cougar news
JOHNSON ’03 NAMED UMN MORRIS INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Sandra Olson-Loy praised Johnson’s demonstrated ability to bring new ideas to fruition through creative partnerships. In his time as the interim director of athletics, Johnson secured Cougar Athletic’s first exclusive gear and apparel deal, launched the rebranding of the Cougar Sports Center, increased participation and funding from the Cougar Alumni Golf Classic, and rebranded the Cougar Athletic Association to the Cougar Club. Under his leadership during the 2018-19 school year, 84 student-athletes were named academic all-conference— recording GPAs of 3.5 or higher, 61 student-athletes were named all-conference, and two Cougar teams won conference titles. Johnson has been active in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, NCAA national conventions, and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. Prior to being named interim director of athletics, Johnson served as an assistant and associate athletic director for seven years under athletic directors Mark Fohl and Jason Herbers, whom he credits as mentors. He has been the Sports Studies and Athletics academic discipline coordinator since 2012. Johnson held a variety of coaching roles with the Cougar football program for 15 seasons, including serving as offensive coordinator and co-head coach. As a Cougar student-athlete, Johnson was a four-year starter The University of Minnesota Morris has announced Matthew Johnson ’03 as the new director of intercollegiate athletics. Johnson (2000—03) and two-year captain (2002—03) for the football has been serving as interim director since August 2018 after holding program, starting all 44 games he played on the offensive line. He was recognized in 2004 as the UMN Morris men’s honor athlete. coaching, assistant AD, and associate AD roles at UMN Morris. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in social science with Tracey Anderson, associate professor of biology and faculty athletic representative, chaired the national search. Anderson said, a minor in history and coaching certification from the University of Minnesota Morris. He holds a master’s in “The committee was impressed with the extremely high level of education from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a focus support for Matt we saw in this search process. His collaborative on educational administration. leadership style, commitment to the academic and athletic success He and his wife Abbey Starzecki Johnson ’05, a former of student athletes, and record of accomplishment in advancing Cougar soccer student-athlete, have two children, Cooper (9) our student athletes’ experiences are very highly regarded on our and Crosby (6). campus and in our community. I’m excited for our future in Johnson’s love of sports is evident beyond the campus. He Cougar Athletics.” assigns and coordinates Morris area high school basketball officials, “I am incredibly humbled and honored to be named director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Minnesota Morris,” has refereed multiple Minnesota State High School League state Johnson said. “Serving in an interim role for the past year allowed basketball tournaments, and recently refereed his first high school me to fully immerse myself in the position, and I could not be more basketball game at the Target Center. Johnson also was elected to the Morris Area School Board in excited for all that is ahead for Cougar Athletics. I want to thank all the people and groups that were involved with this opportunity; 2018. The UMN Morris AD collaborates with Morris Community including the search committee, the administration on campus, as Education to provide oversight for the Regional Fitness Center—a campus and community partnership. well as the Cougar coaches and student-athletes.”
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University of Minnesota Morris
