Valparaiso University head baseball coach Brian Schmack has announced the addition of assistant coach Cam Johnson, who will serve as the program’s recruiting coordinator, hitting coach, outfield coach and top assistant. In addition, Schmack has promoted Adam Brian to a full-time assistant coaching role after he served as a volunteer assistant coach in 2024.
“I couldn’t be more excited to get started at Valparaiso,” Johnson said. “I am super excited to have the opportunity to join Coach Schmack’s staff. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Johnson arrives at Valpo after having served as the assistant coach, director of operations and camp coordinator at Creighton University in Omaha since August 2022. He helped the Bluejays, members of the Big East Conference, to a 35-17 overall record and 28-4 nonconference mark in 2024. He assisted in the development of Nolan Clifford, who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 17th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
“I’ve known Cam for a few years now and I had talked to him previously about a position on our staff, but the timing wasn’t right at that point,” Schmack said. “He has a lot of experience coaching, recruiting and developing players, and that’s something we look forward to continuing. He’s a good fit for us now and we’re excited to bring him in.”
This past spring, Johnson also helped Creighton achieve its highest team batting average since 2019, its highest on-base percentage since 2005, highest team slugging percentage since 2019, most home runs since 2019 and most runs scored since 2005. In addition, the Bluejays posted the most runs per game in program history.
Prior to arriving at Creighton, Johnson was the head baseball coach for the Badlands Big Sticks in Dickson, N.D. from November 2021 to August 2022. He served as an assistant coach at Des Moines Area Community College in Boone, Iowa from August 2018 to August 2022 after getting his start as an assistant varsity baseball coach at Southeast Polk High School in Pleasant Hill, Iowa from September 2017 to August 2020.
A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), Johnson was a team captain during the 2016-2017 season at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, where he was part of over 120 wins through his four-year playing career. He helped the team to regular season and conference tournament championships during the 2013-14 season.
Johnson graduated from Buena Vista in May 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science and a minor in coaching.
Brian joined Valpo’s staff prior to the 2024 campaign after closing out his playing career at Bradley University in 2023. A catcher for the Braves, Brian earned the Phil Kaiser Memorial Award as the best teammate in 2022 and was a team captain in 2023.
“I am grateful for the opportunity that Coach Schmack has given me to continue to work with the great people who make up our program,” Brian said. “I believe that the coaching staff and all of our players will put a product on the field that will be filled with guys who play hard, have fun and compete at the highest level.”
During the 2024 season, Brian served as Valpo’s first base coach and catching coach. He will continue to work with the team’s catchers while also assisting with pitching and recruiting.
“It’s exciting to keep Adam on staff,” Schmack said. “He’s passionate about the game, and the players took to him well last year. He offers a unique perspective as a recent graduate and brings a lot of energy to coaching.”
