Former Missouri Director of Wrestling Operations Joe Johnston begins his fourth season on staff and third as the Tiger's volunteer assistant coach. Johnston joined the Mizzou staff at the start of the 2008-09 campaign after serving two years as an assistant coach at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.
While at Cornell College, Johnston coached the team to a seventh place finish at the 2008 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Three members of the Rams' squad earned All-America honors helping their team to a top-10 showing.
Johnston brings both collegiate coaching and wrestling experience to Mizzou. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Iowa wrestling in the 157 pound bracket. Johnston twice finished in the top six at the NCAA Championships, with his best finish, second, recorded in 2005 in St. Louis, Mo. He won 113 matches as a Hawkeye and tallied a 113-45 career record, managing at least 26 victories in each season of competition.
A two-time team captain, the Hawkeye was a top-notch student in the classroom, earning an award presented annually to the senior with the highest grade-point average. He graduated from Iowa in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in art.
A native of Kansas City, Mo., Johnston is married to the former Melisa Katterhenry.
In addition to his responsibilities as Missouri's Volunteer Assistant Coach, Johnston is still training and competing for a spot on Team U.S.A.'s world and Olympic squads.
