HR0270 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0270 LRB096 12277 GRL 25095 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Mark Johnson on the occasion of his retirement as wrestling coach at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana; and

WHEREAS, Mark Johnson is an alumnus of Alleman High School, where he grappled to a high school national championship during his senior year; he went on to the University of Michigan, where he became a two-time All-American and two-time NCAA runner-up at 177 pounds; as captain of the Wolverines, he finished his college career with a 103-18-3 record; he earned his bachelor's degree in education in 1977 and was a dean's list student; and

WHEREAS, Mark Johnson competed on the 1980 Olympic team and on 15 U.S.A. Wrestling teams that competed throughout the world, winning two U.S.A. Wrestling national championships; and

WHEREAS, Mark Johnson began his coaching career at the University of Iowa, where he worked as a graduate assistant coach from 1978 to 1980; he then worked as a physical fitness director and wrestling coach at the Boys Club in Sarasota, Florida for two years; he then served as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa under Dan Gable for eight years; while at Iowa, he helped groom four NCAA championship teams, 17 national champions, 55 All-Americans, and eight Big Ten championship squads; in 1986, he garnered NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year accolades; and

WHEREAS, Following his stint at the University of Iowa, Mark Johnson headed to Oregon State University, where he served as the head coach from 1990 to 1992; as head coach, he led the Beavers to the Pac-10 Championship in 1992, earning conference Coach of the Year honors; in 1992, he headed to the University of Illinois, where he remained until his retirement; and

WHEREAS, During Mark Johnson's tenure at the University of Illinois, the UI wrestling team has had 17 straight winning seasons and an overall record of 203-44-3; he has coached 45 All-Americans and seven individual national champions; in 2005, the team won the Big Ten championship for the first time since 1952; in addition, Johnson was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association's "Coach of the Year" in 1995 and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2005; and

WHEREAS, Mark Johnson served as assistant coach for the 1988 Olympic freestyle team and head coach at the 1986 and 1991 Olympic Sports Festivals; he also is a USA Wrestling National Coaching Staff member and a member of the Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Mark Johnson and his wife, Linda, have two daughters, Tricia and Mackey; and

WHEREAS, Following his retirement, Mark Johnson will serve as chief executive officer of the Champaign County YMCA, where his extraordinary talents will undoubtedly be utilized to their fullest potential; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Mark Johnson on the occasion of his retirement and wish him continued success and happiness in his future career; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mark Johnson as a symbol of our esteem and respect.