Head Coach: Andy Johnson

Over the past 10 years, head coach Andy Johnson has nurtured the University of Hawai'i's coed sailing program. Last year, he help lead the first UH women's sailing team to the Intercollegiate Yacht Racing Association Women's National Championships. Under his guidance, the team has appeared in 15 national championships, produced five All-American Team members and five All-American Crews.

"I feel good about where the team has come since I've taken over as head coach," Johnson said. "When I started coaching there was a team of five sailors, and now we have more than 20 sailors on the roster, a fully-funded women's program and our own sailing center."

Johnson returned to his alma mater in 1989 to head the coed sailing team, replacing former coach Charley Dole. Johnson had previously served as Dole's volunteer assistant periodically in the mid-1980's and worked as an outdoor recreation specialist at the University's leisure program. When Dole decided to resign, former coach Ted Livingston suggested to Johnson that he apply for the post.

"The coaching position was tentative for the first year and I didn't know if I could take the job and still work on campus," Johnson said. "In the fall of 1990 I took the job on full stride."

Born Nov. 8, 1960, in St. Paul, Minn., Johnson grew up sailing on Minnesota's White Bear Lake. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he lettered in ice hockey before transferring to UH-Manoa in 1980 in search of warmer weather. He was a member of the UH sailing team from 1980-83. Johnson received his bachelor's degree in education in 1983 and five years later received a professional diploma in elementary education.

In addition to coaching, he is the assistant director of the UH campus leisure programs as part of the University's Co-Curricular Activities, Programs and Services.

Before Johnson began working at the University, he was head captain of Ocean Passage Charters. In 1987, he worked as the Hilton Hawaiian Village's dinner cruise captain.

For three years, 1984-87, Johnson spent his summers at the Waikiki Yacht Club where he was the head sailing instructor. During the winters, he was a park ranger at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial located in Pearl Harbor on Oahu.

Johnson's individual sailing accomplishments in Hawai'i include being a crewmember on the two-time state Keelboat Championships in 1992 and 1993, two-time state J-24 Champion in 1989 and 1996 and a member of the Kenwood Cup overall championship team in 1990. Most recently, Johnson crewed for the Karua in the Pacific Cup that sailed from San Francisco to Kaneohe Bay in ninth place of 72 boats. The Karua won in its division and finished ninth overall in the 72 boat fleet.

Johnson was also selected in 1991 to coach the first U.S. college team that traveled to Tokyo for the U.S./Japan Goodwill Regatta.

Johnson also coached former UH sailor John Myrdal in the summer of 1996 for the U.S. Olympic trials.

Johnson plays ice hockey in the Hawai'i Hockey League and sails extensively in the Hawai'i Yacht Racing Association. He lives near Diamond Head and enjoys windsurfing, surfing, hiking and other outdoor activities.