The majority of former athletes are spoken of in regards to their legacy in sports. For some athletes, their legacy is a singular moment in their career, and for others, it is all of their accomplishments throughout their career as a whole.
Former Auburn football player Johnny Green was a remarkable athlete, but his legacy is his work throughout the years as a leader, mentor and humanitarian.
Green is currently the director of Auburn’s Veterans Resource Center, which he founded in 2010. His work with the AUVRC helps student veterans reach their academic goals and graduate with degrees.
Green also serves as the assistant vice president for outreach in Student Affairs, where he is a liaison for various student groups and an advocate for students in the public forum.
Green’s high school football coach brought him to Auburn his junior year in high school for a coaching clinic when Green found himself enamored by the University.
“I got hooked on Auburn,” Green said. “I was awed and impressed; I liked the campus; I liked the environment.”
Shortly after his visit, Green received an invitation to be a walk-on player for the team. He then received a scholarship as a walk-on for his freshman year, which was unprecedented.
Green played as a defensive back for the Tigers from 1979 to 1981. Green's last year on the team was Pat Dye’s first year as head football coach. Because of injuries Green had suffered to both knees, he was not capable of playing amount he used to at this time.
“Coach Dye came in and there was more discipline,” Green said. “It was hard and it was challenging, and then I got an assignment.”
Dye saw the integrity and leadership potential within Green and gave him a more influential role on the team. Green said it was during the first summer practice that Dye approached him asking him to teach the younger members on the team.This kickstarted the many mentoring and leadership positions Green would later hold.
After graduation, Green became an employee of the Alabama Gas Corporation and the Legislative Fiscal Office in Montgomery. After being out in the real world, Green decided he wanted to further his education. During his time in Montgomery, Green worked towards his goal by enrolling in night classes at Auburn University in Montgomery.
Green made his return as a graduate student to Auburn in 1994 where he has since stayed.
After receiving his MBA, MPA and Ph.D. degrees from Auburn, Green was hired by the university as an assistant professor of political science.
Green served as a mentor for the basketball and track teams during his time as a political science professor. He traveled with the basketball team for nearly 10 years and still maintains a behind the scenes role within a number the University's sports as a mentor.
In 1999, Green transitioned to his first administrative role. He served as the interim director for the Office of Multicultural Affairs, which was called the Office of Minority Advancement at the time.
Being an African-American male, Green has always had a strong interest and involvement in racial-oriented groups and involvement. In 2008, Green was a founding member of the Harold A. Franklin society. The mission of the HAFS is to serve underrepresented male students at Auburn and works to promote their development in academic, social and professional capacities. Their goal with these promotions is to increase the retention rate for minority male students.
Green has had steady involvement in the Center for Diversity and Race Relations, as well. Green’s involvement with the CDRR was prompted by a racial incident involving an on-campus fraternity and he was asked to be the organization’s interim director and held that position from 2002-2005.
In 2006, Green transitioned into another important role at Auburn. He began his tenure as Dean of Students, which lasted until 2008.
In 2010, Green became the founding director of the AUVRC, where he continues to work today. The AUVRC has helped countless veterans and their families by helping identify personal, academic and professional resources, and financial aid. The AUVRC in pair with the Veterans Administration utilizes the Yellow Ribbon program, which allows the VA and learning institutions to help eliminate out- of- state tuition costs for veterans.
In his position as the vice president for outreach in Student Affairs, Green is a liaison to a multitude of groups including local student ministry groups, civic groups and off- campus, partners and communicating with local government officials in the best interests of students.
One of Green’s more recent and notable actions in his role in Student Affairs was at a city council meeting. Green spoke out on behalf of students in wake of the enforcement of a zoning ordinance that left several Auburn students facing eviction.
Green is enjoying his current roles with the AUVRC and Student Affairs. He feels privileged to be able to provide such aid to veteran students, and also enjoys being able to help all students.
Green says his positions allow him to do what he loves, “[reconnecting] with and work on behalf of Auburn men and women.”
Green is just as busy in his life outside his duties at the university. Green is heavily involved in ministry. Green was pastor of White Street Baptist Church from 1995-2009. He is still an involved member at the church; Green had a large stack of thank- you cards on his desk from a group of campus fraternity pledges he recently hosted at the church.
At the beginning of summer, Green also embarked on a project to bring a mobile health clinic to Auburn. Auburn University, EAMC and the City of Opelika are working on this project with a grant from the Casey Foundation.
Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Green to participate in the 2017- 2018 class of the Delta Leadership Institute. It is a program of the Delta Regional Authority, which strives to create jobs, build communities and improve the lives of the 10 million citizens of the Delta region.
In his spare time in between all the charitable and remarkable work he does as a leader and humanitarian, Green enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with his wife and their two children.
Green did not let his athletic career become his legacy. Green’s athletic career is what began his legacy; it brought him to the place were he changed countless lives and became an outstanding individual, not just an athlete.
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