By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS — St. Charles Catholic alum Curtis Johnson was officially introduced as Tulane’s new head football coach at a Monday press conference held at the school’s Wilson Athletic Center.

Johnson, currently the New Orleans Saints’ wide receiver coach, will remain with the Saints through the postseason, though simultaneously he will begin taking over the Tulane program.

He inherits a Tulane program that went 2-10 in 2011, a season in which former coach Bob Toledo stepped down after seven games and a 2-5 start. Toledo was coaching in his fifth season, and ended his tenure with a record of 15-40 at the school.

Johnson has never been a head coach or coordinator, but has a rich resume as a wide receiver coach both the collegiate and NFL level.

His career spans 27 years, including collegiate stops at San Diego State, California, Miami (FL) and finally his NFL run with the Saints, which he began under Sean Payton in 2006. He’s helped to develop Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Lance Moore and Robert Meachem into successful NFL receivers — and into Super Bowl champions in 2009.

Johnson is the first African-American head coach in the school’s history.