MOREHEAD, Ky. – Ellis T. Johnson added another honor to his legacy when the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2020 Wednesday night. Johnson was one of 13 members in this year's class and is the third inductee in the last two years with ties to Morehead State.

Before coaching at MSU, Johnson was a star athlete for Ashland-Blazer High School in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. He led Ashland to four straight trips to the basketball state tournament from 1926-29, highlighted by a state title in 1928. Johnson continued to play all four sports at the University of Kentucky and was basketball coach Adolph Rupp's first All-American in 1933.

Johnson then made his way to Morehead State where he coached football for 14 years (1936-52), baseball for one official season in 1941 (1942-45 seasons were canceled due to World War II) and basketball for 15 years (1936-43, 1945-53). He was known as one of the greatest coaches of his era. Johnson also served as Athletic Director for MSU from 1936-53.

Johnson led the football Eagles to a record of 54-44-10 and the 1941 baseball team to a 5-2 record, while his basketball marks were 176-158 for a total of 235 wins between the three sports. His best year as the football coach came in 1937 when the Eagles went 7-1. Only three teams scored on MSU that year. His best basketball season came during the 1937-38 campaign when the Eagles finished 16-8.

Morehead State's basketball arena is named after him.

In addition to being named to the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, Johnson has been inducted into the Morehead State Hall of Fame along with the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame and was the first inductee into the Ashland (Ky.) Hall of Fame.