ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Joel Johnson has resigned as the head coach of three different programs at Bethel in order to take on the head assistant coaching job with the University of Minnesota women's hockey team. Johnson previously served as an assistant with the U of M women's team from 2000-2004, working with former Bethel teammate and current U of M head coach, Brad Frost.

Johnson served as the head men's hockey coach at Bethel from 2007-10, compiling an overall record of 38-34-3 in three seasons. He also led the Royals to a 27-20-1 record in MIAC play, leading them to the conference playoffs after the 2007-08 season. He coached seven All-MIAC players, while two from his squads earned USCHO.com All-Rookie West Region honorable mentions.

In addition to his duties as head men's hockey coach, Johnson was also the head coach for the men's and women's golf programs. Under Johnson, the Royals men's team finished as high as 4th place in the MIAC tournament and also posted victories in a number of tournaments. Johnson coached two All-MIAC golfers in Bjorn Hanson (2008), and Mason Swenson (2009). On the women's side, Bethel has already shown steady improvement in just the first two years of the program.

Before taking on the golf and hockey coaching positions, Johnson served as the head assistant of the men's hockey program while also heading the men's and women's soccer programs from 2004-2006. Johnson had a prolific career as a three-sport athlete at Bethel in the 1990s. He was a captain in soccer, hockey, and baseball, earning All-MIAC honors in soccer (1993, 94), and baseball (1996).

Johnson will begin his new duties at the U of M immediately.