The summer is flying by for Trevor Johnson. Having moved back to Lincoln in April, he’s already full involved with his role at Activities Director at Pius X Catholic High School, even with fall sports practices starting in less than a month.
It’s a full-circle moment for the 2010 Pius X graduate, who is now back in the place that had shaped him.
Johnson’s journey was anything but linear. He’d arrived at Nebraska Wesleyan with a biology degree and a chemistry minor, fully intending to go to medical school. But a chance encounter with his former high school basketball coach, Ray Fricker, during his sophomore year, changed everything. Coach Ray Forycki asked him to coach a summer basketball team at Pius X. It was his first coaching experience, and it ignited an “itch” he hadn’t known he had.
LISTEN: Trevor Johnson shares how his past experiences form his vision for his new role
He explored education briefly, thinking about teaching high school and coaching, but quickly realized that wasn’t his path. Instead, college basketball coaching became his calling. Over the next decade, Trevor spent four years coaching at Nebraska Wesleyan, then moved to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and finally to Buena Vista in Iowa. He’d done it all at the small college level, from assistant strength coach to facilities manager, and for the last three years at Buena Vista, he’d served as assistant athletic director. These experiences meant he was well-prepared for the myriad of hats he’d wear at Pius X.
A significant blessing in his transition was the opportunity to shadow Coach Tim Aylward, who had served in an interim role. Trevor spoke with immense gratitude about Tim’s mentorship. “Having someone like Tim, who, you know, is so well respected, not just in Lincoln, not just at Pius, but across the state,” was invaluable. Tim’s day-to-day example of being “always on top of things” and his willingness to “step up and do what’s needed” left a lasting impression. Trevor saw a lot of Saint Joseph in Aylward—a quiet leader, ensuring everything was in its place, not seeking the spotlight. This quiet, foundational leadership resonated deeply with Trevor’s own preferred approach.
Trevor’s vision for Pius X activities encompassed far more than just athletics. He wanted every student involved in extracurriculars to have a “first-class experience.” His focus was on the holistic development of each individual.
“Are we focused on… developing that individual as a person?” he pondered. He believed that the guidance and mentorship from coaches and directors would lead to “really positive growth in a number of areas.”
He emphasized two key skills students should graduate with: communication and organization. Communication, he stressed, meant developing the ability to have face-to-face, even difficult, conversations. Organization was critical, given the demands on Pius X students. He noted that his time at Pius X had prepared him remarkably well for college, often finding high school more challenging in terms of managing responsibilities.
Among the tangible projects, Trevor was particularly excited about the “Bolt Power” initiative, a summer workout program led by Stuart Venable and Blake Stryker. With over 230 kids waking up before 6 AM four times a week, the energy and camaraderie were palpable. He believed this momentum would carry into the new athletic facilities being completed as part of the school’s campaign.
Trevor saw activities as a powerful avenue for integrating faith. He believed faith could “ground our identity,” especially for students prone to tying their self-worth to performance in sports or arts. In a world where a bad game could lead to anonymous social media critiques, he emphasized that “our value is… not earned. It’s given.” This “Pius advantage” was about understanding one’s inherent dignity as a child of God.
Defining success, for Trevor, went beyond wins and losses, although Pius X certainly had plenty of those—from the band winning national awards to the show choir filling trophy cases. True success was “a validation of a process” where the relationship with Christ came first, and natural gifts were maximized.
The best piece of coaching advice he’d ever received, a clichéd but powerful truth, was: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” This resonated with his leadership style of empowering others and trusting their skills.
In the lightning round, Trevor shared his current connection with Saint Joseph, admiring his quiet strength and essential role. His favorite Bible verse, Romans 5:3-4, spoke to perseverance: “Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.” He prayed for his brother and sister’s young families, his friends, and his former players and assistants. His unexpected hero was country music star Kenny Chesney, admired for his outlook on life and his commitment to “squeeze out” all the juice from life’s lemons. He wanted the Thunderbolt community to know he was “extremely competitive” and wanted Pius X to regain its “feared” reputation on the playing fields and stages.
But ultimately, for Trevor Johnson, the best part about being a Thunderbolt was “the community.” The continuity of generations, seeing former players he’d watched as a child still involved, and the genuine excitement of the Pius family upon his return, underscored that sense of belonging. The community, he declared, was “by far” the best part, with “no close second.”
As the new Activities Director, Trevor Johnson was ready to lead with a competitive spirit, grounded in faith, and dedicated to the enduring community of Pius X.
