Caldwell University Athletics

After serving as assistant men's basketball coach for 30 years, Dean Johnson was promoted to head coach in October 2022. And what a first year it was.

In 2022-23, Johnson's Cougars put together the most successful season in the program's Division II history, winning 22 games, securing the CACC regular season and tournament championships, and not only advancing to the NCAA Division II East Regional but toppling #1 seeded St. Anselm in the first round. Their record marked a 10 1/2 game improvement from the previous season, among the most in Division II. For his efforts, Johnson was named CACC Coach of the Year and Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Co-Coach of the Year.

His Cougars followed up with a 14-14 campaign in his second campaign in 2023-24, with two All-Conference players, an NABC Honors Court Academic recipient and four All-Academic honorees. This past year, the Cougars won 18 games and featured three 1,000 point collegiate scorers. Then in 2024-25, he mentored CU to an 18-11 record and return to the CACC Tournament. 
 
During Johnson's run as an assistant, the Cougars reached the NCAA Division II Tournament twice since moving to NCAA status in 2002. They won six CACC Championships along with an NAIA District 31 finals appearance in 1992. Johnson’s commitment to Caldwell was recognized in 2008, when he received the prestigious Caldwell Cup from then-Caldwell President Sister Patrice Werner, and again in 2019, when he was elected to the Caldwell University Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
Johnson came to Caldwell in 1990 after coaching on the high school and college levels and has extensive experience as a men’s basketball player and coach over his four decades around basketball. He served as an assistant coach for the 1988-89 University of New England’s men’s basketball team that won a school-record 24 games with the team being inducted into the UNE Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. Johnson was a standout player for UNE from 1982-86, totaling 1,442 points and 541 assists in his career. He ranks in the top-15 in scoring and third in assists. Johnson was inducted into the UNE Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 for his outstanding playing career.

Johnson also is the Associate Director of Athletics and was the head softball coach at Caldwell from 1995 through 2013.
 
A native of Belgrade Lakes, Maine, Johnson attended the UNE in Biddeford, Maine, where he left as the program’s all-time leading scorer. Johnson graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Secondary Education. He earned a Master’s degree from Caldwell University in 1997.

Johnson File
 

	Overall			CACC
Year	Wins	Losses		Wins	Losses	Postseason/Notes
2022-23	22	10		14	4	CACC Regular Season, Tournament Champion NCAA East Region Second Round CACC Coach of the Year Met Basketball Writers Coach of the Year
2023-24	14	14		9	7
2024-25	18	11		9	7	CACC Tournament Quarterfinals
Total	54	35		32	18