For his efforts in leading the University of Wisconsin to its third NCAA title in four years, Mark Johnson has been named by his peers as the AHCA Women’s Division I Coach of the Year for 2008-09. The Badgers compiled a record of 34-2-5 this year, winning both the WCHA and NCAA post-season tournaments. For Johnson, it is his third Coach of ther Year Award, having been similarly honored in 2006 and 2007.

It was another terrific year for Wisconsin who ended the season as it began. Unbeaten in its final 11 games, Wisconsin started the season 19-0-2. The only title that eluded the Badgers was the WCHA regular season crown as Wisconsin finished one point behind the University of Minnesota. Revenge came in the WCHA Tournament final where Wisconsin prevailed, 5-3.

The Badgers were dominant in the NCAA Tournament, sweeping Dartmouth, Minnesota-Duluth, and Mercyhurst by a combined score of 17-1. Included in that trio of games was a 5-0 shutout of Mercyhurst in the title game in Boston. Johnson has a career record of 208-39-22 (.814) in seven seasons as head coach of the Badgers. His winning percentage ranks him first among active NCAA Division I women’s head coaches. His success in women’s hockey has earned him the coveted post of U.S. Olympic Team Head Coach for the 2010 Games in Vancouver.

However, Johnson’s fame in Madison began years before assuming his current role. A two-time All American and the school’s all-time goal-scoring leader (125 goals in 125 games), Johnson led his Badgers to an NCAA title in 1977 and was WCHA MVP in 1979, before embarking on an impressive post-college career. A star on the1980 “Miracle On Ice” U.S. Olympic Team, Johnson enjoyed a 11-year NHL career before retiring as a player and getting into coaching. He is the son of the late coaching icon, Bob Johnson, who coached at Colorado College and the University of Wisconsin, before winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The runner-up for this year’s AHCA Women’s Division I Coach of the Year award was Mike Sisti of Mercyhurst College, whose Lakers lost to Wisconsin in the 2009 NCAA championship game.

The Coach of the Year Award winners are chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Winners will receive their awards at the annual AHCA Coach of the Year Banquet, held in conjunction with the AHCA Convention in Naples, FL. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, April 25.