Jim Johnson, Head Coach

Jim Johnson, now in his 30th season as Pacific Lutheran University head coach, is the winningest swim coach in Northwest Conference history. He achieved a milestone in his PLU coaching career on Nov. 12, 2005, when the Lutes defeated Pacific, giving Johnson his 300th career victory at PLU.

Coach Johnson's tenure has been one of consistency. Prior to Pacific Lutheran becoming an NCAA Division III member, PLU women's teams placed in the top five at NAIA nationals 11 of15 seasons and never finished lower than eighth. The Lute women were also Northwest Conference champions from 1983-92, and again in 1996. The Lutes were also undefeated in conference dual meets from 1983-92.

Coach Johnson took over an embattled men's program midway through the 1979 season and turned things around almost immediately, winning the conference championship in 1981. The men have worn the conference crown seven times and, while the school was an NAIA member, placed in the top 20 at nationals every year under Johnson's tutelage.

Coach Johnson was named the 1985 NAIA Women's Coach of the Year by both the NAIA Coaches Association and the College Swim Coaches Association. He is past president of the NAIA Swim Coaches Association and former board member of the College Swim Coaches Association. In addition, he earned NAIA District I Coach of the Year honors four times.

Coach Johnson is certified as a Level V coach by the American Swim Coaches Association. He has coached 60 NAIA All-Americans and 35 Academic All-Americans while at PLU. He was the Northwest Conference's Men's Coach of the Year in 1992 and the Northwest Conference's Women's Coach of the Year in 1994, 1994 and 1996.

Johnson is a graduate of Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana.

Contact Info:
Head Coach: Jim Johnson
PLU Pool
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
Phone: 253-535-7370
Email: johnsojf@plu.edu