Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson is a preeminent figure in the world of ice hockey, currently serving as the head coach of the University of Wisconsin–Madison women's ice hockey team. His leadership has propelled the team to eight National Championships, a testament to his coaching prowess and strategic acumen. Johnson's influence extends beyond the University of Wisconsin, having served as an assistant coach for the American national men's hockey team in 2000 and 2002 and as the head coach of the Madison Monsters minor league hockey team during the 1995–96 season.

Johnson's contributions have been recognized with several prestigious accolades, including induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1999, the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003, and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2011, he was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy for his outstanding service to hockey in the United States. His coaching skills have been acknowledged with the AHCA Coach of the Year award five times and the WCHA Coach of the Year award ten times. Johnson is well known as a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic ice hockey team that won gold against the Soviet Union. Johnson is featured in the Netflix documentary "Miracle: The Boys of '80."

Perhaps one of Johnson's most notable achievements was leading the United States women's national ice hockey team to a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. His expertise has also been instrumental in the development of several Olympians, including Hilary Knight and Brianna Decker, both recipients of the Patty Kazmaier Award under his tutelage. In 2019, the University of Wisconsin honored Johnson by retiring his jersey number #10, marking him as the first Badgers hockey player to receive such honor.