![\"Millsap](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792860623_73_IMG_0400.JPG\" "\\"Millsap")
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Millsap head coach Jacob Johnson with his son, Braun Johnson.<\/p>\n
Millsap Football \/ Felts Photography<\/p>\n
Courtesy to the Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
Millsap head football coach Jacob Johnson died Friday, Millsap ISD announced<\/a>.<\/p>\n Johnson, 45, had been living with leukemia for three years. His health was improving, but in September, his cancer relapsed, and he stepped away from the sidelines<\/a> to undergo further treatment. He is survived by his wife, Cassie Johnson, and his children, Braun and Payton.<\/p>\n Millsap ISD released the following statement to its community:<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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 I.S.D. are generational, meaning his actions and service will shape the lives, values and circumstances of individuals for decades to come.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease keep Coach Johnson\u2019s family in your thoughts and prayers. We also ask that you say a special prayer of comfort for our student body and our staff as we collectively navigate this most difficult time.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease be mindful of the family\u2019s time and space. We will provide updates as they become available.\u201d<\/p>\n Millsap\u2019s home game at Bulldog Stadium against Eastland on Friday will continue as scheduled at the family\u2019s request, Millsap ISD told the Star-Telegram. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.<\/p>\n Johnson was hired to coach the Bulldogs and serve as athletic director in 2015. He posted a 52-71 overall record during his tenure.<\/p>\n After posting a 3-7 record in 2025, the Bulldogs are having what could be their best season in over a decade with a 6-1 overall record (4-0 in District 5-3A Division II). Millsap won six games in 2021 and 2022 and seven games in 2020 but hasn\u2019t hit eight wins since 2009.<\/p>\n \u201cWe expect when we step onto the field to be able to compete with anyone,\u201d Jacob Johnson told the Star-Telegram in an Oct. 11 interview.<\/a><\/p>\n Braun Johnson is Millsap\u2019s starting running back as a junior and is having a wildly productive season. He has 1,815 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns while averaging 16 yards per carry and 262 yards per game.<\/p>\n \u201cHe literally works out on top of what we do at school,\u201d Jacob Johnson said. \u201cHe does his own every night. I have to stop him. I have to say, \u2018Hey, you got to stop. You got to rest.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Jacob Johnson\u2019s first coaching job was a graduate assistant role at Southwest Baptist University, his alma mater. He had stints as an assistant at Fort Worth Arlington Heights and Richland under current Royals head coach Ged Kates.<\/p>\n \u201c[Football] is a ministry to me. One hundred percent a ministry,\u201d Jacob Johnson said. \u201cI don\u2019t care who you are. If you\u2019re going to step into our program, you\u2019re going to be treated the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bulldog community had been rallying behind Jacob Johnson<\/a> in a season Braun described as bigger than football and spiritual. Jacob Johnson had planned to coach from the hospital during his treatment, calling in to his coordinators.<\/p>\n A banner on the fence at Millsap\u2019s field draws from 1 Corinthians 16:13, which tells men to be watchful, firm in their faith and strong. Jacob Johnson told the Star-Telegram the message applies whether he is on the sideline.<\/p>\n His main message for the Bulldogs was to be \u201cyoung men of integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n Several area programs took to social media to pay their respects and share the love they held for Jacob Johnson, including Tolar, Benbrook and Eagle Mountain.<\/p>\n \u201cThere wasn\u2019t a FLAW in this man,\u201d Eagle Mountain offensive coordinator Will Kates said. \u201cHe truly was the BEST of us. Love that guy like my own brothers and will miss him deeply.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s wife, Cassie Johnson, wrote the following on Facebook:<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how to put in to words quite how I feel or process what has happened,\u201d Cassie Johnson wrote. \u201cJake 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!<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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!<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published October 23, 2026 at 8:47 AM.<\/p>\n