Swimming and Diving

Years of Experience:  John has been the Head Coach at Saint Thomas Academy since 1998. He is also the Director of Alumni and Community Engagement at Saint Thomas Academy. Coaching highlights: 2018 NHSACA National Swimming Coach of the Year ASCA level 5 Coach 7 Olympic Trial Qualifiers 16 National Qualifiers 35 Junior National Qualifiers 24 High School All Americans 2 World University Game Gold Medalists" High School Dual Meet record 162-9-1 15 State Championship Teams 14 at STA 1 at Minnetonka HS (The most State Swimming Championships in the History of Minnesota High School Swimming) 1996,2013 2014 2015 2016 MN High School Coach of the Year. 1991 MN ASCA Age Group Coach of the year.

High School attended:  Hinsdale

College and Major: Drury Sport Management

A fun fact about yourself: Favorite Movie: The original Willy Wonka! Nothing better!!

Family: John is married to Ann and they have two children, Tyler and Ryan.

Purpose Statement: STA Swim & Dive Philosophy STA Swimming is based on these 3 simple principles 1.Family 2. School 3. Swimming Every swimmer has the opportunity to reach his full potential. The Academy swim & dive culture develops “possible” to “certain.” Hard, smart work is the cornerstone, and doing more than seems necessary becomes a habit.

Years of Experience: 36 years (Track and Field, Football, and now Swimming)

High School attended: Bloomington Kennedy

College and Major: Normandale Community College / AA

Why Saint Thomas Academy ? It is the students that brought me here. The reason is their drive to be the best they can be.

A fun fact about yourself: I have a love of music, and architecture.

Family: Wife Sharon and son Alex

Years of Experience: 23 years

High School attended: Cretin-Derham Hall

College and Major: University of Colorado, Boulder - Communication Major

Why Saint Thomas Academy?  Over the years I had trained over 300 Cadets and was always impressed with the way they carried themselves and how they talked about their school and the 'Brotherhood'.
The opportunity to bring my background in athletics and fitness to these young men and be a part of that Brotherhood was a perfect fit for me and my family.

A fun fact about yourself:  Along with being an All-State athlete in 3 sports, I was a first chair trumpet player in high school.

Family: My wife Brianna, she graduated from Kansas where she played soccer for the Jayhawks. My daughters are Cianna and Louis and my son Vincent

Purpose Statement: Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up knowing it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're the lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.