Rickey Johnson attended and graduated from Hatton high school in Alabama. He would receive his degree from North Alabama before embarking upon his high school coaching career.

He was named the head coach at Mount Hope in 1978. He would stay there for two seasons before moving over to Hatton for five more years.

In 1986 he became an assistant coach at Hazlewood until he was given the head coaching position in 1990.

From 1990 through the 2002 season few teams enjoyed the success of Hazlewood. They won four titles in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2000. His teams won region and area championships in every season he was the coach and compiled a region record of 50-1. His playoff record at Hazlewood was 38-9. His record at Hazlewood was 142-30.

The 1990 Golden Bears shutout Cottonwood 14-0 for Coach Johnsons first championship. The team repeated the next year with a 3-22 win over Reeltown.

1992 brought a rare three-peat performance by the Golden Bears when they thumped Reeltown 37-6 for their third title in three years. Hazlewood and Reeltown met again in the 2000 State Championship game with the outcome favoring the Golden Bears once again in a 23-16 win.

After stepping down at Hazlewood, Johnson returned to Hatton as head football coach in 2003 for two years before retiring as a head coach.

His overall record in 22 years as a head football coach stands at 179 wins and 84 losses. His playoff record is 38-11 and his region and area record is 67-25.

Johnson was named Class 1A Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers in 1990, 1991 and 2000. Johnson coached in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic twice.

He was inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2008.