Mary Jo Klier
Head Coach Sr/Elite
When I was eleven years old I answered an ad on the country club
bulletin board for interested swimmers for the inter-club
championshps.....unfortunately I was second right behind the
club champion...and although I didn't get selected to the team that
year....I was bitten by the swim bug! The next
year...my parents who had figured out a little more
about how the system worked....like swim practice and racing
suits.... had the Klier Family ready and we were able to
participate at a much more successful level!....my swimming career
spanned eleven years....from country club to USA and college
competitions.....in fact my family brought age group year
round swimming to the central Syracuse (NY) area...and my
parents hosted, and worked....the first USA meet in our home town
when I was in eighth grade! ....from the age of 12 years I knew
that I wanted to "grow up" and be a swimming coach....even
though....THAT profession was unheard of in the late 1960's!.....my
parents supported me by finding and purchasing me ANYTHING written
on swimming....and when I started college....I went to the first
ASCA coaching clinics held in Montreal!....after I
graduated from college I trained under Olympic Coach Don
Gambril and had the wonderful experience of working with over
sixteen olympians the summer of 1972 when Mark Spitz made his huge
splash in Munich winning seven Olympic gold medals....in fact I was
beginning my first year as Varsity Coach of the Syracuse University
Women's swimming team....when Don Gambril called and asked me
to go to Kansas City! ...although it was difficult to be so far
away from my parents and family...I have enjoyed my thirty five
years in KC!.....with ten years at the YMCA and then in
1984 starting my own club the KC Swim Academy! ....I am most
proud of my Mom, Frances Klier, who was awarded USA Swimming's
Highest Honor for Volunteers....in fact...you can still find
Frances on the pool deck officiating meets....all her kids are
certain that this is ONE of the many reasons why she has stayed so
healthy and young....I know for certain that she has set a
wonderful example for me and her family...and has touched so many
lives!....listed below is a list of my swimming and coaching
accomplishments!....the last few years have been very
successful and I know that the best is yet to come!
1962-1968 USA club swimmer in
upstate New York.
Country Club Champion and Record Holder, Freestyle, Backstroke,
IM
Niagara District Champion, 100-200-400 Free, 400
IM
NY State Champion 200 Freestyle
1968-1972 Syracuse University
Varsity
Team Captain
DGWS (NCAA) Qualifier: 100 Fly, 100 Back, Freestyle Events
1972-1973 Asst to Olympic
Coach Don Gambril
1973-1983 Head Coach of JETS
YMCA swim team, PV, Kansas
1984-present Founder and Director/Head Coach of KS
Swim Academy
Throughout a forty year career as a coach my swimmers have achieved
many local and national honors and accomplishments from
country club, YMCA, USA Swimming, collegiate to master's swimming.
When Dirk Marshall upset the current Olympic Champion and won the
national title in the 100 fly in 1988 I was thrilled....but just as
proud when Peter Egan and Dirk won back to back YMCA National
Honors for their achievments in swimming and service to the
community! I continue to approach each day with optimism and joy as
I work with my very gifted and entertaining young
athletes!
