Judy Prokopiak
Head Coach 678-876-1284
Coach Judy” has been involved in competitive swimming on and off since becoming an age group swimmer around age 7. She grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and swam for the Fort Lauderdale Swim Team at the Hall Of Fame pool. She experienced much success as an age group swimmer and became the FL state HS champion in 100 and 200 freestyle events as a freshman and sophomore. Coach Judy was also a two time Jr National Champion in 100, 200 and 500 freestyle events, a National Qualifier in 100 and 200 free, and 1980 Olympic Trials Qualifier in 100 free. Coach Judy swam for just one year in college (due to a family medical crisis at the time) but then decided to retire from competitive swimming and take up other activities such as scuba diving.
Judy has been a certified USA swimming coach since 2004 ( although she coached 1994-1997 in Tenn and at YMCA 2002-2006) and ASCA Level 2, currently working on becoming ASCA level 3. She has coached several HS state finalists, senior state qualifiers, as well as numerous Age Group state champions, AG top 16 swimmers, state finalists and sectional finalists since taking over as head coach of the Douglas County Stingrays in June 2007.
In August 2008,
Coach Judy attended her first USMS National championships after not
competeinf for 25 years and placed 6th in 400 meter IM and 400
free, 8th 100 free, 12th 200 IM and is national top 10 masters in
400 IM.
During
high school and college Coach Judy taught swim lessons and assisted
with swim team coaching duties such swim camp counselor. Over
the years while raising a family, working and taking college
classes she continued to teach swimming to many of her
children’s friends and helped out with coaching when they
would swim in the summers. While still working a full time
job, she returned to coaching in 1995 when the need arose and
became an assistant coach for beginners through Sr. National
qualifiers in Germantown, TN for two years
before moving to Newnan in 1997.
“Nurse Judy” has worked with pediatrics and adults and
even spent 5 summers as a camp nurse. Then when the indoor pool at
the YMCA opened she began again to become involved in coaching
swimming. Since 2000 she has been involved in
volunteer coaching and working to create a successful HS swimming
program in Coweta County (my daughter was their captain for 2
years) During 2002 -2006 she also took on the head coach
position for the Summit YMCA year round and summer Parks and Rec.
team as well as the unofficial “Masters coach” at the
Y. Coach Judy has been a part of the Stingrays since April
2006. AS assistant coach until June 2007 then became head
coach June 2007 through present day.
Coach Judy is currently volunteering as the Director of Health and
Healing Ministries at St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church in Newnan where she serves as their Parish Nurse. She is
taking a sabbatical from her career as an RN and Certified Diabetes
Educator to spend time with her family, grow the church ministry
she started, and share her love of swimming through coaching. She
is married to her best friend, Richard and they have two adult
children Andrew who is in college after completing service in USMC
and their daughter, Ashley (one of our previous assistant
coaches), is currently studying at the University of New Mexico in
Albuquerque
