Team Foxjet Hires Jason Roberts as Head Coach

Mark Davis, Team Foxjet President, has announced the hiring of Jason Roberts as their new Head Coach. Prior to this position, Roberts coached the Northern Kentucky Clippers for 17 years. He started as the Head Age Group Coach in 1998, becoming the Head Coach in 2004. During his time with the Clippers, the team won 8 Ohio State Championships.

Roberts has coached swimmers successfully to the highest levels of USA Swimming, including qualifying 14 swimmers for the Olympic Trails since 2008, multiple Junior and Sr. National Team members, a 5^th place combined team finish at the 2014 NCSA Summer Junior Nationals, and 58 swimmers to collegiate swimming since 2004.

Of the NCAA swimmers coached by Roberts, 4 of them went on to score at the Division 1 NCAA Championships. One of those athletes, Cory Chitwood, was a 3 time NCAA Champion.

He has served in numerous leadership positions in the Ohio LSC and has served on the USA Swimming Senior Development Committee, as well.  Jason was also named the Ohio Age Group and Senior Coach of the Year as well as the 2014 NCSA Junior National Coach of the Year in 2014.

Roberts received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in Health from Northern Kentucky University in 2010. His studies were focused on Exercise Sports Science.

Excerpts from Jason’s letter to the board:

On his coaching philosophy: “My philosophy in coaching stems from one word: Teamwork. Without teamwork in what many perceive swimming is an individual sport, success is not possible. A stable, competitive team needs teamwork amongst swimmers, parents and coaches. Team success is a key component for individual success. If swimmers are working for a common goal much like team USA does every four years, they will see greater swims for themselves.”

On team parents and coaching staff: “Parents need a pride for the overall team. If they embrace team success, they will understand the importance it is for their child to achieve everything they are capable of. It also helps for parents to understand the ups and downs of the sport. Teamwork amongst the coaches is maybe the most important part. If a coaching staff is stable and cohesive, the rest of the team is going to fall in place. Coaches need to operate and believe in the same philosophies of technique and training in order to make it all work.

On coaching and training style:

“I consider my coaching style to be built on my passion for the sport. I don’t consider myself a yelling coach nor a pushover. I find myself coaching using the emotions that are needed for the moment. I gain the respect of the swimmers by proving I can build success in them through a strong coach/swimmer relationship. I am not there to be their friend but I am there to help guide them through all facets of the sport.”

“My training style is an I.M./middle distance background. Training all four strokes and middle distance allows for swimmers to explore all facets of the sport from sprint to distance from pool events to open water. I believe in working on mechanics every day in workout and feel the road to successful swimming also comes from the ability to kick underwater off every wall. When exploring my results over the years you will see that I have had multiple swimmers excel in all events from the 50 free to 5k/10k open water.”

COACHING AND OTHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

USA Swimming Senior Development Committee (2014-2017)
Ohio LSC Senior Vice-Chair -2011- 2014
2008-2014 Member of USA Swimming National Coaches List
2013 USA Swimming Open Water International Staff
USA Junior National Team Coaching Staff -2011-2014
USA Junior National Team Camp Coaching Staff – 2012
Ohio LSC Age Group Committee 2001 – 2012
Ohio LSC Zone Head Coach – 2002
Ohio LSC Zone Coach – 2000,2001,2002,2003
NCSA Head Coach Ireland All-Star Trip – 2010
NCSA Coach Hawaii All-Star Trip – 2006

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Swimmers to College Swimming (as main coach to athlete since 2004)
43 Swimmers to Division 1 Programs, 15 Swimmers to Division 2&3 Programs

Personal Awards

1999 Ohio Age Group Coach of the Year
2006 American Swim Coaches Association “Certificate of Excellence”
2007 American Swim Coaches Association “Certificate of Excellence”
2010 Ohio Senior Coach of the Year
2012 American Swim Coaches Association “Certificate of Excellence”
2014 NCSA Coach of the Year
2014 American Swim Coaches Association “Certificate of Excellence”

Junior National/National Team Members

USA Junior National Team

2006 – Cory Chitwood
2010 – Ellen Williamson and Caitlyn Forman
2011 – Ellen Williamson
2012 – Ellen Williamson and Max Williamson
2013 – Max Williamson

USA National Team

2012 – Cory Chitwood

NCSA All Star Team

2007 – Claire Dickmann and Cory Chitwood
2010 – Ellen Williamson, Krissie Brandenburg and Caitlyn Forman
2011 – Max Williamson

Team Accomplishments

Top 50 in USA Swimming Virtual Club Championships 2007-2014
– Ranked Top 5 in club size (200-300 swimmers) 2010-2014
– USA Swimming Silver Medal Program
– Top 3 in 27 out of 29 JO Championship Meets (SCY and LCM combined)
– 8x Ohio JO Team Champions

National Level Meets

– 2014 NCSA Summer Junior Nationals Combined 5th place finish (15/16 swimmers scored)
– 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Top 16 combined finish at NCSA Junior Nationals
– 2 Olympic Trial Qualifiers 2008 (First two in team history) (18&unders)
– 8 Olympic Trial Qualifiers 2012 (6 of 8 =18Unders)
– 4 Olympic Trial Qualifiers 2016 (All 4 achieved as 18&unders)
– Swimmers qualify Top 8 at Nationals
– USA Junior National Champions

Swimmer Individual Accomplishments

– 2013 Open Water 10k Grand Prix World Champion – Emily Brunemann
– 2 Junior Pan Pac Participants
– Gold Medalist World Youth Championships (Meet Record)
– Top 8 finalist 2008 Olympic Trials
– 2 #1 National Top 10/16 swims
– Numerous Top 10/16 swims
– 3x NCAA Champion – Cory Chitwood
– 4 Swimmers score at NCAA’s (Cory Chitwood, Ellen Williamson, Sharli Brady, Krissi Brandenburg (Relay)

Swimming news courtesy of Team Foxjet.