Varsity Boys Swimming & Diving

Jeff Thompson has developed a simple, four-word motto over nearly two decades as a swimming coach: Grit. Resilience. Reliability. Ownership. These simple but powerful words guide Thompson’s vision as a swimmer, coach, teacher and administrator.

Thompson wrapped his ninth season at the helm in 2022-23. During his time at GA, he has helped produce 31 All-Americans.

2022-23 saw the boys repeat as undefeated Inter-Ac League Champions. In addition, Landon D'Ariano '24 was named league MVP. GA finished third at Easterns, and second in the Combined Team Title.

The 2021-22 season was Thompson's eighth year and a monumental one for the GA swimming program. During the year, Thompson helped lead the boys swimming & diving team to a second place finish at Easterns. He also piloted the GA Swimming & Diving team to its first Combined Team Title at Easterns since the meet started recording the award in 2019. Thompson also helped lead the Patriots to a the Inter-Ac League title and a 6-0 record in dual meets.

In 2019-20, the Patriots went 5-2 in dual meets and placed sixth at Easterns. Under Thompson, six swimmers were named to the All-Inter-Ac Team.

During the 2018-19 season, Thompson helped the Patriots to a seventh-place finish at Easterns and a 6-2 dual meet record. Two GA swimmers were named First Team All-Inter-Ac, with three more being named to the Second Team.

In 2017-18 season, Thompson led the GA boys swimming team to a 10th place finish at Easterns and had two swimmers win All-League honors.

The 2016-17 season saw the Patriots go 6-3 in dual meets and place 11th at Easterns. Two Patriots were named to the All-League team.

Thompson's second year in Fort Washington saw the boys go 4-4 and place 7th at Easterns. GA had two swimmers on the All-League team.

In his first season at the helm, Thompson saw his Germantown Academy team finish third in the Inter-Ac League and place 10th at Easterns. GA had one swimmer named to the All-League team.

Before coming to GA in fall 2014, Thompson spent 17 years as a USA Swimming Coach for the Terre Haute Torpedoes (IN) and 15 years as the head coach of the Terre Haute South Vigo High School boys’ and girls’ swim teams. With the Torpedoes, Thompson helped grow the club from 60 to 300 swimmers of all ages, as well as developed a learn-to-swim program and a Masters’ swim team. He has developed and mentored state champions, junior and senior national qualifiers, and sent swimmers to compete successfully at Division I colleges and universities. As the head coach of Vigo High School, Thompson led the team to its first boys’ sectional title in February 2010, while the girls’ team enjoyed 15 consecutive winning seasons. He also has experience in the planning, financing and building of two new pools in the Terre Haute area.

Thompson earned his Master of Science degree in coaching from Indiana State University and a bachelor’s degree in math education from the same school. Thompson, who swam competitively at University of Illinois, Urbana, also earned a bachelor’s degree from the school in civil engineering.

In addition to his posts as Director of Aquatics and Head Coach for the GA varsity swim program and the Germantown Academy Aquatic Club (GAAC), Thompson also teaches 5th Grade math in GA’s Lower School.

(Updated: March 2023)

Matthew Cox knows GA's swimming tradition well. He joined GAAC in 2002 and swam GA Varsity for four years. Cox was a member of two Easterns Championship teams (2005 and 2006). As a senior, Matt was Easterns champion in the 200 IM, placed second in the 500 and was part of GA's winning 200 freestyle relay team. Cox was a nine-time All-American and a two-time winner of the Luis B. Spealer MVP award. He qualified for Senior Nationals in the 200 IM. Matt went on to swim varsity at Penn State University, specializing in the butterfly and IM events. He currently has the sixth fastest time in Penn State history for the 400 IM.

After completing a B.S. in Kinesiology, Cox coached at Upper Merion Aquatic Club (where he started his swimming career) before joining GA as an assistant coach in 2013. He coached stroke mechanics and dryland training with the senior group athletes as well as the water polo team. As Head Age Group Coach, Matt designs and oversees the training and competitions of the age group program, ensuring that the needs of all athletes are met. He has ASCA Level 2 certification. Matt has coached over 15 Junior Olympic qualifiers and two age group swimmers ranked in the top 10 in the nation.

Thomas Henninger is the Head Diving Coach at his alma mater, Germantown Academy. After graduating in 2007, he competed for the University of California, Berkeley where he helped the Bears win the NCAA Division I Team Title in 2011. Tom's accomplishments include being a Junior Olympic and Senior National Qualifier, PAC 10 Finalist, GA Record Holder, NCAA Qualifier, Inter-Academic League Record Holder. Tom also has five years of Junior Olympic coaching experience (Centennial Diving) and has spent two summers working with John Wingfield (2008 Olympic Head Diving Coach) along with various Olympic, collegiate, and international coaches at Ripfest Diving Camp in Indiana. Tom is fully certified and safety trained through USA Diving, USA Swimming, American Red Cross, and Amateur Athletic Union.