GPS varsity swim coach, John Woods, will receive the NISCA Outstanding Service Award at the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association convention in Columbus, Ohio, on March 27. A member receives this award only once, and recipients' names are on display in the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
The award honors above average success as a competitive aquatic coach and leadership at the local, state, or national level. In recognizing Woods’ honor, GPS Headmaster Randy Tucker said the coach "has been one of those stalwarts, the steady professional. It doesn't matter what you ask of him; you know it will be done well. And above all, you know John loves his girls and wants only the best for each of them."
Woods, who is in his 18th year at GPS, serves as general chairman of Southeastern Swimming, having served the organization's board of directors. The 1994 Southeastern Coach of the Year, he is a five-time Tennessee High School Coach of the Year and eight-time recipient of the American Swim Coaches Association Award of Excellence. He has been honored with an award from the Special Olympics for his teams' generosity, coaching, and mentoring of young swimmers with special needs.
Notified of the award, Woods said, "This wouldn't have been achieved without talented athletes and people who have been willing to do the work that's necessary."
After graduating from Auburn, he served as the university's men's assistant swim coach and the 1976 women's head coach. He has been an assistant at the United States Olympic Festival, assistant for the USA Junior Team training camp, and assistant coach for the USA Junior Team in Paris, France, and Barcelona, Spain. He has coached NISCA's Top Ten team ten times.
Woods has coached over 50 high school All-Americans, six USA National Team members, swimmers at every Olympic Trials since 1980, and two Olympic swimmers. Among his GPS swimmers was four-time National Champion Annemieke McReynolds '96. His GPS teams have been state runners-up nine times.