PHOTO: Jacob Johnson in 2023 during the 7-on-7 state tournament (Brian McLean)
By Brian Gosset
Millsap football coach Jacob Johnson died Friday morning after a three-year battle with Leukemia, his wife Cassie announced on Facebook.
He was 45.
Johnson was first diagnosed three years ago and fought hard with his health seeing some improvement throughout the process. However, earlier this month, he had to step away from coaching to undergo more treatment.
“I don’t know how to put into words quite how I feel or process what has happened. Jake – 1st of all loved the Lord our God with all of his heart, mind, soul and strength! He loved me so fiercely and with so much passion and intentionality! He was the most incredible father! Everything was a teachable moment or he always thought of special things to do or lessons to be learned! He was the best football coach there ever was! He always said it was his job to create men then teach them how to play football. He also had a mission to make disciples out of them! He was a wonderful son and brother! He loved his parents and brother so much and made sure to check in on them daily! He modeled what his family would look like based on his childhood. He is a devoted friend, and if you were his friend he always made sure you knew how loved and special you are to him! He never left anything unsaid! Most of all, I miss him,” Cassie Johnson wrote in a Facebook post.
The Millsap football team is going through one of its best seasons, sitting at 6-1 entering a Week 9 matchup with Eastland on Friday Oct. 23. The Bulldogs are 4-0 in District 5-3A D2. Johnson took over as head coach during the 2015 season and made the playoffs six times prior to this year. He took the team to the postseason five straight seasons from 2020 to 2024 and reached the area round in 2021 – beating Henrietta in bi-district, 36-32.
That playoff win was Millsap’s first since 1999.
When he made his first postseason appearance with Millsap in 2018, it snapped an 8-year playoff drought for the program, which previously made it in 2009.
The Bulldogs, this season, have won six in a row after dropping the season opener against Jacksboro. During the streak, they’ve beaten Callisburg, McGregor, Tolar, Dublin, Comanche and Rio Vista. Following the Eastland game, Millsap will close out the regular season against Hamilton and Clifton.
Johnson’s son, Braun, is a 2028 running back and linebacker and putting together one of the best seasons all time. He is coming off a season best 420 yards rushing and scored five touchdowns during a 47-22 win over Rio Vista in Week 8.
Braun has rushed for 1,835 yards this season – second most in Texas and 18th most in the country according to MaxPreps entering the week. His 24 rushing touchdowns are most in Parker County and second among local schools. He enters Week 9 against Eastland having rushed for more than 300 yards in three consecutive games.
William Bass has been serving as the interim head coach.
“It is with genuine and deep sadness that we share the news that our colleague, coach and friend, Coach Jake Johnson, passed away earlier this morning. Coach Johnson was a valued, respected and impactful member of the Millsap community for more than a decade. His contributions to Millsap ISD are generational, meaning his actions and service will shape the lives, values and circumstances of individuals for decades to come,” wrote Millsap ISD in a letter to parents.
R.I.P Coach Johnson
Dec. 19, 1980 – Oct. 23, 2026
