Cale Johnson is in his third season as Pitching Coach for the DBU Baseball program, where he has quickly established one of the premier pitching staffs on the national stage. In his first two seasons with the Patriots, Johnson has guided DBU to back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances while developing elite talent on the mound. Under his leadership, DBU has produced two All-Americans in Ryan Johnson (2024) and Luke Pettitte (2024), five All-Conference USA selections, and five pitchers selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.
During the 2025 season, Johnson’s pitching staff played a pivotal role in DBU capturing the Conference USA regular-season championship and earning the No. 2 seed at the Baton Rouge Regional. The Patriots led the league and ranked 17th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (10.2), while posting the 24th-best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the country (2.58). Staff ace Ryan Borberg earned First Team All-CUSA honors after leading the league in wins (9), WHIP (1.19), and walks allowed per nine innings (2.25), while closer Mason Peters was named Second Team All-CUSA.
DBU’s success translated to the professional ranks as three Patriots pitchers were selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, highlighted by James Ellwanger, who was taken 88th overall by the Minnesota Twins. Micah Bucknam (Toronto Blue Jays) and Mason Peters (Seattle Mariners) were both selected in the fourth round.
In Johnson’s first season at DBU, the Patriots’ pitching staff ranked seventh nationally in ERA (4.01). He played a central role in the development of several standout arms, including Ryan Johnson, who earned First Team All-American honors from four major publications in 2024 after setting DBU’s all-time strikeout record and a new single-season mark with 151 strikeouts. Johnson also helped develop Luke Pettitte, the Conference USA Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American. That season, three Patriots pitchers—Jaron DeBerry, Ryan Johnson, and Conner Mackay—were named First Team All-Conference USA.
Following the 2024 campaign, both Ryan Johnson and DeBerry were selected in the MLB Draft. Johnson was chosen in the second round (74th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels, becoming the sixth-highest draft pick in DBU history, while DeBerry was selected 19 picks later by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round (93rd overall).
Johnson arrived at DBU after a distinguished nine-year professional coaching career, most recently serving as the Double-A Pitching Coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Altoona Curve. Over his professional tenure, Johnson has mentored 32 pitchers who have reached the Major Leagues.
His experience also includes time with the Atlanta Braves organization, where he served as Minor League Assistant Pitching Coordinator in 2021 for a World Series championship franchise. In 2022, Johnson was promoted to become the organization’s Pitching Strategist, helping shape pitching philosophies, strategies, and developmental goals across the Braves’ minor league system.
Johnson began his professional coaching career with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, serving five seasons (2015–19) as a Minor League Pitching Coach. In 2015, he was part of a Cardinals Rookie League staff that won the Gulf Coast League Eastern Division. Four pitchers on Johnson's staff would eventually reach the Major Leagues, including future All-Star Sandy Alcantara.
Johnson later coached the Johnson City Cardinals, helping guide the club to an Appalachian League championship in 2016 before spending two seasons with the Peoria Chiefs. In his two years with the Chiefs, Johnson helped guide Peoria to the Midwest League Championship Series in 2018, and helped develop five hurlers that would go on to pitch in the Majors.
A native of Greenville, Illinois, Johnson played collegiate baseball at McKendree University from 2006 to 2009, earning two-time American Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and was an All-Region selection as a junior. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 41st round of the 2009 MLB Draft and went on to pitch in the Cardinals’ Rookie League and Single-A teams, where he transitioned to the bullpen and posted a career-high 30 appearances in 2011. After three seasons in the Cardinals' organization, Johnson finished his playing career with the Gateway Grizzlies of the Independent Frontier League.
Johnson earned two degrees from McKendree University, including a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics/Finance and a Bachelor of Administration in Management. He is married to Jess Johnson and has three children: Maclin (11), Sadie (9) and Rhett (6).
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUTÂ CALEÂ JOHNSON
"I've had the pleasure of knowing and working closely with Cale since 2015, and he is the most talented pitching coach I've met in that time. He has a unique ability to inform, instruct, and inspire pitchers so that they can maximize their performance potential. No matter what level he is coaching at, his combination of character, intellect, and authenticity will create a positive environment in which the pitchers under his tutelage will thrive." -Â Paul Davis, Atlanta Braves Director of Pitching Development
"Cale Johnson has worked to become a pitching coach who blends analytics, movement, and strategy gleaned from progressive organizations like the Cardinals and Braves. He will be a solid guiding force for DBU pitchers." - Brent Strom, Arizona Diamondbacks Pitching Coach
"Cale Johnson has been an integral part of my professional baseball career. Cale has helped with mechanical adjustments, analytical changes, and the mindset behind pitching. He is a strong leader of the pitching staff and a fantastic communicator. Cale is a perfect fit for DBU Baseball." -Â Seth Elledge, DBU Baseball Alum and MLB Pitcher
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