TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke has announced the hiring of Wes Johnson as Arizona Triathlon's first-ever head coach. Johnson has spent the past nine years as National Team Coach for USA Triathlon across a variety of elite international competitions, including World Championships, Paralympic Games and Pan American Championships.

"Wes is an ideal leader and coach to grow our Women's Triathlon program," Heeke said. "We added triathlon as a growing sport of immense popularity locally and across the nation, and I believe Wes has the perfect skillset of coaching and development to build our program into an immediate contender for championships. His vision for the program aligns with our department's mission to develop Wildcats into academic, athletic and life champions. I am excited to watch Arizona Triathlon grow and become a program of championship excellence under Wes's leadership."

Johnson has earned a bevy of coaching awards in his career that include being named the 2021 USA Triathlon Developmental Coach of the Year. Two years prior, he earned Paralympic Coach of the Year honors from USA Triathlon and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. His international experience also includes championship success at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he coached Grace Norman to a gold medal and Chris Hammer to a fourth-place finish.

"I would like to thank Dave Heeke and University leadership for the privilege of becoming Arizona's first triathlon head coach," said Wes Johnson. "Everything I have done in my career has led to this opportunity to build a world-class triathlon program at the University of Arizona. The community, cycling terrain, endless trails, campus and university resources as well as the culture and values of the university and athletics department align perfectly with my experience and vision for the program. I have been coming to Tucson for winter training for years, and I could not be more excited to call Southern Arizona home and build Arizona Triathlon here."

Since joining USA Triathlon in 2014, Johnson has coached athletes at Junior World Championships, U23 World Championships and Pan American Championships. His coaching experience also features guiding athletes to compete in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawai'i.

After completing his own swimming and triathlon career, the Utah native founded and coached at Balanced Art Multisport (BAM). The organization is one of the nation's leading triathlon training programs and clubs. Johnson was a member of the University of Utah's swimming and diving program from 2003 to 2008 while competing in triathlons during summer breaks. His alma mater was also where he began his triathlon coaching career as an instructor for a triathlon class for students before working with Utah's triathlon club.

A Level 3 certified coach with USA Triathlon for youth, junior and paratriathlon athletes, Johnson also holds coaching certificates from USA Track & Field and the American Swimming Coaches Association. He is a 2008 graduate of the University of Utah with a bachelor's degree in International and Global Studies.