Mike Johnson

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Seasons

• 2008-09 - Head Coach

Under Johnson’s guidance, the Dolphins have been one of the highest scoring teams in the A-Sun Conference over the past three seasons. JU led the league in both goals and points during the 2005 and 2006 seasons, and finished second in 2007, trailing by just one point.

In 2007, the Dolphins claimed their first A-Sun regular season championship after posting a 7-2 conference mark and finishing 11-7-2 overall (the fourth-highest win total in school history). Johnson, the 2007 A-Sun “Coach of the Year” led JU to its first A-Sun finals since 2001, while former Dolphin Anton Axelsson posted a conference-best 16 goals and 36 points to be named A-Sun “Player of the Year” honors as well as being named the Academic All-America “Player of the Year” by ESPN the Magazine. Axelsson was also named to the All-South Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Defender Brian Cocciolo also joined Axelsson on the A-Sun first team all-conference squad, while midfielder Stefan Runeman and goalkeeper Matt Gilman earned second team honors.

In 2006, JU reached its first A-Sun semifinal berth since the 2002 season after downing Belmont in the first round of the conference tournament. The Dolphins finished the season with a 7-11-2 record and took home their third consecutive Dennis Violett Memorial Cup over cross-town rival North Florida on Sept. 24. Tommy Krizanovic paced the Dolphins with 14 goals and 33 points en route to earning A-Sun "Player of Year" accolades. He also finished the season leading the nation in goals per game (1.08) and points per game (2.46) to receive his third consecutive first team all-conference and adidas/National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South region honors. After his stellar career, Krizanovic became the first JU and A-Sun player to be drafted by Major League Soccer after being selected in the fourth round of the league's 2007 SuperDraft by FC Dallas.

Not to be out done, junior Anton Axlesson was named second team all-conference for the second straight year after posting eight goals and a team-high five assists. Sophomore Patrik Werner also earned second team all-conference honors for JU, while Stefan Runeman and Eddie Munnelly were each named to the A-Sun all-freshman team.

In 2005, the Dolphins led in the Atlantic Sun Conference in every offensive category en route to a 7-10-2 record and a berth in the A-Sun Tournament. Krizanovic led the team and was second in the conference with a career-high 17 goals to earn first team all-conference and NSCAA/adidas third-team accolades. Axelsson earned second team all-conference honors by leading the team with seven assists, while defender Patrik Werner also secured second team all-conference accolades.

In his first season returning as the men's soccer head coach, Johnson led the Dolphins to an 8-8-1 record in 2004 as the Dolphins narrowly missed the A-Sun Tournament. Johnson saw sophomore forward Krizanovic and freshman defender John Marquart earn all-conference honors. Krizanovic earned 2004 first team and NSCAA/adidas third-team accolades, while Marquart earned all-freshman team honors.

No stranger to winning, Johnson led the Dolphin women's program to a 75-41-4 record in six seasons, including four appearances in the A-Sun Championship game. He posted a 37-13-3 mark in conference play and led the Dolphins to the 2000 A-Sun regular season and tournament championships. After leading JU to the 2000 NCAA College Cup, Johnson was tabbed A-Sun "Coach of the Year."

Johnson also served as the head coach of the men's program during the 2000 season, leading the Dolphins to a 5-6-4 mark and a third place finish in the A-Sun during a rebuilding campaign.

Johnson's final year with the women was highlighted by spectacular individual performances despite the squad being hampered by injuries. Senior Inge Heiremans earned first team all-conference honors after finishing second in the league with 10 assists while adding nine goals for a total of 28 points.

Sophomore Ranveig Aas-Hanssen also received first team all-conference accolades after leading the A-Sun with 20 goals and 43 points. After a 9-9-1 finish in 2001, the Dolphins returned to form in 2002 with a mark of 15-4-2, including a 15-match unbeaten streak and an 8-0-1 record at home. JU finished third in the A-Sun with an 8-1-2 record, falling to UCF in the conference championship game (3-2).

While under the guidance of Johnson, midfielder Vanessa Illanes led the Dolphin attack with 12 goals, including a league-high 13 assists. Illanes earned the 2002 A-Sun Player of the Year, Soccer Buzz first team all-Southeast Region and NSCAA first team regional All-America accolades for her efforts. Sophomore defender Hanni Wenzel returned to form after missing 2001 with an injury, earning first team all-conference, Soccer Buzz third team all-Southeast Region and NSCAA first team regional All-America honors.

In 2000, JU rewrote the record book during their school-best 19-3-0 campaign, including a perfect 9-0-0 mark in A-Sun play. The Dolphins set school records for wins in a season (19), consecutive wins (16), shutouts (11), goals in a game (10) and assists in a game (10). The 2000 Dolphins also set the conference record for wins in a season and became the first team in league history, since merging the East and West Divisions, to go through the conference schedule with a perfect record (9-0-0).

During his first season as the women's head coach in 1998, Johnson led the Dolphins to a six-match improvement as JU went 14-5-1 and advanced to the A-Sun championship game. JU set then-school records for wins (14) and shutouts (8), while ranking sixth nationally with 3.47 goals per game. In 1999, Johnson led the Dolphins to a 12-8 mark and a second straight appearance in the league championship game, despite the loss of three starters to injury.

Johnson's soccer career at JU began in 1981. A three-year letterman, he played forward as a sophomore before being moved to defender as a junior and senior. He tallied four goals and four assists during his career and was voted team captain as a senior. He was a member of the Florida Intercollegiate All-State Team and earned the Bill Coulthart Award as the team MVP as a junior and senior. He also received all-Sun Belt Conference honors his final two collegiate seasons. Johnson went on to play professionally for the Tulsa Tornado (1985) of the USL and the Jacksonville Fury (1993-94) of the USISL following his collegiate playing career.

Johnson began his coaching career at JU, serving as an assistant coach with the men's team from 1985-87. During his three-season stint, Johnson helped lead the Dolphins to their first winning season in seven years when the 1986 club went 10-8. He led JU to the Sun Belt Conference crown in 1987.

Prior to returning to JU in 1998, Johnson served as the head soccer coach at Ed White High School in Jacksonville from 1986-97, while also serving as head coach of the Charleston Lighting (1997) of the EISL and the Jacksonville Fury (1994-95) of the USISL. Johnson also coached the Jacksonville Jade of the W-League in 1999 and 2000 and coached club teams in the Jacksonville area from 1985-99. As a club coach, his teams won two state championships and finished second six times.

A Jacksonville native and a graduate of Forrest High School, Johnson earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from JU in 1985. Johnson and his wife Paula have three children: Tyler, Kyle and Kailee. Tyler is a senior linebacker on the JU football team, while Kyle will join his dad on the soccer pitch as a freshman midfielder.