Atlanta, GA -- (Sports Network) - Georgia Tech named former Navy coach Paul Johnson its new head football coach Friday.

Johnson, 50, replaces Chan Gailey, who was fired November 26 after a 7-5 season ended with his sixth consecutive loss to Georgia.

"It is really humbling to be here today," Johnson said. "I would like to thank the entire Georgia Tech family for the opportunity to lead a program so steep in tradition and history.

"When I first met with the committee last Sunday it seemed like a match made in heaven to me. I was looking forward to moving back to the state of Georgia where we had such a good time at Georgia Southern for five years. To have the opportunity to come to an institution that is held in such high national regard as Georgia Tech, not only the football program but the academic side. It is a dream come true to us."

Johnson turned around the Navy program that suffered the worst two-year stretch in its 122-year history prior to his arrival, going 1-20 between the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

After a 2-10 mark in his first year, Johnson led the Midshipmen to a school- record five-straight bowl games and a school-record six consecutive wins over arch-rival Army. He finished 37-29 at Navy.

Prior to joining the Naval Academy, Johnson posted a 62-9 record in five seasons with the Georgia Southern Eagles.

Johnson won consecutive I-AA National Championships (1999 and 2000), five straight Southern Conference championships, was named Division I-AA National Coach of the Year four straight times (1997-2000) and earned The Sports Network's Eddie Robinson Award in 1998.

"Georgia Tech's new head football coach is the right man for so many reasons," athletic director Dan Radakovich said of Johnson. "Here is the most convincing part. He looks at his talent and maximizes it.

"Whether it is as an assistant coach at Hawaii or a head coach at Georgia Southern or Navy, he flat out figured out how to be successful. He does what it takes to win games. We are convinced that he will be the steady leader, the principal teacher to our student-athletes and the point producing conductor that will energize our fans and fill our stadium on Saturday afternoons with fun and excitement."