Graham Johnson has joined the Massachusetts hockey staff as the program’s director of hockey operations.
Johnson comes to the Minutemen after most recently serving as the head coach and general manager of the junior-level Connecticut Nighthawks (EHL/MJHL) in Simsbury, Conn.
“The director of operations is a complicated position that requires array of skills, including organization, communication and administration, computer and video editing aptitude, as well as significant hockey knowledge,” said UMass head coach John Micheletto in a statement. “Usually when trying to find candidates for this job, you have to relent in one or more of these areas and hope that the person you hire can get up to speed over time in the areas that are lacking. In Graham Johnson, Massachusetts hockey has added a person who checks all the boxes and then some. He’s able to successfully manage all that this job requires with a great enthusiasm and passion to help our program achieve greatness. His background in hockey, that includes working in successful programs with highly respected people, makes him a fantastic addition to an already great staff that we have here.”
Prior to his time with the Nighthawks, Johnson served as an assistant coach at American International from 2012 to 2015 where he was the recruiting coordinator for the Yellow Jackets. In 2011-12, Johnson was the assistant coach and interim head coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL following a stint at Hamilton as an assistant coach from 2009 to 2011.
Johnson also worked as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac in 2008-09 after spending a season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Rhode Island, in 2007-08.
