Jonathan Jordan Hired as Eastern Illinois’ Second New Coach in as Many Years

Photo Courtesy: Brian Jenkins - UVM Athletics

Jonathan Jordan Hired as Eastern Illinois’ Second New Coach in as Many Years

Jonathan Jordan was hired Friday as the head coach of Eastern Illinois’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving team. It’s the second time in as many years that the program has changed coaching directions.

Jordan spent the last seven years at Lincoln College, which made the jump from a two-year college to a four-year NAIA member. He coached the Marshall Islands at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and previously worked with the Fiji Swimming Federation and as a member of the Oceania National Olympic Committee.

“First off, I would like to thank President Dr. David Glassman, Athletic Director Tom Michael, Deputy AD Mark Bonnstetter and Assistant AD Dr. Tonya Sawyer for the opportunity to lead the Panther swimming program,” Jordan said in a team statement. “This is an exciting opportunity for me to be able to continue the swimming traditions of EIU while evolving the team into the future. I believe that with the support that EIU has put in place, the team will rise in the rankings of the Summit League.”

Jordan swam at Albion College in Michigan, graduating in 2008. He has previous experience in the Summit League with the University of South Dakota, where he was an assistant from 2008-10. From there, he helped start the program at Iowa Lakes Community College in 2010 before leaving in 2015 to join Lincoln. He’s also coached at the high school level in Michigan and at Bloomington-Normal YMCA WAVES swim club.

Jordan guided Marshall Islands Olympian Giordan Harris to the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and Colleen Furgeson and Phillip Kinono to the Tokyo Games.

“We are excited to welcome Johnathan and his wife Amber to Charleston as the new head coach for our Panthers swim programs,” EIU Athletic Director Tom Michael said. “Johnathan brings a wealth of experience with him to our program having coached not only at the collegiate level but recently on the international Olympic stage. I think that vast range of knowledge will help our EIU programs grow and I look forward to Johnathan providing a great experience for the young men and women in our Panther swim programs.”

Jordan replaces Tyler Donges, who was hired last September. The university decided in May not to renew his contract.

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