Germantown Academy’s Aquatic Director and Varsity Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving Head Coach Jeff Thompson, who is entering his 11^th season with the Patriots, will step down at the end of the 2024-25 season. Thompson’s leadership has steered the Patriots to seven Inter-Ac League titles and six undefeated seasons since coming to Fort Washington in the fall of 2014.

Thompson has signed on to become the Head Coach of the Southeastern Swim Club in Fishers, IN, beginning in June 2025. He will also be recommended for the Aquatic Director and the Head Coach of the boys and girls swimming and diving position at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

“This move is all about family,” said Thompson. “We are excited to return to our roots after a decade-plus of living on the East Coast. While I knew I wanted to return to Indiana at some point, this position came about suddenly, and it’s very exciting.

“It has been an amazing journey the last 10 years, and I am truly looking forward to season number 11,” Thompson continued. “The student-athletes, coaches, parents, staff, and faculty that I have had the opportunity to work with have been a gift. I will forever be grateful for the memories and experiences they have given me.”

Thompson has been the driving force behind Germantown Academy’s continued prominence in the swimming world. Under his guidance, 35 student-athletes earned the distinction of National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) All-American, and an astounding 47 student-athletes were recognized as All-Inter-Academic Athletic (Inter-Ac) League performers. His tenure is further highlighted by 45 Easterns Interscholastic Swimming and Diving individual champions and four Inter-Ac MVPs, contributing to a program that consistently sets new standards of success.

Thompson's last three seasons have been particularly outstanding, with six league titles, a dual meet record of 36-0-1, three Easterns Championships for the GA girls, and two Easterns Combined Team Championships. In the 2022-23 season, the girls' team won every dual meet race, including exhibitions. That year, the 400 Freestyle Relay team of Emily Hamill '25, Sarah Freeman '25, Taylor Grimley '24, and Karly Boles '25 posted the fourth fastest time in the country, while the 200 Freestyle Relay team of Grimley, Freeman, Boles, and Hamill finished sixth fastest.

Thompson’s legacy will be remembered in the record books, as his current or former swimmers own 18 school records and pool records across the Inter-Ac. His influence has shaped not only the physical capabilities of his athletes but also their character, instilling a drive for excellence that will serve them well beyond the pool as evidenced by the more than 30 student-athletes that have gone onto swim and dive in college and beyond.

“It is with mixed emotions that we are announcing Coach Thompson’s departure after the 2024-25 season,” said Director of Athletics Tim Ginter. “While I am excited for him and his family on their return home, we are losing a truly great coach, teacher, and leader. I want to thank Coach Thompson for his service and commitment to the GA Aquatics Department – the swimming and diving teams, GAAC program, physical education classes, etc., – for the past 10 years. His dedication to his student-athletes, our school, his coaches, GA alumni, his Middle School math students, and the aquatic families has been exemplary. We look forward to seeing him on the pool deck for one more year.”

As Thompson prepares for his final season in Fort Washington, the Patriots eye another league title and a successful Easterns competition with 48 returning student-athletes from last year’s teams.

A search for a new Aquatics Director and Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving coach will commence shortly.