Wisconsin's Mark Johnson has been chosen as the CCM/American Hockey Coaches Association 2024-25 Women’s Division I Coach of the Year. This marks Johnson's fifth time earning the award and the first time since 2011. Of the 28 past winners, 12 have now come from the WCHA. 

Johnson won the honor after leading the Badgers to a 36-1-2 overall record and the top seed in this year’s NCAA National Collegiate Frozen Four. The Badgers are two wins away from their NCAA-best eighth national title, all earned under Johnson’s helm. 

Johnson, the winningest coach in Division I women's hockey, was voted the 2024-25 WCHA Coach of the Year by the league's head and assistant coaches after his success in the regular season. Johnson guided the Badgers to their 10th WCHA Regular Season title after recording a 25-1-2 record in league play. Wisconsin won its 11th WCHA Final Faceoff title after a 4-3 defeat of Minnesota in the title game. Most recently, the Badgers defeated Clarkson 4-1 in the NCAA Regional Final to advance to their 16th Frozen Four in program history, which is tied for the most appearances in NCAA history with Minnesota.

This year’s roster for Wisconsin holds all three Patty Kazmaier Award finalists in Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, and Casey O’Brien. The Badgers also have this year’s Women's Hockey National Goalie of the Year honoree in sophomore goaltender Ava McNaughton.

Johnson was assisted this season by Dan Koch, Jackie Crum, and Mark Greenhalgh. The runner-up for this year’s CCM/AHCA Division I Women’s Coach of the Year Award was Cornell University’s Doug Derraugh, a three-time recipient of the award.

The CCM/AHCA Coach of the Year Awards are sponsored by CCM Hockey and chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association. CCM is the legendary hockey brand dedicated to the endless pursuit of performance by delivering game-changing, head-to-toe innovative hockey equipment to players worldwide.

WCHA Winners of the Women’s Ice Hockey Division I Coach of the Year Award
1998    Laura Halldorson, Minnesota
2002    Laura Halldorson, Minnesota
2003    Shannon Miller, Minnesota Duluth
2004    Laura Halldorson, Minnesota
2006    Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2007    Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2009    Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2011    Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2013    Brad Frost, Minnesota
2014    Brad Frost, Minnesota
2017    Maura Crowell, Minnesota Duluth
2025    Mark Johnson, Wisconsin

For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league at WCHA.com and on its social platforms:  X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.