Joe Johnston begins his seventh season as an assistant coach, and his 11th season on staff altogether. While on staff at Missouri, Johnston has helped to produce 32 All-Americans and six National Champions. He has coached the Tiger wrestlers to seven consecutive conference titles in 2012 (Big 12), 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (MAC).
Johnston joined the Mizzou staff at the start of the 2008-09 campaign after serving two years as an assistant coach at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. While at Cornell College, Johnston coached the team to a seventh place finish at the 2008 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He produced six All-Americans in his two years as a coach for the Rams.
Johnston brings both collegiate coaching and wrestling experience to Mizzou. He was a two-time All-American for the University of Iowa at 157 pounds, placing 2nd as a junior in 2005, and 6th as a senior in 2006. He tallied a 113-45 career record as a Hawkeye, managing at least 26 victories in each season of competition.
A two-time team captain and Most Valuable Wrestler, the Hawkeye was a top-notch student in the classroom, earning J. Donald McPike senior award for highest grade-point average. Johnston graduated from Iowa in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in art education, and went on to earn his master's degree in educational psychology from the University of Missouri in 2013.
Johnston competed internationally in freestyle wrestling from 2006-12 placing multiple times in the U.S. nationals and qualifying for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials.
A native of Kansas City, Mo., Johnston is married to the former Melisa Katterhenry. They have two daughters, Ruby and Ruth, and a son, Joshua.
