FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (September 20, 2023) – Andy Johns, the architect behind Northern Arizona Swimming and Diving's decade of dominance, has received a contract extension, which was announced by NAU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Marlow on Wednesday.
"Coach Johns, his coaching staff and student-athletes have consistently demonstrated an unyielding commitment to excellence in athletics and academics," Marlow said. "Andy Johns, NAU and Flagstaff are meant to remain together, and this new contract represents our commitment and appreciation for what his program has done and will continue to do. I am thankful for the support of President Cruz Rivera in retaining such an outstanding coach."
Johns, who will begin his 28th season as the head coach of the swimming and diving program in 2023, is an eight-time WAC Conference Coach of the Year and has led the Lumberjacks to ten consecutive WAC championships, the most ever by a team in the conference dating back to 1991.
"This program is everything to me, both professionally with the long-term success and the continuity within our staff, I am really proud of that," Johns said. "I cannot say enough about our student-athletes over the years who worked so hard and represented us really well. I am thankful to the administration for its faith and trust in me. I am looking forward to continuing to improve our product. I feel like I am really set up for success here and couldn't be happier."
The most recent season for the swimming and diving program was one of historic proportions both in the pool and in the classroom.
NAU was the only team during the 2022-23 campaign with an 'A' finalist in every event and, as a unit, scored the second most points by a team in WAC history en route to another conference championship for the Lumberjacks.
From an individual standpoint, three school records were set during the 2022-23 season. As Casey Craffey broke the NAU record in the 500 free with a 4:46.38, Haley Mayhew would follow that, breaking a pair of records with a time of 2:00.04 in the 200 IM and 2:12.95 in the 200 breaststroke.
Northern Arizona had 13 different swims last year that placed in the all-time top five in program history.
Academically, the Lumberjacks finished with a 3.66 team GPA, with 25 of Johns' student-athletes finishing with a GPA over 3.5 and 13 of them fielding a perfect 4.0 this past semester. One of those athletes, Emily Luberto, was one of two recipients of the Golden Axe Honor awarded to the top student-athletes in NAU Athletics.
Johns and the rest of the swimming and diving program will kick off the 2023 season on Sept. 22, when they host their annual pentathlon at the Wall Aquatic Center beginning at 2 p.m.
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