Brian Johns Appointed Head Coach and Director of Swimming for Vancouver Pacific Swim Club

Photo Courtesy: University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia’s Brian Johns has been appointed to Head Coach and Director of Swimming for the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club. Johns is a Hall of Fame member at the University of British Columbia. The University and the Swim Club will be sharing a facility next year.

Read the full press release below:

UBC Athletics and Recreation proudly announces Thunderbird swimming legend, UBC Sport Hall of Fame member, and current UBC Thunderbirds assistant swimming coach Brian Johns has been appointed the Head Coach and Director of Swimming for the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club. The Vancouver Pacific Swim Club is one of the premier programs for swimmers age 6-18 in all of BC. The UBC Thunderbirds, UBC Dolphins, and VPSC have a long history of working in conjunction to develop the highest standard of athletes possible.

Brian Johns’ move will further strengthen the relationship between the UBC and Vancouver Pacific Swim Club programs as they prepare to share a home in the new state-of-the-art UBC Aquatic Centre slated to open in early 2017.

“I’m a firm believer you can develop fast swimmers anywhere but having this new pool will foster the growth of the sport because you have more people in the club and more people at UBC,” says Johns. “I’m excited at the opportunity to be a head coach and being a great partner to UBC. I look forward to opening people’s minds of having local swimmers stay in Vancouver to build careers and compete for provincial, national, and Olympic titles.”

Johns has spent the last five years patrolling the pool deck at the current UBC Aquatic Centre as an assistant coach to UBC Thunderbirds Head Coach Steve Price and also working closely with Tom Johnson of the National Performance Center Vancouver. These roles came after an incredible competitive swimming career, which saw him race in three Olympic Games and set a world record in the 400 metre IM short course. While swimming for UBC, Johns won an astounding 33 CIS gold medals and one silver medal in 34 races.

“This is a huge win for VPSC, UBC, and the Vancouver swimming community in general with Brian taking his experience gained while working for the Thunderbirds and using it to develop the VPSC youth program to the level we know it can attain,” says UBC Head Coach Steve Price. “Under Brian’s leadership we will see Vancouver swimmers excel and work their way into the ranks of the Thunderbirds and the National Performance Center Vancouver.”

“It is with pride that we wish Brian Johns the best in his new position as head coach of the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club. Brian has contributed greatly to the successes of the Varsity program over the past five years in all facets of the program,” says National Performance Centre Vancouver Head Coach Tom Johnson. “His positive enthusiasm, energy, and work ethic will now be brought to bear upon the new challenges of being a head coach. He is ready for the opportunity and we wish him great success in the future.”

Brian Johns will take on his new role with Vancouver Pacific Swim Club on September 1st, 2016. UBC Athletics and Recreation and UBC Swimming Head Coach Steve Price will begin the search for a new UBC Thunderbirds assistant swimming coach immediately.

University of British Columbia contributed this report.

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