Tulane hires Saints assistant Johnson as coach

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Tulane has hired Saints wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson as the new head coach of the Green Wave.

The university has scheduled a formal announcement Monday afternoon, but several Saints players including Drew Brees say they've already been informed of Johnson's move from the Saints to Tulane.

Brees says Tulane "got a great coach in Curtis Johnson.''

Johnson was on the sideline with the Saints on Sunday night for their win over the Detroit Lions.

Tulane is hoping Johnson, a New Orleans native who has been with the Saints since 2006, can turn around a program that has not been to a bowl since 2002.

The Green Wave has gone 31-76 since then.

In October, coach Bob Toledo resigned with a 15-40 record in four-and-a-half seasons.