IST Welcomes JUSTIN MORIN as New Head Coach & CEO
After months of a national search, and with the help of the Hiring Committee, Parents Committee, swimmers, and coaches, Issaquah Swim Team is pleased to announce our next CEO/Head Coach will be Justin Morin from Hillsboro, Oregon. He will officially begin in that capacity on April 8th.
Justin joins IST after 10 years of coaching experience as Head Age Group Coach of CAAT (now SMAC), Assistant Coach at Seattle University, Senior Development Coach at Hillsboro HEAT, and serving on multiple LSC Zone and All-Star staffs.
Justin started his competitive swimming career at age 11 with HEAT, and later moved to Salmon Bay Aquatics in Seattle (now Cascade), competing at many levels along the way including LSC, Northwest Age Group Regionals, Junior Nationals, Nationals, and US Open Championships. He went on to swim with a scholarship at Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in Psychology. After college, Justin pursued his master’s degree in Clinical Metal Health. His work history includes experience in Pediatric Psychiatry, Behavioral Health, and serving as a Clinical Therapist.
Justin's coaching career reflects care and dedication to athletes and the sport, with swimmers under his tutelage accomplishing great things in and out of the pool:
- 2018: Athlete named to the USA Swimming Junior National Team
- 2017-18: Largest Fundraising and Volunteering by athletes in the country (for teams 200-299 members)
- 9 National Age Group Top 10 times
- 15 LSC Records
- Multiple Regional and LSC Qualifiers and Champions
- Athletes named to city Youth Advisory Committee 4 consecutive years
- 6 NCAA Scholarships awarded to athletes
In addition to his personal success, programs Justin has been a part of have seen sustained growth and achievement at both local and national levels.
Justin has a dedication towards Safe Sport, Diversity and Inclusion, and student-athlete leadership. His coaching philosophy closely aligns with IST's mission statement, and he sees himself as a partner in the coaching and training processes. He believes in focusing on the strengths of individuals to help bring out the most in them by using internal resources to motivate, lead, and accomplish great things in and out of the pool.
Justin says he chose to join IST, "because the core values of the team ring true to [him]." He stated, "I believe there is greatness at IST, and I would be honored to be part of the process to bring the greatness of each swimmer to fruition. I see that swimmers have struggled through this transition and feel that I would be the right person to bring stability and strength back to the program."
Joining Justin in the move to Issaquah will be his wife, Cassandra, and 2 children: Daphne (7) and Ira (3). We’re thrilled to have them become a part of our larger Sockeye Family as we all move forward together on the road to developing champions in the pool and champions in life through a tradition of excellence!
