On the GMM Podcast, we sit down with Jake Gibbons, a talented young coach at one of the most powerful prep programs in swimming history, The Bolles School.
Jake’s connection to Bolles is personal. He swam for the Bolles Sharks from 2013 to 2015, absorbing the culture, the expectations, and the weight of a program that has produced Olympic champions and global stars. From there, his path wasn’t linear. He detoured briefly through Yale before landing at Texas A&M, where his career sharpened into leadership as much as performance. At A&M, Jake captained the team, earned multiple CSCAA Scholar All-American honors, and etched his name into the Aggie record books with a 9:05.38 in the 1000-yard freestyle. He was also awarded the Texas A&M Distinguished Letterman Award, the school’s highest recognition for athletics, scholarship, and leadership.
After graduation, Jake stepped away from swimming and tested life in the real world. But the sport pulled him back quickly. During the 2020–21 season, he joined Texas A&M men’s swimming as a volunteer assistant coach, contributing to their most successful NCAA finish in program history.
In 2022, Jake returned home. He came back to Bolles not as a swimmer, but as Senior Assistant Coach with the Bolles Sharks and Varsity Head Coach at the school, carrying the legacy of the program with pride and urgency. As an alum, he understands what Bolles demands. As a young coach, he’s fully leaning into the digital age, balancing tradition with transparency, and discipline with curiosity.
Jake’s Instagram presence reflects that balance. With more than 58,000 followers at @coach_jake_swim, he shares workouts, ideas, and philosophy without gatekeeping. He’s a next-generation coach, very open-source in mindset and old-school in work ethic. Jakes believes culture comes before outcomes and that speed is built on skill, not shortcuts.
In this podcast, we talk through Jake’s journey into coaching, the series the health challenge he has faced along the way, and where he sees himself and the sport heading next. I think you’ll enjoy this conversation. And if we didn’t get to a question you’re curious about, follow Jake on Instagram and ask him yourself. He’s an open book.
Follow Coach Jack Gibbons on Instagram here.
Follow Gold Medal Mel on Instagram here.
Many thanks to Swimoutlet.com for their 14 year partnership and support of this swimming news and media.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.
I’ve been coaching competitive swimming in North Florida since 1981, and it’s been incredible to watch the next generation of coaches step up and elevate our sport. One of the brightest young minds in swimming today is Coach Jake.
He’s not only sharing his personal experiences from the deck every day, but doing it in a way that’s authentic, thoughtful, and truly engaging. His passion for helping swimmers grow—both in and out of the water—shows in everything he puts out there.
Credit also to Peter Voerhoff at The Bolles School for assembling a strong group of coaches who understand exactly what today’s swimmers need to be successful.
North Florida is full of great coaching minds who are pushing our sport… Read more »
Frank, thank you for the incredibly kind words. Glad to share a pool deck with you often!
This was a lot of fun. Thank you so much, Mel, for welcoming me on!
No, thank you for the convo, Jake!
Best wishes to Coach Jake – It would appear his future is very bright!
I rly agree with his take on the whole thing with how age group freestylers shortening their stroke hurts the long term success and future outside of the NCAA. It’s crazy to me at least there’s only 3 areas in the U.S. where there’s a focus on longer distance free in age group development. Indiana, California, and Florida (and sandpipers).