Impact
Records
Bruce Woodbury
New Trier High School
Impact Statement
Woodbury led New Trier to multiple state championships over the duration of his career. He’s coached over 100 All Americans.
Biography
Coaching at a school that has been a swimming powerhouse for nearly a century, and remains home to the NHSCA National Boys Swimming Coach of the Year in 2005, Mark Onstott,
Woodbury made his own mark on the school. He retired for the final time this spring after leading the Trevians to their second consecutive state title, and their 11th overall under Woodbury in three separate stints as coach.
In 1970, when New Trier was two separate high schools, Woodbury arrived at New Trier West High, eventually launching a girls swimming team in 1977. He coached the West boys team to a third-place state finish in 1980, the best finish in program history. When the two schools reunited for the 1981-82 school year, Woodbury became the girls swimming coach, leading the Trevians to seven consecutive state titles from 1982-88.
He retired after that season, but took the reins again in 1997 for another five-year stint, and after three consecutive state runner-up finishes, won two more state titles in 2000 and 2001 before again stepping down. Onstott assumed the girls head coaching duties, but when he stepped down after the 2005 season, Woodbury returned for one final stint, completing it with titles in 2011 and 2012. His teams also finished second six times.
In 2009, the Illinois Swimming Association created the Bruce Woodbury Hall of Fame Award to recognize outstanding coaching of girls swimming in the state.
In 2019, Woodbury was among the inaugural class of inductees to the newly minted Athletic Department Hall of Honor. Additionally, the Illinois Swimming and Diving Association’s Girls Hall of Fame Award has been named in his honor. The award is given to an individual(s) who have promoted girls swimming in all levels through their leadership and achievements.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Charlotte Catholic High School
Charlotte Catholic had a successful swimming program before Gross arrived at the school nine years ago, and he has elevated that tradition.
Charlotte Catholic had a successful swimming program before Gross arrived at the school nine years ago, and he has elevated that tradition.
Brian Gross
Charlotte Catholic High School
Impact Statement
Charlotte Catholic had a successful swimming program before Gross arrived at the school nine years ago, and he has elevated that tradition.
Biography
Charlotte Catholic had a successful swimming program before Gross arrived at the school nine years ago, and he has elevated that tradition. His girls teams have won the state team title in every one of his nine seasons at the helm, winning Class A-AA state crowns from 2003-2005 and 3A titles the past six seasons.
The Cougars have won the past seven state meets by an average margin of 146 points, and their overall streak of state titles currently stands at 10 (with 12 titles overall). His swimmers own seven of the 12 existing state meet records, and with all 18 scorers returning next season, his Cougars seem assured of stretching their overall streak to 11. Gross also guided the boys team to four straight team titles, from 2005-2008, and his boys finished second in state the past three years.
Named Coach of the Year by The Charlotte Observer in 2006, 2008 and again this year, Gross is a 1997 graduate of Wright State University, where he was a four-year member, captain and Most Valuable member of the swimming team, was the director of the Raider S.K.I.L.L.S. Program and Assistant Director of Special Olympics Swimming. Gross has been Vice President and Senior Recruiting Consultant at Wells Fargo Bank since 2005, and holds the Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) certification.
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Records
Pittsford Central High School
“There is not a coach that I am aware of who has dedicated more of his time and energy for the betterment of his athletes.” -Scott Barker, AD said of Marty Keating
“There is not a coach that I am aware of who has dedicated more of his time and energy for the betterment of his athletes.” -Scott Barker, AD said of Marty Keating
Maurice “Marty” Keating
Pittsford Central High School
Impact Statement
“There is not a coach that I am aware of who has dedicated more of his time and energy for the betterment of his athletes.” -Scott Barker, AD said of Marty Keating
Biography
With 339 victories, Keating is the state’s all-time leading winner among girls swimming coaches. He began his coaching career at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, leading the boys’ team to a 46-2 record in four seasons before moving to Pittsford. Keating started the girls’ team in 1974 and remains its coach.
His girls’ teams have won 15 sectional titles, including six straight from 2002-07, and five state crowns. He also coached the boys’ team for 18 seasons, from 1974-91, returning to boys coaching in 2007 at Livonia High School. His Pittsford boys’ teams won two Class A sectional titles and the Class B state title in 1979.
Keating, who has served as president of the New York State Swim Coaches Association since 1972, received the New York State Coaches Association’s Honor Award in 1995, Niagara District Coach of the Year honors in 1987 and 1999, the Galyan’s High School Coach of the Year award from the Rochester Press-Radio Club in 2002, the WHAM Jack Palvino Award for contributions to women’s sports in 2004 and the All-Greater Rochester Girls Swimming Coach of the Year in 2007. Keating was inducted into the Frontier Fields Walk of Fame in 2003, was a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s National Coach of the Year award in 2005 and received the NISCA Outstanding Service Award in 2009.
Since being honored, Keating and his Pittsford swim teams have continued their victorious ways. His teams have now won 11 State Championships and he’s coached over 100 High School All Americans. He ranks second overall in the history of New York Swimming with 348 wins, as his teams have not lost in nearly 10 years.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
The Woodlands High School
“That’s what I was put here on this earth to do — to help as many people as I can through the sport of swimming.” -Kent Kirchner
“That’s what I was put here on this earth to do — to help as many people as I can through the sport of swimming.” -Kent Kirchner
Kent Kirchner
The Woodlands High School
Impact Statement
“That’s what I was put here on this earth to do — to help as many people as I can through the sport of swimming.” -Kent Kirchner
Biography
Kirchner has been a Coach of the Year award winner both at the high school and college levels. His boys’ and girls’ teams at The Woodlands have combined to win four Class 5A state team titles. This year his girls team swept the district, regional and state championships, set a state record in the 200-yard freestyle relay, and set school records in eight of 12 events during the season.
The Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (TISCA) voted him back-to-back Girls’ Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2009, and he is a three-time TISCA Coach of the Year. Kirchner also was the Summit League Coach of the Year at Southwest Missouri State University in 1982-83. His boys’ and girls’ teams finished No. 1 in the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) dual meet national rankings, and 112 of his swimmers have become NISCA All-Americans.
He holds the American Swimming Coaches Associations Level V Coaches Rating, which less than 5 per cent of U.S. swimming coaches attain. A member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, Kirchner, a 1975 Cleveland State University graduate, was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1997.
Since being honored, Kirchner coached The Woodlands’ swim team until his retirement in 2017. Kirchner retired on a high note after the girls’ team won another State Championship.
Kirchner could only stay away from the pool for so long. As of January of 2019 he is back involved with SwimLabs, a swim school for all levels of swimmers.
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Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
The Westminster Schools
“He is an absolute legend in the swimming community,”
-Franke Marsden
Head of the Atlanta Swim Association
“He is an absolute legend in the swimming community,”
-Franke Marsden
Head of the Atlanta Swim Association
Pete Higgins
The Westminster Schools
Impact Statement
“He is an absolute legend in the swimming community,”
-Franke Marsden
Head of the Atlanta Swim Association
Biography
Higgins has become an institution in his 48 years as coach of the boys and girls swimming teams at Westminster. His teams have won nearly 600 dual meets, and both his boys’ and girls’ teams have won 19 Class 1-4A state team titles, a total of 38 state crowns. Higgins’ teams have swept the boys’ and girls’ titles eight times, including four straight from 2003-06. His girls’ teams won six straight crowns from 2001-06 and were state runners-up the past two seasons, while his boys’ teams own a current six-year title streak.
More than 100 of his swimmers have become high school or independent school All-Americans, and three of his swimmers have gone on to become members of the U.S. Olympic Team. His swimmers hold four all-class state records, three of them owned by the girls’ team.
Higgins was named Coach of the Year four times in the past decade by the Georgia High School Swimming Coaches Association. He was named Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High School State Associations in 1989 and was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Circle of Achievement in 1997.
Since being honored in 2008, Higgins continued to dominate Georgia swimming. His boys’ teams have won 22 state championships until his retirement in 2016.
Over his storied coaching career, he has coached 41 Georgia State Champions and 140 High School All Americans. In addition, he coached one Pan American Games Gold Medalist and four Olympic Team Members.
Higgins passed away in 2019, leaving a long legacy in the swimming community in Georgia, and nation wide.
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Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Lafayette High School
Chard coached teams to 12 State Championships over his thirty year career.
Chard coached teams to 12 State Championships over his thirty year career.
Jean Chard
Lafayette High School
Impact Statement
Chard coached teams to 12 State Championships over his thirty year career.
Biography
Chard’s teams at Lafayette have won 12 state titles and taken home 30 state trophies in his 30-year coaching career. His girls” teams have been particularly successful, winning the state title this year, scoring in all 12 events for its fifth state crown in seven years.
Lafayette also won four consecutive titles from 2001-04, finishing second in 2005 and 2006. Chard also coached the Lafayette boys’ teams from 1980-97, and in 1997 his boys and girls teams both won state titles. The National Federation of State High School Associations named Chard its National Swimming Coach of the Year in 2004.
Subsequently, after being honored Chard retired from coaching and teaching in 2008.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Vineland Regional High School
“You do it for the challenge — to make kids see things and do things that they really didn’t think they could do.”
-John Casadia on coaching
“You do it for the challenge — to make kids see things and do things that they really didn’t think they could do.”
-John Casadia on coaching
John Casadia
Vineland Regional High School
Impact Statement
“You do it for the challenge — to make kids see things and do things that they really didn’t think they could do.”
-John Casadia on coaching
Biography
Casadia is retiring this season after starting the school’s swimming program over 30 years ago and elevating it to state and national prominence. Casadia’s teams won six state team titles and his swimmers won 12 individual state championships and 28 state relay crowns. Twenty of his swimmers went on to become individual All-Americans and 16 became relay All-Americans.
Casadia’s commitment to building strong teams produced 489 overall dual-meet wins- tops among New Jersey swimming coaches. His boys teams once won 205 consecutive conference meets and his girls teams won the final 61 dual meets of his career.
In 2014 Vineland honored their successful coach by naming the pool after him.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Hamilton Southeastern High School
Pedersen is the leader of the Hamilton Southeastern Boys’ & Girls’ swimming team that continue to excel in Indiana.
Pedersen is the leader of the Hamilton Southeastern Boys’ & Girls’ swimming team that continue to excel in Indiana.
Andy Pedersen
Hamilton Southeastern High School
Impact Statement
Pedersen is the leader of the Hamilton Southeastern Boys’ & Girls’ swimming team that continue to excel in Indiana.
Biography
Pedersen’s teams at Hamilton Southeastern High have finished in the state’s top 10 every year since 1999, including four top-five finishes. This year’s team finished second in the state tournament and his 200-meter medley relay team set a state record in that event.
The Indiana High School Swimming Coaches Association voted him its Girls Coach of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2005 and he is also a five-time Region Coach of the Year.
Since being honored in 2005 Pedersen has continued to lead Hamilton Southeastern to state titles.
His Royals have earned 17 straight girls’ section titles and twelve consecutive boys’ titles. The girls have finished first in their section at the IHSAA Championships five times. His boy’s team took first at the State Championship in 2007 and second in 2008.
Additionally, three of his relay teams have won a state title. During his time coaching Pedersen has coached over 100 All- Americans.
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Professional Achievements
The Bolles School
Poppell’s success knows no limit. He led The Bolles School to state tiles over his tenure before leaving for the college sector.
Poppell’s success knows no limit. He led The Bolles School to state tiles over his tenure before leaving for the college sector.
Jeff Poppell
The Bolles School
Impact Statement
Poppell’s success knows no limit. He led The Bolles School to state tiles over his tenure before leaving for the college sector.
Biography
The 2004 NHSCA Girls’ Swimming Coach of the Year is none other than The Bolles School’s own, Jeff Poppell. This is the sixth year his program ended in the number one position in the nation. Since being honored in 2004 Poppell’s team won another Florida state title in 2005.
Poppell has continued success at many levels. Poppell coached The Bolles School until 2006 when he left for the head coach position for women’s swimming at the University of Arkansas. He led the Razorback’s to their best team finish in 2009 when they placed 5th in the Southeastern Conference Championships.
On the USA scene, Poppell was selected Head Women’s Coach for Team USA at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2009. He was also an Assistant Coach for Team USA at the 2017 World University Games.
In 2012, Poppell left Arkansas and headed back to Gulliver High School in Miami, Florida. After four years and two more State Championships for the girls’ swimming team, Poppell was hired to take the reigns another top college.
Poppell was hired as the Head Women’s Swim Coach at the University of Florida before the 2017-2018 season. In 2019, he led the Gators to the best finish in recent times with a 24th place finish at the NCAA Tournament.
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Professional Achievements
Pioneer High School
“I’ve always said, if they are willing to put in the work, I’m willing to take the credit.” -Denny Hill
“I’ve always said, if they are willing to put in the work, I’m willing to take the credit.” -Denny Hill
Dennis Hill
Pioneer High School
Impact Statement
“I’ve always said, if they are willing to put in the work, I’m willing to take the credit.” -Denny Hill
Biography
Hill, a member of the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, has led the Pioneer boys swim team to 12 state titles and the girls to 10 such championships when honored by the NHSCA. His girls’ squads have posted a dual-meet record of 338-31-2 for an amazing win percentage of 91-percent. In the past season the Pioneer girl’s team finished the season by being ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Since being named the Coach of the Year in 2003, Hill continued to lead Pioneer and leaves quite a legacy. After 45 years Hill retired all together from coaching. He finished his career with 31 State Championships, 15 with the Boys and 16 with the Girls. He also coached the boys to 16 runner up finishes and the girls to 8 2nd place finishes.
In February of 2013, Hill won his 1,000 victory.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Ursuline Academy
Beerman has led two schools to state championships and is leading St. Xavier to their continued state dominance.
Beerman has led two schools to state championships and is leading St. Xavier to their continued state dominance.
Tim Beerman
Ursuline Academy
Impact Statement
Beerman has led two schools to state championships and is leading St. Xavier to their continued state dominance.
Biography
Under Beerman’s direction, Ursuline Academy has been the top girls swimming program in the swimming hotbed of southwestern Ohio. He has led the Lions to 10 top finishes in the state in the past 12 years. This year’s team won its third consecutive Division I state title, its fifth overall under Beerman, who also led Ursuline Academy to state titles in 1991 and 1998. His teams also were state runners-up in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1999.
After 13 years at Ursuline Academy, Beermann went back to St. Xavier as the head coach in 2015. He served as the assistant coach for 10 years prior to taking the Ursuline position.
St. Xavier’s boys’ swimming team has won the last five years in the Division I Championships, including 2020. His boys’ won this year’s Division I State Championships by 100 team points.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Carmel High School
Stopkotte coached teams to 27 titles over the duration of his career at Carmel High School in Indiana.
Stopkotte coached teams to 27 titles over the duration of his career at Carmel High School in Indiana.
Ken Stopkotte
Carmel High School
Impact Statement
Stopkotte coached teams to 27 titles over the duration of his career at Carmel High School in Indiana.
Biography
In his first year at Carmel High this year, Stopkotte coached both the boys and girls swimming teams to Indiana state titles. His girls’ team won its 15th consecutive state title, while his boys team won its eighth state title in 12 years and first since 1998. Stopkotte also has been a club coach for 15 years, most notably as head coach of the Cincinnati Marlins, the top swim club in the swimming hotbed of southwestern Ohio.
In his eight years with the Marlins, Stopkotte built the team from 100 to 225 swimmers and led them to six Top 10 finishes in the USA Swimming National Championships, 11 USA Swimming Junior National team titles, and 25 state-level team titles at the junior and senior levels. A dozen of his swimmers competed in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, with one earning a gold medal and another a silver medal at the Olympic Games.
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Records
Providence High School
“You have to be able to motivate and encourage people and keep a positive attitude no matter what happens.”
-Sandy Martin
“You have to be able to motivate and encourage people and keep a positive attitude no matter what happens.”
-Sandy Martin
Sandy Martin
Providence High School
Impact Statement
“You have to be able to motivate and encourage people and keep a positive attitude no matter what happens.”
-Sandy Martin
Biography
“Sandy Martin 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 her.”
Martin’s Providence teams have won five consecutive Class 4A state team titles. Since Providence High is one of only two schools in Charlotte with a pool, the team must share pool time with the city’s other high school teams and is limited to the same 90 minutes of practice per day as its competition.
Despite that handicap, Martin has sent swimmers to Notre Dame, Clemson, Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, North Carolina, and North Carolina State. Two Providence team members competed in this year’s Olympic Trials (2000).
Martin led the Providence girls’ to another stint of back to back championships from 2004 until 2007. Martin also led the boys’ to State Championships in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Martin retired in 2013. That year, she was honored as the Toby Webb Coach of the Year. The award given by the NCHSAA to a coach who has made major contributions to the success of high school athletics at the school, in the community and beyond.
Over the course of her career, in addition to swimming, Martin was also the head coach of both the cheer team and the tennis team.
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Community Service
In addition to her teaching and coaching, Martin is an active volunteer with the American Red Cross for almost 15 years, training hundreds of students to become lifeguards.
