The National Federation of High Schools has recognized Coach Bill Johnson, the head coach of the Norton Community High School wrestling team, as the NATIONAL High School Wrestling Coach of the Year. The NFHS is the national governing organization for state activity associations of which the KSHSAA is a member.

Coach Johnson is in his 26th year coaching high school wrestling and is in his 23rd year as Norton’s head wrestling coach. Going into the current season Coach Johnson had a dual record of 222 wins against 78 losses. His Blue Jay teams have won 15 conference championships, 11 regional championships and the Johnson-coached Blue Jays have finished in the top two of the State Tournament 9 times, with 6 of those placing’s being state championships. During his 23 years at Norton, Johnson-coached Blue Jay wrestlers have earned 113 state medals and 37 of those have been champions.

Coach Johnson has been recognized as the KWCA 321A wrestling coach of the year five times, the Kansas KWCA Coach of the year once and as Kansas’ National Wrestling Coach the Year.

Coach Johnson was a very successful wrestler. He was an All-American multiple times at Fort Hays State and was a NAIA National Champion. Coach Johnson has been inducted into both the Fort Hays State University Athletic Hall of Fame and the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Coach Johnson is very active in the Norton Schools where he teaches weight training and American Government at Norton Community High School and he has coached the Blue Jay Ladies Tennis teams and is a Junior High Football coach. He is active in civic organizations and activities and is a recognized leader in his Church. He and his wife Joy have five children, Sons Eric, Skylar and Ryan, daughter Kelly Wyatt and son-in-law Matt Wyatt.

When notified of this prestigious honor Coach Johnson had this to say: "I'm shocked. I am honored to receive this award and still do not believe it. In reality this award goes out to the entire Norton Wrestling Program. We, not just me, have been noticed and for that WE should be proud. One Coach does not build a program. This award goes out to: all current and former members of the Coaching staff, current and former Administrators, All of my wrestlers over the past 23 years, Family, Fans, Media, and finally the entire Norton Community. All of these things put together have created something special in Norton. I'm proud to be a part of it. And it is nice to know that the NFHS Athletics will still honor small schools."

The formal recognition and presentation of this award to Coach Johnson will take place at the 2014 KSHSAA 321A Wrestling Tournament in Hays, KS.

The Norton Community Schools are very fortunate to have professionals such as Coach Bill Johnson working with our students and athletes on a daily basis.

Congrats, coach! Well deserved!

Congrats coach Johnson! Hard work does indeed pay off!!

Congrats to Coach Johnson! A very cool and well-deserved honor. Now, since the team I coach has to compete against your teams on a regular basis, I hope you take this opportunity to retire! Just kidding, CONGRATS!

Awesome honor, well deserved, great man & great coach. He has produced many great wrestlers & teams over the years. He has contributed to the KS National Team effort for many years.

A great honor for KS, good job Coach Johnson!

Billy is a class act and an ambassador of Kansas wrestling. Nice job!

Well done and congratulation.

Awesome, great news, big props to Coach Bill Johnson.
What a great career as an athlete and especially as a coach. What a great leader, teacher, fellow man, husband, father and friend.
Something for all of Kansas and not just Norton to be proud of. Coach Johnson's contribution to Kansas wrestling goes way beyond Norton of course as he has spent many years with our National Teams and as our National Team Leader. What a great ambassador for our State and Wrestling.
Congratulations to Coach Johnson and the Norton Family!

Congratulations!! Great honor, and well deserved.

Congrats, well deserved!!

Congrats Coach Johnson. Great honor for you and the Norton Community.

Congrats Coach Johnson. Amazing honor

Congrats Coach Johnson. This a great honor and a very good thing for Kansas Wrestling.

Wow....awesome. Congrats!

Awesome, much respect for Coach Johnson and his program. Kuddos to his assistant coaches, administrators, fans and parents as well.

This is an outstanding honor to an outstanding coach. Congratulations, Coach Johnson!

Huge honor! Well done Coach!

A great coach, a great program, and one hell of a model American! Nice job Coach, and well deserved!
Brown

What goes hand in hand is that he may well have a superintendent that is the most supportive of wrestling anywhere in the entire USA.

Congratulations Bill, an honor well deserved.