About Keith

Wrestling Coach and Author of The Blindsided Champ, Keith Johnson, was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. Here, he developed a life-long mission to rise above his circumstances and be the exception to the rule. Such a mission was planted and nurtured by two separate family units. Although Keith was a product of the foster care system, he spent his formative years on the wrestling mat and in the community. With a deeply seated calling to help others rise above debilitating obstacles, Keith refused to give up on himself or his graduation pursuits. Along this ambitious journey, disheartening and, at times, scary situations, fight, freeze, or flight decisions arose. Yet, with the discovery of wrestling and his teen businesses, Keith courageously stayed the course, fighting for his sports wins, academic comebacks, and uniquely blended family. As his athletic abilities expanded, his coaches and final foster mother instilled in him the necessary grit, confidence, and grind to reach each heartfelt goal. After successfully graduating from high school, Keith fixed his eyes on the unlimited possibilities on the other side of fear. 

Not only did this bold decision lead him to study at Virginia State University, but it also provided the perfect springboard for personal growth and athletic strides. Despite being blindsided by surprise scholarship cuts and landlord predators, Keith quickly flipped such odds in his favor. From throwing house parties to consigning his belongings, he powerfully leveraged his entrepreneurism to trudge ahead toward his next success marker. Such a resilient approach displayed his winning work ethic and championing attitude until earning his college degree. 

Equipped with a forever-growing passion for wrestling and a budding dedication to mentor youth, Keith transitioned to Georgia. Here, he employed his gift of guiding others who have faced similar circumstances to graduate, securing scholarships, kicking off a rewarding career, and becoming prominent leaders within their community. Dekalb County Schools is grateful to have his unwavering benevolence intertwined within its family-oriented fabric. After starting his education career in the special education department, Keith secured a long-desired assistant coach position. His winning reputation catapulted him to be the head wrestling coach in a few short years. Over numerous impactful years, he led twelve athletes to make history and win state championships.

Above all, Keith revels in the beauty of everything coming full circle. The unique opportunity to focus on giving back to the system that saved him is a blessed prize. By channeling his successes and sharing his life lessons, he guides impressionable teens to realize their true potential. Showing these teenagers how to maximize their natural-born gifts and cement their self-belief has served as a miraculous turnaround for at-risk youth. Whether through reading the pages of his first book or working under his tutelage, he strategically pushes each person one step closer to their goal of a gratifying life. Both reigning champs and underdogs benefit from his coaching methods and holistic leadership. As a first-generation college graduate, Keith’s greatest hope is that each reader and scholar will bravely overcome any hurdle in pursuing a winning legacy.