Bob Johnson (ice hockey)
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Robert "Badger Bob" Johnson (1931-1991) was an American born college and professional ice hockey coach.
Bob Johnson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 4, 1931. He attended Minneapolis Central High School and the University of Minnesota, where he played hockey under legendary coach John Mariucci.
After serving as a medic during the Korean Conflict, Johnson began his coaching career at a high school in Warroad, Minnesota. He later coached hockey at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. He became the head hockey coach at Colorado College in 1963.
In 1966, he moved to the University of Wisconsin, where he was head coach until 1981. He led the Badgers to seven NCAA tournaments, winning three championships in 1973, 1977, and 1981. It was at Wisconsin where Johnson earned the nickname, "Badger Bob."
He coached the 1976 US Olympic hockey team, the 1981, 1984 and 1987 US teams in the Canada Cup tournament, and the 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1981 US national teams.
In 1982 Johnson began his National Hockey League career when he became the head coach of the Calgary Flames, a position he held for five seasons. In 1990, was named the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In his first season, he led the team, which was led by superstar Mario Lemieux, to a Stanley Cup championship victory over the Minnesota North Stars, four games to two.
Shortly after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, Johnson was diagnosed with brain cancer. He turned his coaching duties over to Scotty Bowman and began treatment.
Johnson died of brain cancer in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on November 26, 1991.
He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.
See also
| Preceded by: Al MacNeil | Head Coaches of the Calgary Flames 1982–1987 | Succeeded by: Terry Crisp |
| Preceded by: Craig Patrick | Head Coaches of the Pittsburgh Penguins 1990–1991 | Succeeded by: Scotty Bowman |
Categories: 1931 births | 1991 deaths | NHL Head Coaches | United States Hockey Hall of Fame | Hockey Hall of Fame
