John Westkott enters his 28th season as at the helm of the United States Coast Guard Academy's men's and women's swimming programs. Westkott was the first coach for the women's team upon his arrival in New London. During his tenure, both programs have enjoyed lasting success in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and on the national stage.
John is a 12-time NEWMAC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year, while the Bears have won the conference championship five times under his direction. The cadets have gone on to become NCAA Division III National Champions during his time in New London: Darby Schlaht '03 in 2003 for the 100-yard breaststroke; Christian Brindamour '15 in 2014 for the 50-yard freestyle; and most recently Colin Twiss '25 in 2025 for the 200-yard freestyle. In 2012, Sarah Jane Otey '12 was named one of nine finalists for the NCAA's Woman of the Year award.
Nine cadet-athletes across both sides of the program have been named NEWMAC Swimmer of the Year under Coach Westkott's tutelage, with Noah Reice '27 being the latest to earn that honor in 2026. The men's team has enjoyed a record of 199-54 since 1999, while the women are approaching .500 with an all-time record of 124-143-2 record, showing the side's significant improvement over the last ten years. The women's team holds the longest active win streak of all CGA teams against their arch-rivals from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, winning the last 25 meetings with the Mariners. Combined, the programs have gone 323-197-2 since 1999. In April of 2013, John was Inducted into the Rhode Island Aquatics Hall of Fame.
Coast Guard Academy swimmers and divers have earned NCAA All-American status 94 times since 1999. Only once during Coach Westkott's tenure has a cadet not scored points at the NCAA Championships.
The team's successes in the pool are mirrored in the classroom. Both sides of the program have been named a Scholar All-America Team by the Collegiate Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), with a current streak spanning 36 semesters. Qualifying teams must sport a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0, while numerous individual athletes have been named to the NEWMAC All-Academic team.
"The success of the team is rooted in balancing life at the Academy between athletic, academic, and military pursuits," says Coach Westkott. "This is a crucial philosophy for athletic development as cadets and soon-to-be junior officers. We are proud of their successes as cadets, but more so once they embark on their careers in the Coast Guard."
USCGA swimmers and divers have gone on to serve as commanding officers of cutters and aviators and as military aides for Presidents and Secretaries of Homeland Security. These officers are the truest product of the swimming & diving program at the Academy.
John arrived at the Academy after finishing his Master’s Degree in Education at Springfield College, where he was an assistant coach for the swimming and diving program and teaching fellow for the Physical Education Department. John graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in English and History from the University of Rhode Island, where he swam and played water polo. After graduating, he served as an assistant coach for URI, as well as the Rams Swimming Club. John is married to Nora, a former NCAA champion diver. They have two sons, Colin and Gavin.
