Head Coach

Dean Johnson brings top accolades and experience to his position as NWACC’s first-ever men’s soccer head coach. 

Johnson’s track record of developing soccer programs includes an NAIA national championship, two NCAA Division II national tournament appearances and an NCAA Division I national quarterfinal berth. 

An NJCAA South Region Staff of the Year awardee, Johnson arrived in Bentonville in a cross-country move from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Calif. He was the associate head coach for the Lions from 2023-2024, helping the team to its first College Cup national quarterfinal run in program history in 2023. 

At club level, Johnson headed USL League Two juggernaut Des Moines Menace during the 2022 and 2023 summer seasons. He was named USL League Two Coach of the Year in 2022, when Menace reached the Central Conference final and national quarterfinal stage. 

With Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, W.Va. in 2021-2022, Johnson led the Senators to consecutive 15-win seasons and NCAA DII national tournament second-round appearances.  

Johnson's most recent NJCAA men's soccer experience came at Northeast Texas Community College, where he accrued a 33-8-2 record in two seasons from 2018-2020. 

As an assistant with the Pioneers of Wayland Baptist University, Johnson helped the men’s soccer program achieve an NAIA National Championship in 2017, the first in school history regardless of sport. 

He has also served as an assistant at USL League Two club West Virginia Chaos (2018), NAIA program Wayland Baptist University (2016-17) and NJCAA school Northwest College (2014-15). 

In his playing days, Johnson suited up for Bluefield College and the University of Pikeville at NAIA level after spending two years at Northwest College. Johnson also played for Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors from 2011-2014 in the USL Premier Development League. 

Johnson holds a National Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches, 'D', 'C' and 'B' licenses from the United States Soccer Federation and a Level 1 Talent Identification License and a Level 2 Coaching License from the  English Football Association.   

Johnson lives in Bentonville and is the head coach of the U19 MLS Next academy program at Ozark United FC in Rogers.