Bob Johnson (ice hockey, born 1931)
Robert Norman "Badger Bob" Johnson (March 4, 1931 – November 26, 1991) was an American college, international, and professional ice hockey coach. He coached the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team from 1966 to 1982, where he led the Badgers to seven appearances at the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championships, including three titles. During his time as the head coach at Wisconsin, Johnson also coached the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 1976 Winter Olympics and seven other major championships, including the Canada Cup and IIHF World Championships. He then coached the Calgary Flames for five seasons that included a Stanley Cup Finals loss in 1986. Johnson achieved the peak of his professional coaching career in his only season as coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990–91, when the Penguins won the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals, becoming the second American-born coach to win it and the first in 53 years. In August 1991, following hospitalization due to a brain aneurysm, Johnson was diagnosed with brain cancer. He died on November 26 of the same year.
| Bob Johnson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1992 (Builder) | |||
|
Johnson in 1990 | |||
| Born |
March 4, 1931 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | ||
| Died |
November 26, 1991 (aged 60) Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. | ||
| Coaching career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| 1950–1951 | North Dakota | ||
| 1951–1952 | Minneapolis Millers | ||
| 1952–1954 | Minnesota | ||
| 1957–1958 | Minnesota Culbertsons | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |||
| 1956–1957 | Warroad High | ||
| 1957–1963 | Roosevelt High | ||
| 1963–1966 | Colorado College | ||
| 1966–1975 | Wisconsin | ||
| 1973 | US National Team | ||
| 1974 | US National Team | ||
| 1975 | US National Team | ||
| 1975–1976 | US Olympic Team | ||
| 1976–1982 | Wisconsin | ||
| 1981 | Team USA | ||
| 1982–1987 | Calgary Flames | ||
| 1984 | Team USA | ||
| 1987 | Team USA | ||
| 1990–1991 | Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| Head coaching record | |||
| Overall | 394–224–27 (.632) | ||
| Tournaments | 9–5 (.643) | ||
| Accomplishments and honors | |||
| Championships | |||
| 1970 WCHA tournament champion 1972 WCHA tournament champion 1973 WCHA tournament champion 1973 NCAA National Champion 1977 WCHA regular season champion 1977 WCHA tournament champion 1977 NCAA national champion 1978 WCHA tournament champion 1981 NCAA national champion 1982 WCHA tournament champion 1991 Stanley Cup | |||
| Awards | |||
| 1977 WCHA Coach of the Year 1987 Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame 1991 United States Hockey Hall of Fame 2000 Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey Award | |||
Johnson was well known amongst players and fans for his enthusiasm and unflappable optimism, immortalized through his famous catchphrase "It's a great day for hockey!"