For his efforts in leading the University of Wisconsin to a successful defense of the NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championship, Mark Johnson of the University of Wisconsin has been named by his peers as the AHCA Women’s Division I Coach of the Year for 2006-07. The Badgers compiled a record of 36-1-4 this year, winning both the WCHA regular season and tournament titles en route to its NCAA triumph at Lake Placid, NY. Johnson, who has been named Team USA head coach for the upcoming World Championships in Winnipeg, also won Coach of the Year honors a year ago. It was another terrific year for Wisconsin who ended the season on a 26-game unbeaten streak. The Badgers took home the NCAA title by virtue of a 4-0 semifinal win over St. Lawrence and a 4-1 final victory over Minnesota- Duluth.

Johnson has a career record of 147-28-14 (.815) in five seasons as head coach of the Badgers. His winning percentage ranks him first among active NCAA Division I women’s head coaches.

However, Johnson’s fame in Madison began years before assuming his current role. A two-time All American and the school’s all-time goal-scoring leader (125 goals in 125 games), Johnson led his Badgers to an NCAA title in 1977 and was WCHA MVP in 1979, before embarking on an impressive post-college career. A star on the1980 “Miracle On Ice” U.S. Olympic Team, Johnson enjoyed a 11-year NHL career before retiring as a player and getting into coaching. He is the son of the late coaching icon, Bob Johnson, who coached at Colorado College and the University of Wisconsin, before winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The runner-up for this year’s AHCA Women’s Division I Coach of the Year award was Tom Mutch of Boston College. Other finalists for the award were Jim Fetter, Wayne State University; Paul Flanagan, St. Lawrence University; Mark Hudak, Dartmouth College; Shannon Miller, Minnesota-Duluth; and Margot Page, Niagara University.

College hockey’s Coach of the Year recipients are chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Winners will receive their awards at the annual AHCA Coach of the Year Banquet, held in conjunction with the AHCA Convention in Naples, FL. This year’s banquet is scheduled for Saturday, April 28.