“We are so excited to welcome Wes Johnson and his family to Athens and the University of Georgia,” Brooks said. “Wes has a proven track record of developing student-athletes while helping teams achieve impressive results. We aim to compete for post-season success and championships, and Wes has done that throughout his coaching career at every level, from high school to college and up to the major leagues. We are confident that he It will make Georgia baseball one of the leading programs in the country.”
Born in Sherwood, Ark., Johnson became the first pitching coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to go straight from the college ranks to the major leagues when he was hired by the Minnesota Twins in November 2018. He has served as a collegiate coach since 2008 with stints in the conference Southeast in Mississippi and Arkansas before joining the Twins. Minnesota was leading the American League’s Central Division in June 2022 when it opted to return to the college game at LSU.
Johnson would remain with the Tigers (46-15) until the completion of their season. They are the No. 5 seed in the NCAA National Tournament, and will play Kentucky in a Super Regional starting Friday or Saturday in Baton Rouge with the winner of the three-game series advancing to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Top eight national seeds for the first time since 2017.
“I look forward to leading the University of Georgia baseball program and want to thank President Jerry Morehead and Athletic Director Josh Brooks for their support and this tremendous opportunity at one of the leading organizations in the SEC,” Johnson said. “Being the head coach at Georgia is a dream come true. I can’t wait to meet and begin working with our amazing student-athletes and develop our plan to compete for SEC and national championships. I also want to thank Scott Woodward and Jay Johnson at LSU as we pursue a national championship this season and for the support of me and my family And we are embarking on this amazing journey of leadership for the Bulldogs.”
The Twins won their division in Johnson’s first two years directing the pitching staff, and in 2020 the club ranked fourth in ERA, WHIP, and ninth in strikeouts per nine innings pitched. Right-hander Kenta Maeda posted a 2.70 earned run average (ERA) and a 6-1 mark to earn runner-up for the American Cy Young Award.
During his time as a college coach, 30 of Johnson’s pitchers were drafted by MLB teams, and he was at the forefront of using trackman technology. Current LSU Paul Skenes (11-2, 1.90 ERA, 179 Ks in 99.1 IP), who was named National Pitcher of the Year by multiple outlets, is expected to be the first-round MLB pick Johnson has developed. As coach at Arkansas, Johnson helped the 2018 Razorbacks reach the College World Series Finals where they finished 48-21. The MVP of the 2018 team was Blaine Knight who went 14-0 with a 2.80 ERA and was a third round selection by the Baltimore Orioles.
In his only season at Mississippi, Johnson was instrumental in a dramatic turnaround by the Bulldogs from worst to first. After winning just eight SEC games the previous year and having the highest ERA in the league, the 2016 club claimed the SEC regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional. MSU has won 44 games, its most since 1997. It has produced six pitchers selected in the MLB draft including Golden Spikes semifinalist Dakota Johnson who has 34y Overall to the St. Louis Cardinals.
In four seasons at Dallas Baptist University (DBU), Johnson helped the Patriots to three NCAA regional appearances, drafted 14 pitchers, and set his team’s field records in nearly every major statistic category including ERA, strikeouts, And save. In 2015, DBU had five pitchers selected in the first 12 rounds. Prior to Johnson’s arrival (1967-2011), DBU had only six pitchers in the first ten innings. The 2015 Patriots won a school-record 46 games, hosted their first NCAA regional and received the program’s highest final seed.
During his three seasons in the Southland Conference at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), Johnson’s staff set Division I school records in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, opponents batting average and fewer walks. In 2009 while at Southern Arkansas, the Muleriders went 52-11 and were ranked #1 in the Division II poll for 20 weeks. Hayden Simpson was one of his star pitchers who became a first round pick for the Chicago Cubs in the 2010 MLB Draft.
Before going to UCA, Johnson spent four seasons as the head coach for Abundant Life High School in his hometown of Sherwood. He led the Owls to a 102-25 record including one state title and two state tournament appearances.
Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Arkansas-Monticello in 1994. While at DBU, he spent 33 hours working toward his master’s degree in kinesiology. Johnson and his wife, Angie, have three children: Ryan, Anna, and Ava.
Wes Johnson’s Coaching Career
1997-2002: Assistant Coach, Sylvan Hills High School
2003: Assistant Coach, Arkansas Baptist High School
2004-2007: Head coach, Abundant Life High School (Sherwood, Ark.)
2008: Pitching Coach, Central Arkansas
2009: Pitching Coach, Southern Arkansas
2010-11: Pitching Coach, Central Arkansas
2012-2015: Monument coach, Dallas Baptist
2016: Pitching coach, Mississippi State
2017-18: Pitching coach, Arkansas
2019-22: MLB pitching coach, Minnesota Twins
2023: Pitching coach, LSU
Personal
Born: September 9, 1971
Birthplace: Sherwood, Ark.
Academic Qualifications: University of Arkansas-Monticello, BA in Marketing, 1994
Family: Wife, Angie. Children: Ryan, Anna, and Ava
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