Aug. 3, 2010
CHICAGO - "CJ" Johnson, the head coach of the UIC men's gymnastics team since 1974, announced his retirement effective August 31, 2010.
"We thank "CJ" for his four decades of dedication and service to UIC and the sport of men's gymnastics," said UIC director of athletics Jim Schmidt. "His contributions and accomplishments on regional, national and international levels are extensive, and he created a legacy of excellence for our program. We wish "CJ," his wife Jean and his entire family all the best as he enters a new chapter in his life."
"I have been fortunate to receive numerous accolades throughout my career, but seeing UIC men's gymnastics become a true Division I program that is recognized by Junior Olympic coaches and young athletes across the country is at the top of the list," said Johnson. "As I head into retirement, I am grateful for the parents of all the athletes I coached for trusting me with their sons, and of course I am grateful for those young student-athletes who came to UIC and represented this program and this university.
"Men's gymnastics was the first Division I program at UIC, and in 1980, our first year as a Division I program, we finished 10th in the country," said Johnson. "It is fitting that UIC men's gymnastics finished 10th in the country in 2010, my final year.
"Of the 18 Division I All-Americans here at UIC, men's gymnastics accounted for seven," Johnson said. "That is a source of great pride and shows that this program is a tremendous representative of UIC on a national level. I am so proud to have been a part of such excellent tradition that UIC men's gymnastics established."
Johnson began his coaching career at UIC in 1974-75 and eventually led the program to back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships in 1978 and 1979.
UIC moved to Division I status under Johnson's watch in 1980, and the team posted immediate success by garnering a No. 10 national ranking. The Flames advanced to NCAA postseason competition on 10 occasions since that season, including back-to-back berths in 2009 and 2010.
The Flames won three National Independent titles and three Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championships, including ECAC crowns in each of the last two seasons. This past season the Flames finished the year 11th nationally.
Johnson coached his athletes to a total of 66 All-America honors, including seven Division I All-Americans.
He has garnered a bevy of Coach of the Year honors, including NCAA Division II Coach of the Years in 1978 and 1979; NCAA Division I Mideast Region Coach of the Year in 1980, 1988, 1994 and 1995; and NCAA Division I East Region Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2010.
Johnson also earned the NCAA Honor Coach Award in 2000 for his 25-plus years of contributions, the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from the United States Gymnastics Federation in 1990, two ECAC Coach of the Year awards (2004, 2010), and induction into the UIC Athletics Hall of Fame and the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association Hall of Fame, among others.
In addition to his contributions to collegiate gymnastics, Johnson has coached on a variety of international levels. He coached United States teams at competitions in Mexico City and Budapest and became a clinician, lecturer and eventually the head coach for the Irish National Team. He also coached national team athletes for Costa Rica, Barbados and the Philippines.
Johnson is a 1972 graduate of UIC, where he was a two-year captain for coach Bill Roetzheim.
