Matt Johnson is beginning his fifth season as an assistant coach with the Mountaineer wrestling program in 2013 after spending 15 seasons at Wyoming, the last six as the Cowboys’ top assistant.
Johnson spent three seasons at Iowa State and won three Big Eight titles, three All-America honors at 177 bounds and finished runner-up in 1991. He earned the Gregorian Award at the 1991 national championships for pinning three opponents in 15:15. He compiled a 120-27-1 record with the Cyclones, including a pair of 30-win seasons.
Johnson also competed at three National Wrestling Coaches All-Star Meets, the most for any Cyclone in program history, and went 2-1 in those meets. On the international scene, Johnson finished in the top seven of the U.S. Open Freestyle Tournament three times.
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A native of Brighton, Colo., Johnson won two Colorado State Championships and four freestyle titles. Johnson finished high school with an overall record of 114-19. Johnson also finished second at the Junior Nationals in 1988.
Johnson’s ties with the Mountaineers start with his father, Jim, who earned All-America honors in 1970 under Tracy Borah.
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Johnson graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1996 with a degree in history. He married his wife, Jodi, in August of 1998. The couple have three daughters, Sarah Marie (8), Rylie Lynn (6) and Katelyn Rose (3).
