25-Time Ohio High School state champion coach Jerry Holtrey passed away on December 23rd, 2026. Holtrey was 86.
Holtrey began coaching at the Hawken School in 1969 after beginning his coaching career at the Club Olympia in Fort Wayne, Ind., and developed one of the most dominant programs in Ohio High School swimming for over 45 years, during which he accumulated.
Hawken School Athletics announced Holtrey’s passing on their Facebook page, mourning the loss of the longtime coach.
Hawken School mourns the passing of longtime swimming coach Jerry Holtrey, who dedicated 45 years to Hawken beginning in 1969. A legendary coach, he led the program to 26 state team championships and positively impacted the lives of more than 600 swimmers. More than his success in the pool, Jerry will be remembered for the values he taught and the care he showed for every student-athlete, treating his teams like family. Details regarding a memorial service will be shared once they are known.
His teams won 26 state championships; 24 for the girls, including 16 consecutive at the time of his retirement in 2014, and two for his boys’ teams. His 16 straight girls’ titles broke the Ohio High School Athletic Association record for the most consecutive titles in any sport or division.
During his time at the Hawken School, Holtrey coached more than 400 swimmers to All-American Status.
Holtrey also founded and coached the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins Club team beginning in 1965.
During his coaching career, Holtrey worked with notable talents such as Diana Munz (three-time Olympic medalist), Sharon Wickman (1968 Olympic Champion), Matt Vogel (two-time Olympic Gold Medalist), and Erica Rose (1998 Open Water World Championship gold medalist), among others.
Holtrey was on staff for a pair of Pan Pacific Championship teams and acted as head coach for two other USA Junior teams.
His accolades were recognized both locally and nationally; Holtrey was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010.
A very good coach
And a gentleman.
Wishing his family and his Swimmer’s great memories and peace
This news hit pretty hard. Jerry also coached and started the swim program at Paul Blazer in Ashland Kentucky. On those early teams was my dad, who always told me stories of Jerry and how great of a coach he was. He only swam in high school, but kept in contact with him throughout the years.
I met him when I swam at a meet in Cleveland, mostly because my dad wanted me to meet him. He was warm and very welcoming when I met him. He made an off handed remark that I had potential and wondered how I would do training with him one summer. That off handed remark became a reality.
Jerry arranged for me to… Read more »
And Melanie Valerio
THANK YOU, Sue! Was going to say this!
(Hope to see you at the memorial! Have a word of thanks to give you, too, for your excellence in coaching and teaching)