University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Johnson Named Head Coach at St. Thomas
6/7/2021 3:02:00 PM | Women's Hockey
University of Minnesota associate head coach Joel Johnson has been named the head coach of the St. Thomas women's hockey program.
MINNEAPOLIS -- University of Minnesota associate head coach Joel Johnson has been named the head coach of the St. Thomas women's hockey program, the Tommies announced Monday.
The 2020-21 season marked Johnson's 16th season on the Gopher women's hockey coaching staff. Johnson returned to the Gophers' bench for the 2010-11 season after previously serving as an assistant coach from 1999-00 to 2003-04. Johnson primarily coached the Gopher defense; he also assisted with special teams, game analysis, and recruiting. Johnson helped lead Minnesota to six national titles in his tenure with the Gophers after coaching the Minnesota program during the 2000, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 championship seasons.
"Joel and I have coached with one another in various forms for 15 years at the University of Minnesota," Minnesota head coach Brad Frost said. "Joel is a great coach and friend. I am happy that this opportunity has come up for him and his family. His wealth of knowledge will certainly benefit the Tommies program."
Over the last 11 seasons since Johnson returned to the Gophers' bench, Minnesota made five-straight NCAA national championship game appearances from 2012 to 2016, winning back-to-back national titles in 2012 and 2013 and again in 2015 and 2016, along with recording a perfect 41-0-0 season in 2012-13. The Gophers' defensive corps has ranked first or second in the nation for scoring defense in four of the last nine seasons, including allowing an average of just 0.88 goals per game to lead the nation 2012-13. Five Gopher defense have combined for nine All-American awards since 2010-11, and 14 different defense have combined for 29 All-WCHA honors over the past 11 seasons as well.
During his first stint with the Gophers, Johnson was an assistant women's coach at Minnesota for five years and was behind the bench for two national championships in 2000 and 2004. Like his current role, Johnson primarily worked with the Gopher defense. He coached some of the nation's best blue-liners as Courtney Kennedy and Ronda Curtin were top-three Patty Kazmaier finalists and first-team All-Americans. Kennedy, Curtin, and Winny Brodt all received WCHA Defensive Player of the Year awards during his tenure. Also in Johnson's first span with the Gophers, Minnesota made three trips to the NCAA Frozen Four (2002, 2003 and 2004) and won WCHA titles in 2002 and 2004.
In addition to his duties with the Gophers, Johnson has extensive coaching experience with USA Hockey. Johnson was named the interim head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team in April 2021. He served as the head coach for the U.S. Under-22 Women's Select Team during the 2019-20 season, including coaching the Red, White, and Blue to a 2-1 series win over Canada in the August 2019 three-game series. Johnson was on staff with the U.S. Women's National Team as an assistant during the 2018-19 season at the 2018 Four Nations Cup and at the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship where the U.S. won gold at both tournaments. He led the U.S. Under-22 Women's Select Team into the Under-22 Series vs. Canada as head coach as well, helping the team to a three-game sweep in August 2018. Johnson also served as head coach of the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team for four seasons from 2014-15 to 2017-18 and led the U.S. to four consecutive gold medals at the IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships.
In between his two stints at Minnesota, Johnson spent six seasons coaching at Bethel University from 2004-10, including three years as the men's hockey head coach. Along with his men's hockey responsibilities, he was also the men's and women's golf coach and prior to that, was the soccer coach where he earned MIAC Coach of the Year honors.
A 1996 graduate of Bethel with a degree in physical education and minors in health education and coaching, Johnson was a three-sport athlete for the Royals and earned four letters in soccer, hockey and baseball. Following his playing days for the Royals, Johnson started his coaching career and coached soccer and hockey at his alma mater. He also was an assistant coach for Park/Woodbury High School during the 1996-97 season and coached both soccer and baseball at New Life Academy for two years. Johnson, his wife Shannon, daughter Megan, and son Jacob reside in White Bear Lake, Minn.
###
The 2020-21 season marked Johnson's 16th season on the Gopher women's hockey coaching staff. Johnson returned to the Gophers' bench for the 2010-11 season after previously serving as an assistant coach from 1999-00 to 2003-04. Johnson primarily coached the Gopher defense; he also assisted with special teams, game analysis, and recruiting. Johnson helped lead Minnesota to six national titles in his tenure with the Gophers after coaching the Minnesota program during the 2000, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 championship seasons.
"Joel and I have coached with one another in various forms for 15 years at the University of Minnesota," Minnesota head coach Brad Frost said. "Joel is a great coach and friend. I am happy that this opportunity has come up for him and his family. His wealth of knowledge will certainly benefit the Tommies program."
Over the last 11 seasons since Johnson returned to the Gophers' bench, Minnesota made five-straight NCAA national championship game appearances from 2012 to 2016, winning back-to-back national titles in 2012 and 2013 and again in 2015 and 2016, along with recording a perfect 41-0-0 season in 2012-13. The Gophers' defensive corps has ranked first or second in the nation for scoring defense in four of the last nine seasons, including allowing an average of just 0.88 goals per game to lead the nation 2012-13. Five Gopher defense have combined for nine All-American awards since 2010-11, and 14 different defense have combined for 29 All-WCHA honors over the past 11 seasons as well.
During his first stint with the Gophers, Johnson was an assistant women's coach at Minnesota for five years and was behind the bench for two national championships in 2000 and 2004. Like his current role, Johnson primarily worked with the Gopher defense. He coached some of the nation's best blue-liners as Courtney Kennedy and Ronda Curtin were top-three Patty Kazmaier finalists and first-team All-Americans. Kennedy, Curtin, and Winny Brodt all received WCHA Defensive Player of the Year awards during his tenure. Also in Johnson's first span with the Gophers, Minnesota made three trips to the NCAA Frozen Four (2002, 2003 and 2004) and won WCHA titles in 2002 and 2004.
In addition to his duties with the Gophers, Johnson has extensive coaching experience with USA Hockey. Johnson was named the interim head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team in April 2021. He served as the head coach for the U.S. Under-22 Women's Select Team during the 2019-20 season, including coaching the Red, White, and Blue to a 2-1 series win over Canada in the August 2019 three-game series. Johnson was on staff with the U.S. Women's National Team as an assistant during the 2018-19 season at the 2018 Four Nations Cup and at the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship where the U.S. won gold at both tournaments. He led the U.S. Under-22 Women's Select Team into the Under-22 Series vs. Canada as head coach as well, helping the team to a three-game sweep in August 2018. Johnson also served as head coach of the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team for four seasons from 2014-15 to 2017-18 and led the U.S. to four consecutive gold medals at the IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships.
In between his two stints at Minnesota, Johnson spent six seasons coaching at Bethel University from 2004-10, including three years as the men's hockey head coach. Along with his men's hockey responsibilities, he was also the men's and women's golf coach and prior to that, was the soccer coach where he earned MIAC Coach of the Year honors.
A 1996 graduate of Bethel with a degree in physical education and minors in health education and coaching, Johnson was a three-sport athlete for the Royals and earned four letters in soccer, hockey and baseball. Following his playing days for the Royals, Johnson started his coaching career and coached soccer and hockey at his alma mater. He also was an assistant coach for Park/Woodbury High School during the 1996-97 season and coached both soccer and baseball at New Life Academy for two years. Johnson, his wife Shannon, daughter Megan, and son Jacob reside in White Bear Lake, Minn.
###
Follow Women's Hockey
Support Women's Hockey
Support the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now
Best of Abbey Murphy
Thursday, April 02
Press Conference: Greg May Introduction
Monday, March 23
Greg "Boom" May Named Head Coach
Sunday, March 22
NCAA Hockey Hype
Friday, March 13