Main | Meet Dr. Johnson  | Meet Coach Soehnlen | Individual Times
Season Outlook | Yearly Rosters | Meet the Bulldogs | Photo Galleries
NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Cross Country | Yearly Schedules

Men's and Women's Head Cross Country Coach
Dr. Dennis Johnson
E-mail Dr. Johnson: djohnson@wingate.edu
Call Dr. Johnson: 704-233-8182

Dr. Dennis A. Johnson is the men’s and women’s cross country coach at Wingate University. The 2006 campaign is his seventh season with the Bulldog cross country program. A native of Warren, Pennsylvania, Dr. Johnson also serves as Assistant Dean of Education and Associate Professor in the Sport Sciences Department. His academic focus centers on the psycho-social aspects of teaching and coaching. His “athlete first-winning second philosophy” mirrors that of the American Sport Education Program.

Johnson has helped build the cross country program into a regional and national contender. Each year, the teams are ranked in the top 10 of the NCAA Division II Southeast Region. In 2005, the women placed third and the men charted fourth in the regional race (hosted by Wingate). 

In 2004, the Wingate women placed second in the region meet, earning a first-ever trip to the nationals. The Bulldogs finished 24th in the national meet. Johnson was named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year for women’s cross country. The Wingate men placed third in the 2004 region meet, barely missing a trip to nationals.

Prior to joining the Wingate family, Dr. Johnson spent two decades as a wrestling coach, track coach and as a Health and Physical Education Instructor in the Pennsylvania public schools. A Division I college wrestler at Marshall University, Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science (1976) and a Master of Science (1977) in Health and Physical Education. More recently, he studied at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, earning a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D) in Exercise and Sport Science.

Dr. Johnson is co-author of The Coaches’ Guide to Nutrition and Weight Control (first edition) and author of The Wrestling Drill Book. He has produced a number of academic publications in nationally recognized professional journals. He is a contributor and peer reviewer for the North Carolina Journal.

In addition to his coaching and teaching duties, Dr. Johnson has served as President of the North Carolina Physical Education Association in the past. He serves as advisor for the Sport Sciences Student Majors Club, Bulldog Running Club and Phi Epsilon Kappa (Sport Sciences Professional Fraternity).