Robert Johnson

Bob Johnson began teaching Agriculture/FFA at Milton High School in 1980. He served as an assistant wrestling coach from 1983 – 1989, then advanced to the head coaching position of Milton’s varsity squad. Johnson proceeded to take the tiny town of Milton and their wrestlers to heights beyond imagination.

During his tenure, Johnson compiled a 199-35 dual meet record. During his thirteen-year head coaching position, Johnson led his team to 11 consecutive Southern Lakes Conference Championships, 10 Regional Championships, 7 Sectional Championships and 7 State WIAA team appearances.

Johnson’s Milton Redmen brought home the Division I State Runner-Up team trophy in 1995. He surpassed that performance in 2002 when the now Milton Red Hawks toppled the perennial powerhouse, Wisconsin Rapids 25-21 in the WIAA State Team Finals. Wisconsin Rapids had a student enrollment more than twice the size of Milton and was riding a seven-year team dual meet championship run at the time.

Johnson coached 58 young men to conference championships and took 57 Milton wrestlers to the individual state tournament. 38 of those 57 wrestlers were place winners including 6 state runner-up titles and 2 state champions. Johnson was named District 6 Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2002. In 2002 Bob was named the Wisconsin Wrestling Coach of the Year and selected as the Wisconsin/Minnesota All Star Duals Head Coach, bringing home the championship in the heated state dual rivalry match.

Johnson’s knowledge of the sport was unparalleled, but what truly separated him from his peers, was his ability to motivate, strategize and engage with the youth he coached. He won match after match with his mind, rather than muscle. However, his greatest attribute was his love for his wrestlers and his ability to get the most out of each and every one of them. His efforts inspired generations of wrestlers and will forever be a building block for one of the greatest wrestling programs in the State of Wisconsin.

Johnson also credits the programs accomplishments to his outstanding assistant coaches and volunteers including Bruce Kenyon, Ryan Spies, Chad Moe, Mike Lipinski, Terry O’Brien, Chad Marti, Joe Terrill, Pat Jauch, Matt Werner as well as former UW-Wisconsin wrestling coach, Barry Davis. Without the support of the Milton Wrestling Boosters and parent involvement, Johnson’s achievements would not have been possible.

Thank you for a great ride and a lifetime full of amazing memories!

Coaching Career Accomplishments

Assistant Coach – Milton High School, 1983-1989

Head Wrestling Coach, Milton High School, 1990-2004

4X WWCA District 6 Coach of the Year

WWCA Coach of the Year

11 Consecutive Southern Lakes Conference Champions

58 Individual Southern Lakes Conference Champions

57 WIAA State Qualifiers

38 WIAA State Place Winners

6 WIAA State Runner-Up Winners

2 WIAA State Champions

10 WIAA Regional Team Championships

7 WIAA Sectional Team Championships

7 WIAA State Team Appearances – Division I

1995 WIAA State Team Runner-Up – Division I

2002 WIAA State Team Champions – Division I

WIAA/Rural Insurance State Team Sportsmanship Award Winner

2001, 2002 & 2003 Nationally Ranked Teams

UW-Wisconsin Wrestling Gold Medal Club President, 1993-1998

Milton Athletic Hall of Fame Class 2010

UW-Wisconsin Wrestling Honorary Dual Meet Coach, 2015

Career Dual Record, 199-35