Dr. Eric Johnson Named WIU Director of Soccer

Long time WIU coach will also oversee women’s soccer program in 2016, in addition to his duties as men’s head coach

MACOMB, Ill. – Dr. Eric Johnson, the all-time winningest men's soccer coach in Summit League history, will expand his head coaching duties at Western Illinois University. Director of Athletics Matt Tanney announced that Johnson agreed to take over as Director of the Soccer programs and serve as the head coach for both the men's and, in 2016, the women's team.

In his 19 years as head coach of the Leatherneck men's team, Johnson owns a 157-179-35 record and taken six of his last 12 teams to the NCAA Division I College Cup. Western has won four regular season conference titles, six conference tournament titles and made eight appearances in the tournament championship match. Overall in his 24 years as a head coach, he owns a 200-232-39 record on the men's side.

"I am really looking forward to working with the women's team. They are a dedicated and motivated group and will be fun to work with," said Johnson, who has already been running the women's team off-season drills. "I enjoy coaching and the challenge of coaching two teams will be a lot of fun."

This is not Johnson's first time as a college women's soccer coach. He spent five years at Loras College as head coach of the men's and women's team before joining Western Illinois. Johnson inherits a WIU women's team that posted a record of 28-42-3 overall and 13-17-1 in the Summit League over the last four seasons. The program missed on qualifying for the last three postseason tournaments.

Western's women have made three appearances all-time in the Summit League Tournament championship game (2006, 2007, 2010) and captured the 2007 regular season title following an 8-0 undefeated conference record.

"As I met with candidates during the national search for our next head coach, it became evident as the process unfolded that appointing Coach Johnson to this role for the next year serves the best interests of the women's soccer program. The women will greatly benefit from his commitment to their development on and off the field," said Tanney. "As an athletics department, we remain steadfastly committed to their success as both students and athletes, and Coach Johnson has the experience, credentials and character to execute that vision. Our student-athletes are excited to work with a coach of his quality. He will serve as a great mentor for the student-athletes and assistant coaches alike."

A four-time Summit League men's 'Coach of the Year', Johnson coached 34 First Team All-Summit League selections, 38 Second Team All-Summit League honorees, and six All-Newcomer selections, along with three 'Players of the Year', two 'Newcomers of the Year', three 'Defensive Players of the Year', and one 'Goalkeeper of the Year' in the Summit League.

Before joining the staff at Loras, Johnson worked at the high school level in Florida at the Fort Lauderdale Christian School, where he was the athletic director and the coach of the boys' soccer and basketball teams. His soccer team compiled a 19-0-3 record in 1989 and claimed the Class A Florida State Championship.

Johnson, a Denver, Colorado native, earned his bachelor of arts degree in Physical Education from Calvin College in 1980 where he was an All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association selection. He earned his master's degree in Physical Education from Florida Atlantic University in 1985 and his doctorate in Sports Administration from the University of New Mexico in 1995.

Print Friendly Version