Mark Johnson

Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson has established the Badgers as one of the nation’s elite programs during his 19 years in Madison. Under his direction, Wisconsin has compiled six NCAA titles, nine Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff titles and nine WCHA regular season crowns.
With a career record of 565-103-51, Johnson is the winningest coach not only in Wisconsin history, but is the winningest coach in NCAA collegiate women's hockey history.

Five Badgers have won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, awarded to the nation's top NCAA Division I women's hockey player, under Johnson. Sara Bauer was UW's first winner in 2006, Jessie Vetter won the award in 2009, Meghan Duggan took home the honor in 2011 before Brianna Decker won the award in 2012. Ann-Renee Desbiens was UW's most recent recipient in 2017.
No stranger to the Wisconsin program, Johnson stepped into the role of head women's ice hockey coach at UW beginning with the 2002-03 season, becoming the third coach in program history.
Since taking over the program, Johnson and the Badgers have continued to shatter both school and national records while leading the program to the pinnacle of women's college hockey.
UW captured its sixth NCAA title in a shortened 2020-21 season and also claimed the program's ninth WCHA regular-season and tournament titles. Daryl Watts was a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award while Watts and fellow senior Grace Bowlby earned first-team All-America honors.

The Badgers captured their eighth WCHA regular-season title during the 2019-20 campaign and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the seventh-straight year. UW led the NCAA in scoring offense while setting a school record with a 35.2 clip. Daryl Watts led the NCAA in scoring, averaging 2.06 points per game while Abby Roque was named the WCHA Player of the Year and a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.

Wisconsin captured its fifth national title during the 2018-19 season after topping its rival Minnesota in the NCAA title game. UW thrived in the postseason as Kristen Campbell became the first goaltender to post three shutouts in the NCAA tournament while Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalist Annie Pankowski scored 11 goals in seven postseason games. Wisconsin made its sixth-straight appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four, the longest streak in NCAA women's hockey history. UW also won its eighth WCHA tournament title, the most of any program in the league.

The Badgers claimed their seventh WCHA regular season crown during the 2017-18 campaign while advancing to the NCAA Frozen Four. Kristen Campbell posted a NCAA high 12 shutouts in her debut season for UW.

During the 2016-17 season, Wisconsin won the WCHA regular season and tournament title en route to a 33-3-4 record. UW advanced to the NCAA title game for the seventh time in program history. Ann-Renee Desbiens became only the third goaltender to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as she set NCAA records in goals-against average and save percentage.

The 2015-16 season was a season for the record books for UW, as the Badgers began the season with an 18-game winning streak, it's best start ot a season in program history. The Badgers won the WCHA regular season and tournament titles and UW shutout its opponents in 23 of its 40 games during the season. Desbiens was named the WCHA Player of the Year and the USCHO.Com Player of the Year after breaking NCAA single-season records in shutouts, save percentage and goals-against average.

The 2014-15 season was a special one for Johnson, as he became only the fourth coach in NCAA women's hockey history to win 350 games. Johnson led UW to its eighth Frozen Four appearance and the Badgers set an NCAA record with a .958 penalty-kill conversion rate. UW won its fifth WCHA playoff title and Annie Pankowski became the first in school history to be named the USCHO Rookie of the Year after leading the Badgers in goals and points.

Johnson led the Badgers to their seventh Frozen Four appearance in 2013-14, as Wisconsin was led by All-American Alex Rigsby in net.

The 2012-13 season saw Johnson earn his 300th career win and the opening of LaBahn Arena, a 2,273-seat facility which the Badgers now call home.
In 2011-12, Johnson led the Wisconsin women's hockey team to the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive year. After finishing in the top spot of the WCHA in the regular season, the Badgers fell to Minnesota in the championship game and were named NCAA runner-up in 2012.
Johnson led the Wisconsin women's hockey team to its fourth national title in 2010-11, returning to the helm after taking a one-year sabbatical to serve as head coach of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey team. Johnson and Team USA earned silver at the Vancouver Olympic Games.
In 2010-11, Johnson led the UW to an NCAA-record 37 wins (37-2-2). The Badgers claimed the WCHA regular season and playoff crowns, completing the hardware trifecta with the program's fourth national championship. Wisconsin topped Boston University, 4-1, in the title game at the 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four. Johnson has led the Badgers to an 16-3 record in the NCAA Tournament which includes nine Frozen Four wins, the second-most in the event's history.
Johnson led the UW to a 34-2-5 record during the 2008-09 season. The Badgers claimed the WCHA playoff championship en route to their third national championship in four years. Johnson celebrated his 200th career win Sunday, Feb, 1, 2008 against Ohio State. From 2005-06 to 2008-09, Wisconsin recorded 135 wins, more than any other team in the nation.

Johnson, the 2006 and 2007 WCHA and AHCA Coach of the Year, led the Badgers to back-to-back WCHA regular-season, playoff and NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007. During the 2006-07 campaign, Johnson's team broke or tied 18 NCAA team and individual records including wins in a season (36), fewest losses (one), best winning percentage (.927) and most shutouts (18).

After going 25-6-3 in 2003-04, the Badgers made history in Johnson's third season, winning a then-program-record 28 games (28-9-1) during the 2004-05 season and earning the program's first-ever NCAA tournament berth. The team climbed as high as second in the national rankings by defeating then-No. 2 Minnesota Duluth in the WCHA tournament semifinals and dramatically forcing overtime by scoring two goals in the final minute of regulation against No. 1 Minnesota in the championship game.

Named the 2003 WCHA Co-Coach of the Year and one of eight finalists for the AHCA Division I Coach of the Year award, Johnson guided Wisconsin to a 22-8-5 overall and 14-6-4 WCHA record in his first season with the team.
Leadership
The third head coach in the program's history, Johnson joined the women's hockey staff after serving as an assistant coach with the men's program from 1996-2002.

During that time, he helped the men's team to a WCHA regular-season title during the 1999-2000 season, as well as a WCHA Final Five championship in the 1997-98 campaign.

Prior to his time with the Badgers, Johnson coached professionally, directing the expansion Madison Monsters to a 37-30-7 mark in the 1995-96 season and earning Colonial Hockey League coach of the year honors.

He also led a pair of area high schools, serving as the head coach of Verona from 1994-95 and as the assistant coach for Madison Memorial from 1993-94.
Olympic Role
When Johnson made his first appearance as the head coach of the U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team in 2010, he was quite familiar with the international scene as a coach. His first assignment came as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men's National Team at the 2000 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship, a role he also served in at the same event in 2002. Johnson was also an assistant coach at the 2001 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Orientation Camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which featured 38 of the top American players from the National Hockey League.
Johnson guided the U.S. Olympic team to a silver medal finish at the XXI Olympic Winter Games, Feb. 14-25, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Johnson led Team USA during the Qwest Tour from Sept. 2008 through Feb. 2010 in the lead-up to the Vancouver Olympic Games. The U.S. fell to Canada, 2-0, in the gold medal game after outscoring its opponents 40-2 in the first four games of the tournament.
Before leading the U.S. to silver, Johnson was a part of the U.S. women's national program as a head coach for several seasons. In 2006-07, he led Team USA to a second-place finish at the 2006 Four Nations Cup, as well as the silver medal at the 2007 IIHF World Women's Championship. In 2007-08, Johnson led the U.S. National Under-22 Team and, during the 2008-09 campaign, he guided the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the 2009 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship.
On the Ice
In his playing career with the Badgers, Johnson helped Wisconsin to the 1977 national championship during his freshman campaign. The first Badger ever to win WCHA Rookie of the Year honors, he went on to become the school's second all-time leading scorer with 256 points on a school-record 125 goals and 131 assists in just three seasons.

The 1978-79 WCHA Most Valuable Player, Johnson was a two-time, first team All-WCHA pick and a two-time All-American. In 2002, he was also selected as one of the WCHA's "Top 50 Players in 50 Years."

Johnson represented USA Hockey as a player in 13 international tournaments. Most notably, he led the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team's gold medal-winning effort with 11 points, including two goals in the "Miracle on Ice" game against the Soviet Union. He also added an assist on the game-winning goal against Finland in the team's final contest to win the gold medal.

The team attended the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games to light the flame and was honored by Sports Illustrated as giving us the `Greatest Sports Moment of the Century.'

In 2004, Disney produced the blockbuster movie, "Miracle," chronicling the 1980 USA hockey team's unlikely climb to the top.

In 2019, Johnson became the first UW men's hockey player to have his jersey retired at the Kohl Center.
The Next Level
Following his Olympic experience, Johnson embarked on a successful 11-year NHL career. He began his pro tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1980-82), before moving onto the Minnesota North Stars (1982).
He also enjoyed stints with the Hartford Whalers (1982-85), St. Louis Blues (1985) and New Jersey Devils (1985-90). Over his 669 career NHL contests, the forward collected 203 goals, 305 assists and 508 points, highlighted by his 87-point season as captain of Hartford in 1983-84. He also tied an NHL All-Star Game record with three assists that season.
Awards
As an accomplished athlete, coach and humanitarian, Johnson continues to be honored with awards year after year. In January 2009, as he was named the recipient of the Red Smith Award, given annually to an individual who has contributed or continues to contribute to sports either on or off the field in the state of Wisconsin.
In 2005, he received the NCAA Silver Anniversary award, one the most prestigious honors given by the NCAA, for his accomplishments in the 25 years following his days as a student-athlete.
Further, in 2004, Vince Lombardi Charitable Funds honored Johnson's volunteer work by presenting him with the Award of Excellence. That same year, he was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame for his individual accomplishments as a player and coach. He was previously inducted as a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team in 2003.
One of Wisconsin's most decorated athletes in any sport, Johnson was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003, the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001 and is also a charter member of Wisconsin's National W Club Hall of Fame.
In 2002, Johnson was selected as one of the WCHA's "Top 50 Players in 50 Years," and, in 1999, he earned one of international hockey's highest honors when he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.
In addition, Johnson's contributions as a member of the 1980 Olympic team have continued to be recognized. In 2002, the team attended the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games to light the flame. That same year, the Miracle on Ice was named the `Greatest Sports Moment of the Century' by Sports Illustrated.
In 2004, ESPN, as part of its 25th anniversary, declared the Miracle on Ice to be the top sports headline, moment, and game of the period from 1979-2004. In 2008, as part of its 100th anniversary celebration, the IIHF picked the Miracle on Ice as the No. 1 international hockey story of the century.
Personal
Born in Minneapolis on Sept. 22, 1957, and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Johnson is the son of legendary coach Bob Johnson. Bob coached Wisconsin to three national titles and led the United States at the 1976 Olympics, three Canada Cups (1981, 1984, 1987) and four IIHF Men's World Championships (1973-75, 1981). He went on to coach the NHL's Calgary Flames for five seasons (1982-87) and led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup title in 1991 before passing away from brain cancer that fall.
Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Wisconsin in 1994. He resides in Verona, Wisconsin, with his wife Leslie. The couple has five children, Doug, Chris, Patrick, Mikayla and Megan. Patrick played for the UW men's hockey team from 2007-11, while Mikayla played on the UW women's hockey team from 2012-2017.