Galen Johnson embarked on a distinguished career as an educator and coach in 1952, beginning his journey at Richards High School where he served until 1955 before moving to Maryville Porter High School. At Maryville Porter, he held the position of girls’ basketball coach from 1955 to 1962, earning an impressive record of 735 wins to only 168 losses. His remarkable coaching stint included capturing 13 District Titles, 11 Region Titles, and 3 TSSAA State Championships in 1959, 1963, and 1967, with his teams also finishing as TSSAA State Runners-Up in 1969 and 1978. Beyond girls' basketball, Johnson also served as a boys' basketball coach, where his teams secured a record of 169 wins against 149 losses over a decade.

Transitioning from coaching, Johnson took on the role of principal at Maryville Porter High School from 1962 to 1979, during which he continued his involvement in girls’ basketball. He later became the principal of William Blount High School from 1979 until his retirement in 1990. His dedication to high school athletics extended beyond the basketball court; he served on the TSSAA Legislative Council for eight years from 1980 to 1988.

Johnson's contributions to high school athletics, particularly girls’ basketball, were profound. He was instrumental in launching the first basketball camps for girls in Tennessee, the "Galen Johnson Basketball Camps," which over 38 years, drew more than 50,000 participants from 16 states. His teams consistently delivered outstanding performances, evidenced by his teams reaching the TSSAA Girls State Basketball Tournament 18 times in a 21-year period and setting a national record with 20 or more wins for 24 consecutive years.

In recognition of his monumental impact on high school sports and his service to TSSAA, Galen Johnson was rightfully inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 1991. His legacy includes being a Charter Member of the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame, cementing his status as a pivotal figure in Tennessee high school athletics history.

TSSAA Hall of Fame
Class: 1991
Category: Coach