Coaches and Directors
Su has been with the CY coaching staff since 1991 and has over 49 years experience as a swim coach. Su has coached at Countryside for the past 28 years. Prior to that, she coached for the Middletown YMCA for eight years as well as for many Cincinnati and Middletown area summer swim teams. Su was also the head coach for Middletown High School varsity swim teams for 9 years.
Her sons, Brett and Matt, were National Team swimmers for the Torpedoes. In July 2000, Su was honored as SWY Long Course Coach of the Year, and in March 2003, was inducted into the Southwest Ohio YMCA Swim League Hall of Fame.
Su has a BS and MEd from Miami University and is now retired from the Middletown City School District after 35 years of teaching physical education. She was also employed by the Cincinnati Area Chapter of the American Red Cross as a Water Safety Educator for 25 years. She is now a founding member (and board member) of Cincinnati Aquatic Training Services.
Su’s philosophy on coaching is one of keeping the “fun” in fundamentals. She also emphasizes the YMCA character development values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith.
Coach Julie started swimming at 6 years old for the Celina Dolphins/ AMFY in Celina, Ohio, then for Dayton Northwest YMCA from 1992-1996 and joined Countryside YMCA in 1996 until graduation in 2002. Coach Julie was an 8-time YMCA National Qualifier, 4-year Varsity Swimmer at Lebanon Highschool, LHS MVP and Team Captain, CY Team Captain, 3-time Top 16 YMCA National Finalist and swam for the University of Toledo. Julie has been coaching at CY since 2018. She loves coaching 10 and unders and encouraging their passion for swimming. Julie has been in the Torpedo Family for over 25 years- swimmer, alumni, and now coach/swim mom. Julie has 2 daughters who swim for CY: Keelyn and Delaney.
Stephanie has coached for over 20 years for summer clubs and USA swim teams in South Jersey. Most recently she was the Head Coach at Timber Creek High School and worked with the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy. She has worked with swimmers of all ages, from beginner to competitive. She has helped swimmers achieve thier goals, such as qualifying for state meets, Junior and Senior Nationals. Steph comes from a swimming family and has 2 sisters; one lives in Nashville, TN and one lives in Springboro, OH, her parents also live in Lebanon, OH.
Stephanie swam for Ohio University (1998 - 2002) where she specialized in the 200 Backstroke, 200 & 400 IM (Individual Medley). She was part of OU's MAC Championship teams of 2000 and 2001. Raised in an Army family, she moved around a lot, landing in Cincinnati where she attended Anderson High School. At Anderson, she was a 4x State qualifier and District champion in the 100 Backstroke.
After OU, Steph attended the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute and is a certified Chef. Steph moved back to Ohio in June 2023 from New Jersey and is working for Butler Tech at Middletown High School teaching Culinary Arts.
Steph's swimming philosophy is to inspire the kids to love and enjoy swimming. Her focus is on techniquie and mechanics. Steph's goal is to teach her swimmers how to be efficient in the water to help them be more successful. "I love to be on deck, sharing my passion with young swimmers and coaching them to be good humans / swimmers."
Jim formally began coaching in 1978 as Head Coach of the Canton City Schools USA Swim Team at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio. In 1981 he became the Head Coach at the North Canton YMCA, North Canton, OH for four years. While finishing his business degrees at The University of Akron he became the Men's Assistant Swimming Coach from 1981-84. Additionally, Jim was the Assistant Coach at Indiana High School in Indiana, PA 1987-1991. From 2011-16 Jim coached Little Miami High School and Junior High School Swim Teams.
Jim began coaching with the Countryside YMCA Torpedoes as a volunteer in 2004. During his Countryside coaching career he’s coached all age groups and abilities from novice to YMCA National Champions. Jim enjoys creating a positive high-energy team-oriented atmosphere where athletes can grow, mature, and exceed their limits through competitive swimming. As a former swimmer Jim understands the challenges of training, winning and losing, as well as balancing life and academics in and out of the pool.
His wife Liz is a swimming instructor at the Countryside YMCA. He has two sons, Wally and Jack. Both were former CY Torpedoes. Jack was a Division 1 All-American in the 50 yd freestyle and four time YMCA National Champion.
Rob Johnston is known as the old Y-Guy! He has been involved in competitive swimming for more than 6 4 yea rs as a swimmer (YMCA Age Group & College) , instructor, coach ( YMCA and Special Olympics), and YMCA Aquatic and Executive Director . He has been wet most of his life ! Rob has taken 12 teams to the YMCA National Swimming & Diving Championships, and was Head Coach in 1991 & 1995 for the State of Pennsylvania at the Special Olympic World Games. Rob retired after a 45-year career with the YMCA . He and his wife Wendy relocated to Maineville to be closer to his two children and grandchildren . Granddaughters Emma and Gracie are both members of the Countryside Y Swim Team. Rob volunteers here at the Y as a swimming instructor and coach , and for his church.
His philosophy for competitive swimming is: fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals ! L earn the strokes correctly and the times will come. The mo st important thing to teach our swimmers is - strive to beat yourself and you’ll be at a few others in the meantime, and HAVE FUN !
Amy has coached at Countryside since 2002 primarily working with the 8 & unders. She has also been an assistant coach for Kings High School for one year and Ursuline Academy for 5 years. While at Ursuline, she helped lead the Lions to two High School State Championships in 2013 and 2014. Amy was also an assistant coach at Rolling Hills swim club from 1982-1986 and head coach in 1987.
Amy grew up swimming in the Cincinnati area where she competed for Fairfield YMCA, Rolling Hills Swim Club, and Badin High School. She went on to compete at the collegiate level for the University of Notre Dame. While there, she was twice voted MVP and held multiple University records. She graduated from Notre Dame in 1988 with a BBA in Accounting.
Amy currently resides with her husband Jim in Maineville. They have 3 grown children, Mandi, Matthew and TJ who all swam for Countryside when they were younger. Amy believes that swimming should be fun while developing the skills and confidence they need to progress in the sport.
