Fred Johnson

Class of 2012

Augustan College | Waubonsie Valley

A 1962 graduate of West Chicago Community High School, Fred Johnson was a two year starter for the Wildcats Wrestling program under Coach Dave Dean. A Little Seven Conference Champion in 1962, Fred compiled a 19-1 record but had his appendix removed the week of the regional tournament that ended his season. He also played football and was the football MVP his senior year.

Fred attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois where he was a four year starter in football and wrestling with an overall wrestling record of 70-14-2. He was a College All-American in 1964, 1966 and 1967 and was the NCAA College National Champion @ 191 lbs in 1966. Upon graduating he served as an assistant coach for the 1967-68 season at Augustana. Following graduate school he served four years as the head wrestling coach at Princeton High School. He became an assistant at Oswego High School in 1974 and opened a new program at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora Illinois in 1975. His teams have won six Regional Championships and three Conference Championships. His overall career coaching record is 271-99. He had 25 state qualifiers, 11 place winners and 3 State champions.

He is a member of the Augustana College Hall of Fame for football and wrestling and is also a member of the Waubonsie Valley Coaches Hall of Fame.

He retired from teaching in 2005 and lives today in the Knoxville, Tennessee area with his wife of 36 years, JoAnn.