, Rennie took some of his RailHawks players, and Johnson was forced to make up an almost entire new squad this past offseason.
In NASL play, the RailHawks started the 2012 campaign 0-4-5. But a 2-1 home win in front of a capacity crowd in the U.S. Open cup against defending MLS champion L.A. Galaxy has propelled the RailHawks to four straight wins in NASL play and a climb up the standings.
"The beginning of season was a challenge," said Johnson. "We were coming off a narrow miss last year, then had the changeover with our coach and a lot of the roster. Too our fans credit, they have continued to support us. We have had some of our biggest crowds in franchise history the last couple of months."
Johnson has brought his experiences (as a player, as a coach and as a fan) while at NC State into the front office of the Triangle's professional soccer team.
"NC State has had a brand for decades, dating back over 100 years," said Johnson. "We have been here six summers now, and we are continuing to build our brand. We have made lots of progress, and to have the NC State mold is definitely a key for us."
The NC State men's soccer program is at a huge advantage in having a professional soccer team less than five miles down the road. The Pack has seen many advantages of working with the RailHawks in terms of helping develop players.
"We, as an organization, have a very good relationship with NC State," said Johnson. "We have gotten to know Coach Findley and his staff over the last couple of years. We have been very impressed by what they have been doing.
"As us alums talk about what NC State is doing, it gives us a lot of pride to see what the coaches and players are putting into the program to get better. Nobody wants more success then they do. The quality of players and coaches that are there is impressive."
Last summer, five members from the Pack played on the RailHawks' U-23 PDL squad, which won the USASA national title. This summer is no different, as seven members of this fall's 2012 NC State squad will play for the U-23 team, which has once again advanced to nationals.
"For the players still in school and involved with our U-23 team, we are providing high-level training during the summer months," said Johnson. "They also have the opportunity to hear from different people in our organization about careers in professional soccer. There are so many positives that come from our partnership with local schools."
Despite Johnson's travels during his career, he has kept a close eye on his alma mater.
"There have been so many great improvements that I have seen involved with the Wolfpack soccer program," said Johnson.
Since Johnson's playing days at Method Road Soccer Stadium, which did not have a lighted field, NC State has moved to the new Dail Soccer Stadium and built a brand-new practice facility (WTC) which opened this spring.
"Obliviously as a fan you have seen the overall good work of the athletic program where teams are constantly improving," said Johnson. "But speaking from a soccer side, we as alums, feel a lot of pride in seeing this administration's commitment to soccer.
"We were so far behind in terms of facilities, it is amazing the amount of dollars that are being spent on soccer now. We now have what it takes to be successful in terms of recruiting, player development, and to be successful in the eyes of the community. It is such a great feeling to know that this administration has come in and made soccer a priority."
Just like the changes to the Pack's soccer facilities, the RailHawks have also improved their home stadium.
Last November, WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary began a $6.3 million upgrade, which is expected to be completed this fall.
New bleachers will result in 3,000 addition seats, along with four new luxury suites, two party decks, new locker rooms and additional restrooms and concessions. The improvements are a Town of Cary/Wake Count project, with the money coming from hotel/motel tax and from stadium proceeds.
"In the last decade, there has been roughly $2 billion worth of building of new soccer stadiums around the country," said Johnson. "This was a very good facility to begin with, but with the renovations, the real message is that we want to continue to be on the forefront. We want to continue to evolve and boast we have one of the best facilities in the country. That is a powerful statement."
The similarities between NC State's soccer program and the RailHawks run deep, with many other former players involved in the organization.
Another pair of former NC State players are currently with the RailHawks on the coaching side, both of who were teammates of Johnson with the Pack. Dewan Bader (1989-92) serves as an assistant coach for the RailHawks and is the head coach of the U-23 squad, while Henry Gutierrez (1988-91) serves as an assistant coach for the U-23 team.
In the RailHawks inaugural season in 2007, there were three former Pack players that suited up for the area's new professional team: Dario Brose, Eric Kaufman and Santiago Fusilier. Former Pack All-American Aaron King has also played for the RailHawks during his professional career, and Justin Willis who started 19 games for NC State last season, is currently under contract with the squad.
In addition, the first coach in franchise history was former Wolfpack All-American defender Scott Schweitzer.