LATROBE, PA (Aug. 12) - Saint Vincent College football coach Aaron Smetanka has announced the promotion of Chace Johnston to offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator, and manager of football operations.

Johnston brings with him six years of coaching experience in the WPIAL, most recently serving on the coaching staff at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. He held multiple roles in helping to guide the OLSH offense under head coach Donnie Militzer, including assistant head coach, running game coordinator and offensive line coach.

Before joining OLSH, Johnston served as the defensive coordinator, offensive and defensive line coach and director of football operations at Carmichaels Area High School under head coach Ron Gallagher, and his mentor, offensive coordinator, Tom Sandela in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He also served as the offensive & defensive line coach director of football operations at Washington High School in Washington, Pennsylvania, under head coach Michael Bosnic in 2020.

Johnston began his coaching career at Carmichaels Area High School, coaching offensive and defensive lines under head coach Ryan Krull for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Johnston played collegiately at Waynesburg University, while earning a bachelor's degree in athletic communication in 2020 and an M.B.A. in 2022, while serving as a graduate assistant in the Waynesburg sports information office under former sports information director Robert Fox. Johnston also earned his M.A.T from Pennsylvania Western University in August of 2024. 

A native of southwestern Pennsylvania, Johnston graduated from Mapletown High School in 2016, where he was a four-sport athlete, excelling in football, baseball, basketball and wrestling. He currently resides in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. 

"Coach Johnston has quickly adapted to our SVC Football Program with his work ethic in coaching, recruiting, and operations," said Smetanka. "Chace truly shows how our student-athletes and coaching staff how to 'Rise Together.' He truly believes in how everyone grows academically, athletically, socially, spiritually, and in the community at SVC"