​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

                                                             

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avery Johnson was born in Durant, OK on March 26, 1992. His family moved to Brandon MS when he was in the 5th grade, where he met his future wife, Tiffany Prisock. She was his first girlfriend, and later became his wife and mother to his children. He began playing baseball at the age of 4…and never stopped playing the game.

He played in the Brandon Recreational League when Gerard Gibert, in need of a player for his very successful Royals team, was invited to watch him play. He learned the finer points of the game, and learned the value of paying attention to the details. Through Mr. Gibert he met Chris Snopek and began elevating his skills, training in his facility in Flowood. He made the Brandon Bulldog high school team in the 8th grade, under head coach Neill Bartling. Primarily a pitcher, he played 2nd base when not on the mound, playing for 4 seasons for the Bulldogs team. His time with Mr. Bartling molded him into a player, respecting the game and learning how to be a teammate. Upon graduation, he was recruited by Belhaven University, and signed a scholarship to play for the legendary coach Hill Denson.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avery played three seasons for Coach Denson, then joined with Chris Snopek at P360 Performance Sports. Together, they created standards and goals for the company, and in 2017 he became a partner with Mr. Snopek. He elevated the pitching instruction with a program designed with Alex Gunn, and had a very calming influence on players that got the best out of them on the diamond as a coach. Coaching youth baseball under the mentorship of Chris Snopek saw his teams gain success with confidence and trust, winning at a high level and building personal relationships with players and families. He realized a dream to match up with his first mentor, Gerard Gibert, as they coached a 14U team together through the fall and spring – and took the team to Perfect Game national events in the summer. The last team he coached was a 10U team that had been struggling. In his first tournament with the team, they won the tournament.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Avery passed away on August 8, 2020. He had an older brother and two younger brothers. He was married to Tiffany and left behind two children, Brooklynn and Hayden. The impact of his passing on the game of youth baseball was immediate. His family received over 300 cards, letters, text messages – most of them from former players expressing their feeling about him. Although limited by the COVID in the summer of 2020, his funeral was heavily attended by the many friends and family in Mississippi, friends and family from Texas and Oklahoma…and several former major league players. He could not have chosen a better send off surrounded by his loving family and friends. And of course, countless baseball players.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Avery Wayne Johnson Memorial Foundation will continue the work that he loved…teaching kids of all ages in his own way how to play the game of baseball. He set expectations of his players to work hard, listen and learn, respect the opponent, coaches and parents, win and lose with class and accept failure. And of course, have fun playing the game. He touched the lives of hundreds of players in his short life, and his legacy will continue to touch the lives of hundreds more through his foundation.

​

How to Contribute to the Foundation

Anyone can contribute to the Foundation. Members of the Foundation will be recognized with their name added to the member board at Avery's Corner, located at the P360 facility in the Outlets of Mississippi mall. 

 

 

 Contribution Levels 

​

Grand Slam Level  $2,600 minimum 

Triple Level            $260 - $2,500 

Player Level            $26

​

The Board of Directors of the Avery Wayne Johnson Foundation serve without compensation to maximize the funds available for scholarships. There are no compensated employees. 

​

To make a tax deductible donation, please send check to:

 

Avery Wayne Johnson Foundation 

200 Bass Pro Drive Suite 200

Pearl MS 39208

Tax ID 87-4352545

​

​