Biography

Hanson created the Bishop Hendricken swim team as a club sport in 1978. Three years later, the now-varsity Hawks claimed the first of 26 state team titles under Hanson’s direction.

In February, Hendricken won its 23rd consecutive state title – the nation’s longest active streak – and also owns two New England titles and four runner-up finishes. Among Hanson’s many awards: the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) David H. Robertson Excellence in Coaching Award in 2006 and the NISCA Outstanding Service Award in 2010.

He has served in every swimming leadership capacity in Rhode Island, including two terms as president of the Rhode Island Swim Coaches Association and its treasurer since 2000, and president and member of the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1992.

He was named Boys Coach of the Year by the Rhode Island Athletic Administrators Association in 1995, and received the Larry Gallogly Humanitarian Award from the Providence Gridiron Club in 1998. Hanson has earned three STOYKO Awards for sportsmanship from the Rhode Island Swim Officials Association, which also presented him with the Joseph L. Tracey Memorial Award for contributions to swimming in 1999. The Providence Journal named Hanson one of the 100 most significant people in Rhode Island high school sports in the 20th century.

Since being honored, Hanson continues to lead Bishop Hendricken to success. The teams have won the state title the past five seasons from 2015 until 2020. In addition, they won the 2013 State title, which was their 24th straight.

Records

Coached 32 teams to RIIL State Championships

Boasts more then 300 career victories

Professional Achievements

2019 NFHS Coach of the Year

1999 Joseph L. Tracey Memorial Award Honoree

2006 David H. Robertson Excellence in Coaching Award Honoree

Bishop Hendricken Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

Personal Honors

2010 NISCA Outstanding Service Award

Biography

Downey retired from a 34-year teaching career nearly two decades ago, but at age 83, he is still going strong as the school’s swimming coach. He just completed his 55th year at Edina-Morningside High School, Edina and Edina East High School, when the district had two high schools.

His teams have won 10 state titles – in 1965, 1967, 1968, 1984, 1986, 1987, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2010 – and posted a career dual-meet record of 483-141-1. That included a 24-1 record this past season, when the Hornets finished third in state. His swimmers produced three individual event wins this year, giving Downey 58 career winners.

Named district Coach of the Year 11 times, state Coach of the Year six times and a National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) National Coach of the Year, Downey has served in every swimming leadership capacity in Minnesota. He was a co-founder of the Minnesota Swimming Coaches Association, has served as chairman of the Minnesota Swimming Hall of Fame since its inception in 1978 and has served as NISCA’s Minnesota state delegate since 1980. Downey is a member of seven Halls of Fame, most recently his induction into the NISCA Hall of Fame this year.

Since being honored in 2011, Downey continued to coach until retirement in May of 2018 after 62 years at the helm. He was the only coach in the Edina High School’s swim program.

Records

Coached 10 State Championship teams

Professional Achievements

2011 NISCA Hall of Fame Inductee

1991 MSHSCA Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Inductee

Biography

Torrey just completed his 30th season as coach of Zeeland’s boys’ and girls’ swimming teams (the teams remained combined after a second high school was added six years ago).

This year his boys’ team posted a perfect 9-0 record and won the Division 2 state championship, the first for the boys’ team since they took back-to-back Class B-C-D titles in 1990 and 1991. His boys’ and girls’ teams swept the state meet in both seasons. Competing in large-school Division 1, his boys’ teams were state runners-up in 2005 and 2007.

Torrey’s girls’ teams dominated the Class B-C-D meet from 1987-94, winning six state titles during that span, and also have posted six state runner-up finishes.

In 1992 Torrey was the recipient of the Matt Mann Award, the highest award given by the Michigan Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (MISCA) for continued leadership, contributions, and service to Michigan high school swimming. He was voted the Girls Coach of the Year by MISCA in 2003 and the Zone 5 Boys Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2008.

Since being honored in 2009, Torrey continued to coach his Dux until his retirement after the 2013 season. His teams claimed a staggering 39 conference championships over his 40 years. He retires with a career dual meet record of 651-190-4. The girls’ teams won six state titles and were the runner up six times. The boys’ teams also claimed three championships and 3 second place finishes.

Records

Coached 3 Girls' State Championship Teams and 3 State Runner Up finishes

Coached 6 Girls' State Championship Teams and 6 State Runner Ups finshes

Career Record of 651-190-4

Professional Achievements

2011 Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee

2013 National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee

Personal Honors

1992 Matt Mann Award honoree

Biography

A 1957 St. Xavier graduate, O’Toole was a four-time All-American and the first swimmer to win four state championships in the same event – the 100-yard breaststroke – in Kentucky high school history. After attending Catholic University and the University of Notre Dame, O’Toole, who has taught chemistry and physics at St. Xavier, coached the Tigers for two years in the early 1970s.  He  then returned as head coach in 1989, directing St. Xavier to state titles the past 20 seasons.

He has coached 23 swimmers to 49 individual state championships, along with 37 relay state titles. His swimmers set 16 state records and two national records, with 59 earning All-American status.

Since being honored, O’Toole continued to lead St. Xavier until his retirement in 2009. Over his career, O’Toole led St. Xavier to 20 consecutive State Championships.

 

Records

Coached teams to 20 consecutive State Titles

Personal Honors

First swimmer to win four state championships in the same event - the 100-yard breaststroke

Biography

Turner has been a successful coach in four states, but his Jenks teams have stood out over his 22 years as swimming and water polo coach. His teams have won 20 state swimming team titles, with his boys team taking its 12th title this year under his direction. He led the Trojans boys’ teams to nine consecutive titles (1996-2004). His girls’ team finished second this year and the Trojan girls have won eight state crowns.

Five times – in 1991, 1992, 2002, 2003 and 2004 – both the Jenks boys and girls teams took state titles. His swimmers own five individual and six relay state records. Three of his swimmers have competed in the Olympic Games and he has produced six NAIA national champions, 92 high school state champions and 66 high school All-Americans.

Since being honored in 2007, Turner continued to lead Jenks until his retirement in 2018 after 40 years of coaching. During the course of his career Turner’s teams have won a total of 28 State Championships, as his boys’ teams won 17 and girls’ 11.

In addition to his team’s accomplishments, he’s coached 163 individual state champions. His swimmers continued to succeed, as he’s coached 27 NCAA All Americans in all divisions. He’s also had eight team members swim at the Olympic Trials and three Olympians.

Records

Coached 28 Team State Champions - 17 Boys' & 11 Girls'

Coached 163 Individual State Champions

Biography

Metheny has been coaching for more than 30 years and has spent the last 24 building Sunnyslope’s boys’ and girls’ teams. His hard work came to fruition this year as the two teams swept the Class 4A, Division 2 boys’ and girls’ titles. With NHSCA National High School Girls Swimming Senior Athlete of the Year, Alexandra Clarke, leading the way, Sunnyslope edged Phoenix Arcadia High 375-356 for the girls title.

The boys’ team nearly doubled the score of runner-up Cottonwood Mingus High, 443-233, as all three relay teams swam to victory. Prior to moving to Sunnyslope, Metheny coached Phoenix Washington High to four consecutive state titles from 1973-76.

Since being honored, Metheny continued to lead Sunnyslope until his retirement in 2019 after 44 years of coaching. He had over 700 career dual-meet win, boys’ and girls’ teams combined. He was also inducted into the Sunnyslope Viking Hall of Fame in 2019.

Records

Won multiple girls and boys swimming state titles

Professional Achievements

2019 Viking Hall of Fame Inductee

2000 Arizona HS Athletics Coaches Hall of Fame Indcutee

Biography

A 30-year coaching veteran, who also has coached in Iowa and Texas, Onstott has coached New Trier High’s boys team since 1995. His 2004 team won the state title and his 2005 team finished third. At New Trier his teams have posted a 103-8-1 dual meet record, won 10 conference titles, eight sectional titles and have earned nine top-10 state meet finishes.

He has coached 63 all-state swimmers and 47 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) All-Americans. In 2003 he also took over the girls program, which has finished second, third and fourth in the state meet. A five-time Illinois Coach of the Year, he is the current NISCA president.

Since his honoring Onstott and New Trier won an additional five state titles and was the runner up in 2008. Onstott retried from coaching after the 2013-2014 season.

During his time at New Tier, his teams have won over 900 dual meets and his swimmers have earned 182 High School All American accolades.

Records

Coached multiple state championship teams - Boys & Girls

Coached 182 High School All American Swimmers

Professional Achievements

2013 Paragon Award

2012 Illinois Swimming Association Hall of Fame Inductee

2012 NISCA Hall of Fame Inductee

2009 University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee

Biography

This year’s boy’s swimming honoree is St. Xavier High Coach Jim Brower. Brower is part of the legendary program which posted it’s sixth number  #1 national ranking at the end of the season.

Since being honored Coach Brower stepped down from his position after the 2014-15 season. In his 23 years as head coach his teams accumulated 21 state titles, including nine straight from 1999 until 2007. He is the all-time leader in boys’ state championships in Ohio’s storied sports history.

Records

Coached 23 State Championship Teams

Professional Achievements

7x Ohio Coach of the Year

Biography

“Virginia Weber has coached a diverse mix of sports and athletes over the years, and her success particularly with the sport of boys swimming is clearly worthy of the highest praise,” said NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro. “The NHSCA is proud to recognize Virginia Weber as the National High School Boys Swim Coach of the Year.”

Weber’s coaching career has included stints with soccer, softball and lacrosse, but it is her boys swim team that has placed in the top two at the state meet on eight occasions, including six state championships. With over 20 years of coaching experience, Weber’s team will try and deliver her a 200th coaching victory next season, as her current record sits at 198-61, as of 2002.

 

Records

Coached 6 State Championship Teams

Biography

Dr. Creed has coached the boys and girls swimming teams at Parkview High for 13 years in total. His boys’ teams won six state titles: 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003; his girls’ teams have won a pair of state titles as well in 1997 and 1998 respectively. His 2000 and 2001 teams were nationally ranked.

Dr. Creed is a past president of the Georgia High School Swim Coaches Association (GHSSCA) and was selected as Coach of the Year by the GHSSCA six times, including the past three years (2000-2002). Dr. Creed holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from Georgia State University, where he held the school record in the 100-meter breaststroke. Parkview High and the Gwinnett County Board of Education also honored Creed as Teacher of the Year this year.

Dr. Creed left Parkview in 2003 and took over at Mill Creek High School in 2003 and still holds the position. His wife, Heidi, is his assistant coach as of 2014.

In 2006, Dr. Creed and Heidi started the Chateau Elan Wahoos swim team that aids children in lessons and a place to practice and enjoy the pool.

 

Records

Coached 6 Boy's teams to State Championship and 2 Girls' teams

Professional Achievements

6x Gwinnett County Coach of the Year

8x Georgia Coach of the Year

Biography

Coffman helped maintain St. Xavier High’s reputation as a national swimming power by coaching the Bombers to nine state championships before retiring after the 1997 season.

St. Xavier’s performances,  the school has won 23 state titles overall, were a major factor in the Cincinnati area’s rise to prominence as a national swimming hotbed, joining Florida and California.

 

Records

Coached teams to 23 State Titles

Biography

“Larry Shofe is an outstanding example for successful high school swimming coaches,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “They place a high value on the teamwork skills players learn for success in the classroom and on the field, and we are proud to be honoring him.”

Shofe coached both the boys and girls swimming teams at The Bolles School to runaway Class 4A state titles last season. Led by National High School Senior Boys Swimming Athlete of the Year Alex Lim, the Bolles boys team set three national records and four additional state records to win the title by a 598-245 margin, nearly double the number of points scored by any other boys team in any class.

Shofe’s girls team set two national records and two additional state records to win its title by a 550-265 margin.

After his time at the Bolles school, Shofe went on to YMCA in Sarasota and Riverview HIgh School in 2004. In 2008, he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where he landed a highly sought after job in Tennessee. Shofe was hired at the Pilot Aquatic Club, that has ties to the University of Tennessee and the Pilot Corp., a national company that operates travel centers and food marts across the nation.

Shofe’s life was cut short when he passed away at the age of 55 in August of 2008.

Records

Coached 25 State Championship Teams

4 State Records