Tom Schad

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Wide receivers coach David Johnson said Tuesday afternoon that he has decided to stay at Memphis, despite a recent opportunity to join Ed Orgeron's staff at LSU.

Johnson confirmed that he was contacted about a vacancy on LSU's staff, as NOLA.com reported last week, and said he was offered a job with a higher salary than the $175,000 he made in his first season under Mike Norvell.

"I just think Memphis is the best place for me right now, for me and my family," Johnson said.

Contrary to an SEC Country report that Johnson turned down the job because of "because of the growing rift between the area head coaches and LSU," the New Orleans native said he made the decision because he believes Memphis is the best place for him to grow as a coach.

"Mike Norvell is the key," he added.

Johnson was not the only Memphis assistant pursued by a Southeastern Conference school this winter. A source confirmed that Florida contacted offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield about a vacancy on its staff in recent weeks while Texas A&M reached out to defensive backs coach Marcus Woodson. Both remain on staff at Memphis.

Johnson, who was one of Norvell’s first hires at Memphis, was a longtime high school coach in New Orleans before entering the collegiate ranks. He spent nearly a decade at John F. Kennedy High, O.Perry Walker and St. Augustine before joining Curtis Johnson’s staff at Tulane for four seasons.

Johnson is arguably one of the most valuable recruiters on Norvell’s staff and played a pivotal role in attracting wide receivers Damonte Coxie and John “Pop” Williams, defensive lineman Jonathan Wilson and linebacker Nehemiah Augustus to Memphis, among others.

"I'm excited about the commitment that Dave's made to our program and the future of Memphis football," Norvell said Tuesday. "I think that he's a great coach, a wonderful teacher and a guy that truly exemplifies what relationships are all about, whether it's with players or recruits — all the relationships that he has throughout this entire program."

Former wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke were fired by Orgeron the day after National Signing Day, leaving two openings on LSU's staff. The Advocate reported Tuesday that USC's Tommie Robinson and Louisiana Tech's Mickey Joseph have been hired to replace them.

More coverage:

A behind-the-scenes look at Memphis' Signing Day

Morning After: Recapping Memphis' National Signing Day

Tiger Football Podcast: Recapping National Signing Day with Dan Lanning