Jim Peterfish
Head Coach
Head Coach Jim Peterfish
Jim is President of Youthletics Inc. a youth sports business that
currently operates Westerville Aquatic Club and Central Ohio
SwimAmerica, serving more than 6000 children and adults in
learn-to-swim programs at multiple sites around Central
Ohio.
Jim began
coaching Westerville Aquatic Club in the fall of 1977 as an age
group coach assisting then head coach, John Bruce. After completing
his graduate work in adapted physical education he took over the
head coaching position in 1985. He took over operation of the club
in 1992. Since that time he has been voted Ohio
Swimming’s Senior Coach of the Year three times, recognized
most recently in 2009. He was awarded the 2008 Ohio High
School Swim Coaches Association’s Sportsmanship and Ethics
Award given annually to one coach that exhibits these traits in an
exemplary fashion. Over the years Jim has coach swimmers to
state and national championships where many have won titles in
their respective events. In the recent past he has had two
back to back state record setters in Austin Staab and Kate
McNeilis. Austin was voted Ohio High School Swimmer of the
Year in 2006 and 2007 and was awarded National High School Swimmer
of the year after setting the national record in the 100 Butterfly
in 2007. Staab is the current American Record holder in the
100 Butterfly.
As the Program
Director of Central Ohio SwimAmerica Jim is serving more than 5000
children, adults and special needs individuals.
He has been a featured speaker four times at the National
SwimAmerica Conference and spoke at the 2008 US Swimming’s
Build a Pool Conference to share the success of his
program. He started the first Special Olympics program for
swimming in Westerville in the fall of 2007.
Jim is in his
28th year as Physical Education teacher at the Ohio State School
for the Blind (OSSB). Along with teaching K-12 and Multiply
Disabled Physical Education classes, he has, in past years coached
both Track and Swimming. He is the Co-Athletic Director and
Treasurer of the OSSB Parent Teacher Staff Organization.
Jim was
appointed the Head National coach of the US Association of Blind
Athletes (USABA) in May of 2007 where he coordinates the training
and competition opportunities of Blind and Visually Impaired
swimmers across the United States. He coached a team at the
World Youth Sports Games in July of ’07 and more recently in
July of ’09.
Jim is a long
time board member of the Central Ohio Swimming Association where he
assumes the position of COSA’s Developmental League
Director. He also serves on various committees for the Ohio
Swimming Association.
Jim’s
family resides in Delaware, Ohio and includes Anita, wife of 28
years, son Justin, age 22 graduate of Indiana University
where he served as the senior captain of the Varsity swim team and
daughter Julie, age 18, graduate of and senior class secretary of
Worthington Christian High School and incoming freshman at the
University of Cincinnati.
