Coaches
Steve Johnson - stevej@fargoforce.com
Head Coach/General Manager
Steve Johnson will be making a return to the USHL after a two-year absence, as the new head coach and general manager of the Fargo Force. Steve’s USHL coaching career actually started in Fargo, when the Fargo-Moorhead Bears hired him for the 1995-96 season. He would be recognized as the USHL coach of the year while leading The Bears to 28 victories that year. The team was disbanded the following season and the Lincoln Stars hired Steve as their head coach and general manager.
It didn’t take long for Steve to find success in Lincoln, leading the Stars to a 40-13-1 record and a Clark Cup Championship in the 1996-97 season, his first with the team. This would be the start of an 11-year run with Steve behind the bench. His teams dominated the regular season winning 30 or more games nine times. Steve would find post season success as well leading the Stars to another Clark Cup Championship in 2002-03 and three Anderson Cups in 2002-03, 2000-01 and 1999-00.
Coach Steve has been recognized as USHL coach of the year three times, including back-to-back years in 1999-00 and 2000-01. He is only the second coach in league history to retain that title two consecutive years. Over his 12 year USHL coaching career Steve has compiled a record of 433-206-48 and is currently fourth all-time in career wins.
In his playing days, the Grand Forks native won a national championship while skating for University of North Dakota. Steve’s career stats over four years at UND consisted of 191 points over 153 games played. Steve would take his game to the professional ranks, spending three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks organization of the National Hockey League.
Click here to view Steve Johnson's video profile
Chad Johnson - chadj@fargoforce.com
Associate Head Coach
The Force will be looking to make this a family affair, as Chad Johnson, younger brother of head coach Steve Johnson, will be entering his second season as the associate head coach.
Chad’s first opportunity as a coach came as an assistant to big brother Steve for the Lincoln Stars. He would spend three years in Lincoln and was a part of the 1996-97 Clark Cup championship team. The following season Chad received his first head coaching opportunity with the Helena Gold Rush of the American West League. His stay there was brief, lasting only one season before being hired by the Minot Huskies also of the American West League. Chad would be awarded coach of the year in his one and only season with the Huskies. Chad's most successful season as a head coach was during a four-year stay with the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American League. He would lead the Bobcats to three National Championship appearances winning two of them.
Chad played collegiate hockey at the University of North Dakota. He would play four year’s with the Fighting Sioux before taking his game to the professional ranks. Chad’s professional career consisted of two years with the Fort Worth Fire of the Central Hockey League and one year with the Muskegon Fury of the International Hockey League.
Mark Pivetz - markp@fargoforce.com
Assistant Coach
Mark Pivetz will be making the move from the radio booth to the bench as the new assistant coach of the Fargo Force.
This will not be the first time Mark has worked with the Johnson brothers. Mark’s first coaching job came as an assistant to Chad who was with the Helena Gold Rush of the American West League. He would later make the move to the Lincoln Stars where he would assist Steve for three seasons. Mark was a part of Lincoln’s Clark Cup Championship team in the 2002-03 season.
Mark played four years as a defenseman at the University of North Dakota totaling 50 career points over 145 games played. He was also a part of the 1996-97 National Championship team.
