Coach Mike is beyond excited to return to his home pool in East Moline as Head Coach after swimming for both EMSC and UTHS during his early years! Mike continued to swim in College at Illinois Wesleyan University where he qualified for the DIII National Swim Meet his Junior year and still holds multiple school records. After graduating with a Chemistry Degree, Mike decided to attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale to obtain a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science. While at SIUC Mike was the graduate assistant swim coach for both the men’s and women’s college teams. Coming back to the QC after graduate school found Mike coaching on the Iowa side as the Head coach of the Piranhas Swim Club and the Pleasant Valley girl’s High School swim and dive team. Moving to Oregon was the step next for Mike, and out west he worked for a Wilderness Therapy organization for two years. This was an amazing experience and involved aiding youth and adults struggling with anxiety, fear, stress, depression, low self-esteem, anger, and substance abuse all while camping under tarps for 8 days at a time, year round in the Oregon Desert and National Forest areas.

When not at the pool, Mike enjoys being outdoors as much as he can. Activities such as hiking, fly fishing, backpacking, kayaking, playing soccer, and much more are things he looks forward to. During most of these activities Mike’s ever energetic 12-year-old Australian Shepherd, Booty, and ecstatic Pitbull/Catahoula, Gemma, are right by his side (or lap if kayaking). Mike also enjoys getting sucked in to a good sci-fi book, or hosting friends and family for dinner parties with his wife, Brianna. 

Mike has all his previous coaches and mentors to thank for their time and commitment, and is excited to give back all he has learned (and continues to learn) to the swimmers at EMSC and UTHS. Mike enjoys helping swimmers develop proper technique in all four strokes, and then creating fun and challenging workouts that will help them excel in the water. Mike recognizes that the physical work that happens in the pool is only part of the equation of being a swimmer, and aiding in the mental aspect is just as critical to developing a well rounded swimmer in the pool and individual out of the pool.

Feel free to reach out to Coach Mike at [email protected] with any questions about the swim club, pool, or anything else!

Isabella is from Moline, where she tried out a ton of sports before finally finding swimming at age 7. Although reluctant at first, she grew to love the sport and swam with the Moline Blue Marlins Swim Club for 5 years. Eventually, she joined the East Moline Swim Club where she stayed until high school. She then attended high school at Moline and swam Varsity for all 4 years.  Isabella was regularly the team’s 50 and 100 yard freestyle swimmer and was team captain her senior year. In the off seasons, she trained with the UT boy's swim team under Dave Busch.

Upon graduating high school in 2017, there were many opportunities for her in swimming, but she decided to call it quits to pursue other interests and passions. She attended Blackhawk College for 2 years and eventually found herself coaching for MBLM in January 2019. After coaching there for about a year and a half, she came to coach at EMSC. Isabella loves that she has now had the opportunity to return to both her home pools as a coach and hopes to be someone our swimmers can come to with anything.

Outside of the pool, she enjoys powerlifting and bodybuilding, spending time with her many pets, and cooking some super good vegan food!

Coach Jennifer is very excited to be joining the EMSC team! Jennifer started swimming with the Rock Island Orcas when she was six and continued her swimming journey with Rock Island until an injury kept her out of the pool her junior year of high school. As the popular quote goes, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach”, Jennifer began instructing swimming lessons at the fitness center in Rock Island which sparked a love for coaching and teaching! Coach Jennifer is very excited to put her experience with swimming and as a teacher together to bring a unique perspective to the team! 

When Jennifer is not at the pool (or her classroom), she enjoys spending time with her daughter, Riley. She also enjoys watching the Chicago White Sox and Iowa Hawkeyes!

Jennifer Houtekier started swimming in 1991 for the Newburgh Sea Creatures in Newburgh, Indiana. From 2001-2004, she coached 8 and unders at a local country club.  She continued her swimming career at Western Kentucky University from 2003-2007. She became a student coach for the 2007-2008 school year. Jennifer coached for the Moline Blue Marlins from 2008-2009. She took a hiatus from coaching until 2022 when she joined the coaching staff of East Moline.