SAN DIEGO — Zach Johnson, a proven coach in San Diego's rowing community with more than two decades of experience, has been named the sixth head coach in San Diego men's rowing history, USD Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey announced Wednesday.
Johnson returns to the collegiate rowing landscape in America's Finest City after a 13-year tenure at UC San Diego, where he served as head men's rowing coach and director of rowing. As director, he oversaw both the men's and women's programs while building the Tritons into one of the most consistent programs in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association.
Widely respected throughout West Coast rowing, Johnson is known for his expertise in athlete development, technical instruction, equipment, and performance analysis. His extensive approach has produced success at every level of the sport.
"We are excited to welcome Zach to the Torero family," said Massey. "He brings a unique combination of coaching success, leadership experience, and a deep connection to the San Diego rowing community. As a former high-level rowing athlete and veteran head coach, Zach has a comprehensive understanding of every facet of rowing and a proven track record of developing both competitive teams and exceptional student-athletes. His vision, character, and commitment to excellence make him the right leader for the future of our men's rowing program."
Under Johnson's guidance, UCSD's varsity eight finished in the top three of the 29-team WIRA Conference every year from 2005 to 2019, and the program captured WIRA Team Trophy titles four times. The Tritons' men's varsity eight won the Cal Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic in 2007 and 2009, earned back-to-back Western Sprints Conference championships in 2018 and 2019, and received national poll recognition in the US Rowing Collegiate Poll in each of his 13 seasons. The program also claimed six WIRA Second Varsity Eight titles during Johnson's tenure.
"I am so excited to have the opportunity to coach at the University of San Diego," said Johnson. "I have been nothing but impressed with the staff and coaches I have met thus far, and I look forward to working alongside such great student-athletes and support staff. I have dedicated the majority of my coaching career to pushing San Diego teams to national recognition and am committed to bringing that same level of success to the strong foundation Kimya Massey and the coaches at USD have established."
His respect and reputation extends beyond San Diego and across West Coast and US rowing. Johnson was named WIRA Conference Coach of the Year four times and Western Sprints Conference Coach of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. He served as the WIRA Conference Board of Directors President for four years and Western Sprints League Board of Directors League President for five years.
Before becoming a two-year assistant and eventually taking over at UCSD in 2006, Johnson also spent five years as head coach of San Diego State's rowing program — his alma mater — from 1999 to 2004. He grew the crew's annual fundraising nearly eight-fold and produced an IRA Petite Final championship in the varsity four.
Johnson has also shared his breadth of experience in part-time roles on the East Coast and in international rowing. At the end of the 2006-07 season, he was invited to guest coach for the elite program at Yale in preparation for their end of season championships. He also served as US Rowing Junior National Team Development Camp Coach in 2005, earning seven medals, three gold, and the U18 Men's Team Point Trophy — the first for the US team in over 10 years.
Most recently, Johnson spent the 2024-25 academic year overseas as the head rowing coach at Auckland Grammar School in New Zealand, overseeing a program of more than 80 athletes across four age groups and a staff of eight assistant coaches. His U15 crew claimed North Island Championship honors in the quad scull and earned a third-place finish at the Maadi Cup — the program's first medals in more than five years.
Johnson's connection to USD dates back to his own collegiate rowing career. He began rowing at San Diego under head coach Brooks Dagman before continuing his education and competitive career at San Diego State.
"I am so happy to return to the place where I started my collegiate rowing career," said Johnson. "I have remained deeply connected to the alumni and student-athletes I have known over the years, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with our current athletes and alumni as we strive to maximize the program's potential."
Johnson began his own rowing career at the early age of nine and has rowed competitively at every level from Junior to Elite. Although most of his 20-year competitive career focused on sculling events, he won 10 US National Championship medals in the eight, straight four, coxed four, quad, double and single. He was a three-year varsity captain and rowing club president for SDSU, earning a bachelor's degree in history from San Diego State in 1998.
