FAYETTEVILLE — Chris Johnson had no easy task when he was promoted from assistant to head coach of the Arkansas women’s track and field program in the summer of 2023.
He was following a legend in Lance Harter, who retired after 33 seasons and 7 national championships across indoor and outdoor track and cross country.
Johnson had been part of Harter’s staff for 12 years coaching hurdlers and sprinters, and he was tapped as Harter’s successor when his retirement was announced in November 2021.
But in his first season as head coach for the 2023-24 season, Johnson and the Razorbacks won both the NCAA indoor and outdoor national championships, plus SEC titles in both seasons.