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‘He’s not supposed to be here’ — ‘Duck’ Johnson defied odds to return to Riesel dugout, beloved community
Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: By MICHAEL HAAG , as published by Waco Tribune-Herald
· June 22, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: Waco Tribune-Herald · view original
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Summary created by The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page By MICHAEL HAAG, as published by Waco Tribune-Herald Original story Read at the source Source published Jun 22, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key points Johnson's time back in the dugout was in 2025, and it was followed by his retirement. Further details about Johnson's journey and retirement are available from the Waco Tribune-Herald.
In a remarkable turn of events, Riesel coach 'Duck' Johnson returned to the dugout. This comeback was notable given his recent health struggles. Johnson had been in a coma and underwent multiple brain surgeries, fighting for his life.
His recovery ultimately led to his return to coaching, albeit briefly. Johnson's time back in the dugout was in 2025, and it was followed by his retirement.
Further details about Johnson's journey and retirement are available from the Waco Tribune-Herald.
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As published by Waco Tribune-Herald . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: Waco Tribune-Herald ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? In a remarkable turn of events, Riesel coach 'Duck' Johnson returned to the dugout. This comeback was notable given his recent health struggles. Johnson had been in a coma and underwent multiple…
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by Waco Tribune-Herald and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by By MICHAEL HAAG at Waco Tribune-Herald. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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