:quality(70):focal(424x227:434x237)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/AOD4CK73CFFO5ALO75I6AK4TBM.png)
Following a one-year hiatus, the sports shooting program for men and women will return to Southwestern Community College (SWCC) for the 2026-27 academic year.
A contract for Mark Johnson of Mount Ayr, SWCC assistant sports shooting coach from 2022-24, was approved at the August 2025 SWCC board of directors meeting, this time as the head coach for the program’s comeback.
Johnson is planning to hit the ground running to get sports shooting back on the map at SWCC.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to rebuild the sports shooting team,” Johnson said. “This is a great opportunity to give back to the sport I enjoy so much.”
Southwestern’s athletic department is equally excited for the return of sports shooting.
“In the past, at Southwestern we have had much success in sports shooting, including a national championship,” SWCC Athletic Director Cole Higgins said. “This program brings a lot of value to our department, as well as our college. I look forward to Coach Johnson’s leadership going forward.”
Under the direction of Johnson and other coaches, the Spartans’ team won a national championship in sporting clays at the ACUI National Championships in San Antonio, Texas, in March 2023.
Originally added at SWCC during the 2013-14 school year, the college’s sports shooting team received Congressional recognition by then-Congressman David Young following the team’s championship at the Iowa Sports Shooting Conference Championships in 2015.
In addition to coaching, Johnson works for Iowa Select Farms. He will begin recruiting for SWCC’s collegiate sports shooting team immediately.