SAN DIEGO - Point Loma Nazarene University alumnus Jay Johnson was hired as the head baseball coach at the University of Arizona on Monday, June 8.
 
Johnson, who graduated from PLNU in 2001 with a degree in Physical Education, started his coaching career in the Green & Gold as an assistant coach for three seasons (2002-04) before taking over the head coaching job in 2005. He led PLNU to a 37-16 record and the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season title in his only season at the helm.
 
Johnson then moved to the University of San Diego as the associate head coach and hitting instructor from 2006-13. During his stint at USD, Johnson made a name for himself as one of the top recruiters in NCAA Division II. He helped sign the No. 1 recruiting class in 2008, according to Baseball America, and the No. 2 class in 2013. This included Dick Howser Award Winner Kris Bryant, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2013 draft.
 
He was then hired as the head coach at the University of Nevada. In two seasons with the Wolf Pack he led them to a 72-45 record, including a 41-15 mark and the Mountain West Championship in 2015. The 41 wins were the most second-most in school history. Johnson was named the 2015 MWC Coach of the Year and the Wolf Pack also had the conference's player and pitchers of the year. Under Johnson, Nevada averaged 8.0 runs per game and hit .317 as a team, to rank in the top 5 in the nation.  
 
Johnson becomes the 16th head coach at Arizona, but only the seventh since 1922. He replaces Andy Lopez, who retired last month after a 14-year run with the Wildcats that produced a national championship in 2012.
 
Arizona is the nation's ninth-winningest college baseball program, having won 2,708 games all-time and four national championships. The Wildcats have made 37 postseason appearances, including 16 trips to the College World Series.