SportsDecember 10, 2001

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Paul Johnson, who has led Georgia Southern to two straight Division I-AA championships and has the Eagles in the running for a third, was hired as Navy's football coach Sunday. Johnson, a former assistant coach at Navy, will attempt to turn around a team that went 0-10 this season...

The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Paul Johnson, who has led Georgia Southern to two straight Division I-AA championships and has the Eagles in the running for a third, was hired as Navy's football coach Sunday.

Johnson, a former assistant coach at Navy, will attempt to turn around a team that went 0-10 this season.

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He replaces Charlie Weatherbie, who was fired after the Midshipmen lost their first seven games this season. Rick Lantz went 0-3 as interim coach, completing the worst season in the academy's 121-year history.

Johnson met with his players Sunday to give them the news. He will finish the season with the Eagles, who advanced to the I-AA semifinals with a 38-24 victory over Appalachian State on Saturday.

Georgia Southern (12-1) is home against Furman on Saturday. The championship is Dec. 21 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

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