Admirals coach promoted to Tampa Bay

NORFOLK, Va (WAVY) - In a strange twist of events, Norfolk Admirals head coach Jim Johnson has been named new assistant coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Johnson replaced Darren Rumble earlier this season, and in 17 games as head coach of the Admirals, Johnson led the team to a 13-2-2 record. The Admirals take the ice tonight on the road against Binghamton without a head coach. Assistants Leigh Mendelson and Ben Eaves will lead the Admirals as they try to stay in the playoff race. According to sources, former assistant Wes Walls has been offered the head coaching position for the Admirals, but has not yet accepted the job. Below is the official press release from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

LIGHTNING NAME JIM JOHNSON ASSISTANT COACH
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have named Jim Johnson to the position of Assistant
Coach today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced. Johnson
joins the Lightning from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League where he had
served as head coach.
“Jim has done whatever the Lightning organization has asked of him and excelled in those roles,
even as his responsibilities have increased, whether it be in player development, as an associate
in Norfolk or in the head position for the Admirals,” Lawton said. “And now we are excited about
adding him to an already strong coaching staff as an assistant coach for the Lightning.”
A native of New Hope, Minnesota, Johnson was named Head Coach of the Admirals on January
16, 2010, after beginning the season as the team’s associate coach. Once taking the reins of the
Admirals, Johnson gave the team a newfound fire and direction, leading them to a 13-2-2 record
during his 17 games behind the bench. The Admirals improved from 17-23-2 and seventh in the
AHL’s East Division to 30-25-4 and third place in the East Division, firmly entrenched in the
playoff race, with Johnson serving as Head Coach.
As Associate Coach, Johnson was responsible for working with the organization’s defensive
corps and for the team’s penalty killing. This season the Admirals’ penalty killing unit is ranked
first in the league on the road (88.7 percent) and third overall (87.1 percent).
In 2008-09, Johnson served as the Lightning’s Player Development Coach, working with the
organization’s most highly-touted prospects and draft picks, and he was instrumental in the
planning of the team’s conditioning, rookie and young guns camps.
Johnson had a lengthy NHL career as a defenseman, playing 829 games with 29 goals and 166
assists with stops in Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Dallas, Washington and Phoenix. He also
represented the United States in international competition on seven occasions including the 1991
Canada Cup.
Following his retirement, Johnson spent four years with the Phoenix Coyotes as a consultant to
the general manager, broadcast analyst and an assistant coach. He has also served as a U.S.
National Junior Team Assistant Coach at the IIHF World Junior Championships on three
occasions. Johnson has been involved with USA Hockey development programs at the state,
regional and national levels as a coach, evaluator and presenter. He was named 2006 USA
Hockey Volunteer Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the United States Olympic Committee
Coach of the Year.