Dean Johnson

Coaching, Class of 2010

Dean Johnson established himself as a hardworking, determined wrestler at Warren Area High School from 1973 to 1976 under coach Lee Chew. As a senior co-captain, he compiled a 15-6-1 record, won the 185-pound championship at the prestigious Warren Holiday Tournament, and placed third at the Section IV Championships. He also played defensive end for the 1975 Warren Dragons football team, which finished with a 7-2-1 record. Johnson continued his wrestling career at Alfred State College, where he recorded 44 wins against 11 losses from 1977 to 1979.

He earned Junior College All-American honors with a fourth-place finish at 190 pounds in the 1979 NJCAA Championships. As team captain, he was named the squad’s Most Outstanding Wrestler and received Alfred State’s Outstanding Male Athlete award. He also became the college’s first combined Academic and Athletic All-American. Johnson then earned a wrestling scholarship to Virginia Tech, where he recorded 24 wins at 190 pounds, finished as a two-time runner-up in the Virginia College State Championships, and competed undefeated in the inaugural Virginia Duals tournament.

After completing his college career, Johnson returned to Warren to work on the family dairy farm. Alongside his brother Dennis and other family members, he established Johnson’s Wrestling Camps, spending 11 years teaching wrestling fundamentals and mentoring young athletes. His coaching career began in 1981 at Beaty Junior High and continued at Sheffield Area High School, where he coached junior high wrestling with his brother. After taking time away from coaching to operate the family farm and raise his sons, Johnson returned to the wrestling room, motivated by his desire to teach and positively influence young people. He later became a substitute teacher in the Warren County School District and continued his commitment to students as a math tutor and head wrestling coach at Beaty Warren Middle School, while also assisting with ninth-grade football.

Throughout his coaching career, he has helped develop successful wrestlers, including state place-winners Terry Schrader, Joe Farr, and Mike Rogers. Johnson’s greatest contribution, however, extends beyond athletic accomplishments. Through his work ethic, optimism, sportsmanship, and respect for others, he has served as a mentor and role model to countless young people, helping many become successful adults, coaches, teachers, and community leaders. Known as an “Eternal Optimist,” Johnson has made a lasting impact on Warren County athletics and the lives of the young people he has coached.