The Penn State men's basketball coaching staff is starting to resemble a Southern Conference coaching convention.

Penn State men's basketball coach Ed DeChellis named his second assistant coach yesterday, former College of Charleston assistant coach James Johnson. Johnson joins former East Tennessee State assistant coach Hilliary Scott as the two assistant coaches who have been named. There is still one assistant coaching spot available.

DeChellis, Scott and Johnson all coached in the Southern Conference last season. DeChellis' East Tennessee State team was the tournament champion while Johnson's College of Charleston squad won the regular season title. Johnson was at the College of Charleston for just one season, but he has 10 years of assistant coaching experience, including three seasons at Old Dominion.

"I'm very pleased to have a coach the caliber of James Johnson join my staff here at Penn State," DeChellis said in a press release. "Johnson already has a decade's worth of coaching experience and was a valuable assistant at the College of Charleston."

Although Johnson did not spend much time at College of Charleston, he left his mark. Johnson, in his first scouting assignment for the Cougars, was vital in their upset victory against Oklahoma State in the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout. The Cougars would on to win the Great Alaska Shootout over Villanova. Oklahoma State would reach as high as No. 9 this season in the Associated Press Poll.

Current College of Charleston top assistant coach Dee Vick can understand why DeChellis would want a coach like Johnson. Vick has known Johnson for 10 years and has seen first-hand what he can do.

"He has got a tremendous work ethic," Vick said. "With that is one of the more personable people you will ever meet. He has got a dynamic and great personality."

Vick said the versatility that Johnson has as a coach and recruiter is hard to find. Recruiting is a facet of the game that Penn State has sorely lacked over the recent seasons. With Scott and Johnson in the DeChellis' camp, recruiting should be greatly improved. With Penn State's recruiting emphasis on the student-athlete and not athletes who go to school, Johnson should fit in fine.

"James has a track record of recruiting good student-athletes," Vick said.

"There sure are a lot of great coaches who can't recruit and a lot of great recruiters who can't coach, but James has both those qualities."

Vick, who had stops in East Carolina and South Carolina before coaching at College of Charleston, said he told East Carolina coach Bill Herrion and South Carolina coach Dave Odom that Johnson is one the best assistants he has seen at any level.

Johnson's role at College of Charleston included recruiting, academic advisement, scouting reports and skill development. Poor skill development was one of the main criticisms of former Penn State head coach Jerry Dunn's staff.

The College of Charleston coaching staff's loss will be the Penn State coaching staff's gain as Vick seemed to be very upset at losing Johnson, while at the same time happy for his colleague.

"I'll be honest, this is a tremendous loss for our program," Vick said. "It will be very hard to replace him."