“Louie Johnson comes to us as our second assistant coach with everything we set out to find and more,” explained head coach Meg Stephenson. “As an alum with successful NCAA competitive experience and the spotting and coaching skills developed through almost a decade of training women in the USA Gymnastics arena, Louie brings a positive attitude and exhilarating enthusiasm to our program.”

“I am so excited about coming back to the University of Minnesota, everything is coming full circle,” said Johnson. “This is a dream come true, I cherished my time as a member of the Gopher gymnastics team, and I’m thrilled about joining the great program that Meg and Jim Stephenson have built.”

At Olympic Gymnastics, Johnson worked with Level 9 and Level 10 competitive-level teams and was involved in all aspects of their training, from creating customized routines to teaching skills to strength training to spotting. In 2009, Johnson earned the USAG Spotter of the Year Award. During his coaching tenure, Johnson coached current Gopher all arounder Kendra Elm to Senior B Level 9 national titles in the all around, bars and vault in 2005. Elm moved up to Level 10 in 2006 and was the Minnesota state champion on bars and qualified for the 2006 Junior Olympic National Championship. Elm was one of two Level 10 national championship qualifiers that Johnson trained in 2007. In addition to coaching success with Kendra Elm, Johnson also coached the 2006 Senior B Level 9 national champion on balance beam.

From 1995 to 2001, Johnson coached the Eagan High School gymnastics team. The Eagan Wildcats won the Minnesota state title in 1998 when Johnson was an assistant coach with the program. While coaching at Eagan, he was involved in many facets of the program, including strength training, spotting, serving as liaison with the parents and boosters, scheduling and supervising staff.

As a gymnast, Johnson competed as a Golden Gopher from 1990-1994. In 1992, he was a member of the Big Ten Championship team. In 1993, he competed in three events at the NCAA Championship team finals and helped the Gophers to a fifth-place national finish.

Johnson graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1995 with a bachelor’s of science degree in parks and recreation. He is a native of Knoxville, Tenn., but has remained in Minnesota since coming to Minneapolis for his college career. Louie and his wife Jennifer reside in New Hope.