He has the most wins in University of Illinois history and was twice selected as Big Ten Coach of the Year (2001 and 2005).
He graduated in 1973 from Alleman High School in Rock Island, where he placed second in the state in wrestling (167 lbs) and was an All-State football player.
Johnson continued his wrestling career at the University of Michigan, where he was twice an NCAA finalist and Academic All-American.
[2] Due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, the United States boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics and Johnson wasn't able to compete.
[3] He is the CEO of the Stephens Family YMCA in Champaign, Illinois, where he lives with his wife, Linda.