Competitive Swimming Background

- Highschool All-American for National Champions Mercersburg Academy.

- 200 & 500 four year varsity swimmer, Indiana University.

- 1984 US Olympic Trials qualifier & 1984 Greek Team Team member.

 

Previous Coaching Background

- Head Women’s Swim Coach, Cleveland State University.(1991-1994)

- USA Swimming Head Coach, Team Viking(1091-1995)

- USA Swimming Head Coach Peak Performance (1995-2006)

- Head Strength & Program Coordinator, Brecksville Highschool.(2010-2022)

- Head Swimming Coach: Highland Highschool (2022-23) 

 

Current Coaching Positions

- Head Senior Coach, Cleveland Swim Institute

 

 

Coach Collis has had the unique opportunity to have studied under and competed for some of the greatest coaching minds in the world. John began his competitive swimming career at age nine, swimming for the great Distance Swim coach, Jerry Holtrey of Hawken School-LESD.

John then moved to Pennsylvania, to complete his All-American highschool career as the top 500 freestyler for the National Champion powerhouse, Mercersburg Academy and the legendary Sprint coach John Trembley.

 

John’s success at Mercersburg Academy led him to Bloomington Indiana, where he had the privilege to be coached by arguably the greatest swim coach of all time, Indiana University’s, James “Doc” Counsilman.

 

“Doc was bigger than life in my eyes.” States Collis. “He coached the greatest of the greatest, including world record holders like Mark Spitz, Gary Hall, Jim Montgomery and John Kinsella. Yet, with all that success, he had this magical ability to make everyone feel so special and needed. Of all the invaluable lessons I learned from Doc over my four years , his compassion is something that has really stuck with me; a quality that I continue to strive to provide to my athletes.”

 

John has 30 years of competitive swim coaching experience, including head coaching at the Division I NCAA level ( Head Women’s Coach Cleveland State U) USA Club(Team Viking and Peak Performance Swim Team) and High school levels. This coaching experience has resulted in his producing 11 age group National Champions, 14 High school State Champions and most recently his CSI team of coaches producing a 2017 Highschool National Record(BBHS 200 FRR) , a 2019 Ohio Highschool State Champion & Ohio Record Holder(Hannah Bach), 2020 State Champion (Petey Krusinski) and 2021 State Champion (Mairin O’Brian).

 

Since beginning his professional coaching career, John has remained steadfastly committed to providing all of his athletes with the same positive life lessons that he

 

Has learned from Doc Counsilman and his other amazing coaches and mentors.

 

John lives in Solon with his wife Katey, two daughters Kacey and Laina Jane, and their two dogs, Coal and Buck.