Conversations with Dez Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dez Johnson.

Dez, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
Thank you for inviting me. I always enjoy our time together. Football was my way out of my hometown. I moved to Atlanta to attend CAU on a football scholarship. Things were pretty normal, I’d say. There were early morning workouts and practices. We had study hall and long road trips to away games. My experience was a good one. My focus began to shift my sophomore year when my son DJ was born. I was only 22. Imagine being a student-athlete, leader in the locker room, and a dad. It was at that moment when I knew that nothing else in my life would be about me ever again. In an effort to balance the classroom and fatherhood, I felt my performance on the field slipping. My presence in the locker room wasn’t as strong as it once was. I figured that the solution would be to leave school early with hopes of landing a spot on an NFL practice squad. I went on to spend the next 2 years in a few different jerseys, but nothing would stick. 

I didn’t know it then, but real life was teaching me how to become an agent. Working in the fitness industry for the last 14 years helped me form great relationships with many athletes. However, sports management has kept me close to the game I love. There have been tons of ups and downs. We aren’t close to the finish line, but we’re gaining momentum and attracting a lot of attention these days. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The idea of being an agent has always lived rent-free in the back of my mind. Life has its way of sucking you into a routine, and before you know it, years have passed… DJ is already preparing for his senior year in high school. Who knew that he would grow into a 6’8 power forward? I sure didn’t. Making the decision to pursue this endeavor and having the courage to act on it was the hardest part. Dauphin Sports was born 4 years ago. I’ve been committed to running my own operation because I have a very specific mission to execute. They say that if you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to help build theirs. As far as a smooth road, it’s been everything but. Entrepreneurship requires a lot a time, money, and nurturing. More importantly, it requires a deep commitment to your beliefs. I have a lot of people that are certain that I’m attempting the impossible. Those people getting more quiet as we continue to build and grow. 

Never allow someone to place their limitations on you. Just because they can’t do something, they’ll try to convince you that you can’t do it. Now look at us! 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve been around sports and athletics my entire life. I played all sports growing up, but football took over my life after high school. I mentioned earlier that the fitness industry helped me gain healthy relationships in business. I’ve had the pleasure of working with a lot of elite people in Atlanta. I’m most known for my positions in sales and marketing around high-profile athletic clubs. Seeing me around NFL and NBA players in their offseason is not uncommon. However, seeing me as a Sports Agent may be new to a lot of people. I feel like I have extraordinary people skills, and my ability to connect dots sets me apart from everyone else. The Dauphin Sports Agency allows me to share that talent with the world. I’m looking to help the people that need me the most. If you solve small problems, then you are rewarded in small ways. If you solve big problems, then the possibilities are endless. I’m the product of Clark Atlanta University. I’m very familiar with the problems that most HBCU athletes face when trying to pursue a career at the next level. There has never been a platform for us to feel the support necessary to be successful. That’s why I’m building one. Welcome to the Dauphin Sports era. Watch how the game changes. 

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I really wish that I made the decision to start sooner. If you’re out there with ideas pending, I want you to know that your results won’t begin until you do. The most powerful force in the world is a decided mind. Once your mind is made up about something, nothing can stop you. I look forward to connecting with you guys in the future so that I can share more Dauphin Sports successes. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mr.dezj @dauphinsports1
• Facebook: Dez L Johnson

Image Credits
Quiana J Johnson