Arizona Wildcats Baseball Introduces New Head Coach

Arizona Wildcats Baseball introduces new head coach Jay Johnson on Monday.

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The University of Arizona and Director of Athletics Greg Byrne officially announced the new head coach of Wildcats Baseball today at Hi-Corbet Field. Jay Johnson is the man who will take Wildcats Baseball into its next chapter.

Johnson comes to Wildcats Baseball after two seasons as the head coach at The University Of Nevada. In those two season he led the Wolf Pack to a record of 72-42. His squad had a record of 41-15 in the 2015 season. The 41 wins for the season were 2nd in the programs history. Johnson was also named Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year.

Before Nevada, Johnson has had experience coaching at the University of San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene. Most notable of the players he coached was Kris Bryant the 2013 MLB Draft pick of the Chicago Cubs.

“I am beyond humbled and grateful to be a part of Arizona Baseball,” said Johnson on Monday. He also stated “I am so excited to get to work and build on the great tradition of this program and play a brand of baseball that our fans will be very proud of and excited to watch.”

Johnson replaces 14-year coach Andy Lopez and becomes the programs 16th head coach.

As a fan you cant help but be excited about a coach who is also excited to join our program! Lopez wasn’t the only person happy about Greg Byrnes decision, here are a few other familiar faces from past and present at the University of Arizona:

Here is his message to the Arizona Wildcats fans and public:

Here is a list of Coach Johnson’s accomplishments care of ArizonaWildcats.com

Jay Johnson Coaching History
• Nevada Head Coach (2014-15); 72-42 record
• San Diego Associate Head Coach (2006-13)
• Point Loma Nazarene Head Coach (2005); 37-16 record
• Point Loma Nazarene Assistant Coach (2002-04)

Arizona Wildcats

Coaching Highlights
• Led Nevada to 72-42 record last two seasons
• 2015 Mountain West Coach of the Year
• Led Nevada to 41 wins in 2015 (second-most in program history).
• Won school’s first-ever Mountain West Conference championship in 2015.
• Wolf Pack players won the league’s Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year & Freshman of Year accolades in 2015.
• Two players garnered All-America honors and a third was named a freshman All-American in 2015.
• Nevada finished 2015 top-five nationally in batting and scoring.
• Wolf Pack drew first-ever home sellout in 2015.
• Helped USD make six postseason trips from 2006-13.
• Coached 2013 Dick Howser Award Winner Kris Bryant, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2013 draft and a current rising star for the Chicago Cubs.
• Helped sign No. 1 recruiting class in 2008 and No. 2 class in 2010 at San Diego (Baseball America).
• Led PLNU to a 37-16 record as head coach in 2005. Previously worked as an assistant and led program to NAIA World Series in 2004.

So from all of us here at Zona Zealots, let us welcome Head Coach Jay Johnson. We can not wait to see what the next year and chapter has in store for our baseball program. We cant wait to get back to Omaha and show the nation what it is to

BEARDOWN COACH JOHNSON!!

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