About Susie Johnson
(Coach. Mentor. Guide for swim parents — and swimmers.)
For most of my life, I took care of everyone else first.
My kids.
My teams.
My marriage.
My responsibilities.
I ignored my own needs, trusted everyone else’s opinions more than my gut, and wore burnout like it was just part of being a good mom.
These days, my life — and my work — look very different.
I’m a single mom of five competitive swimmers, a former Division I swimmer, and a seasoned swim coach who has coached nearly every level of the sport.
Two of my kids are currently swimming in college.
Three are still swimming at the high school and club level.
I’ve lived the swimming and recruiting journey from every angle — athlete, coach, and parent — and I’ve learned something that shapes everything I do:
I don’t create fast swimmers.
I develop humans.
My philosophy
I believe in long-term development — of both swimmers and people.
Swimming is powerful, but it’s not the end goal.
It’s the tool.
A way to teach discipline, resilience, consistency, patience, and self-trust — skills that matter just as much outside the pool as they do inside it.
That’s why I don’t chase fast results at the expense of the person.
My approach is simple:
- Technique before intensity
- Foundation before volume
- Consistency before comparison
When swimmers learn how to move well first, everything else follows more naturally:
- Training loads increase over time instead of all at once
- Injuries decrease
- Confidence grows
- Progress becomes sustainable instead of forced
I leave room for the training bar to rise organically — not because a swimmer was pushed too hard too soon, but because they earned it.
Fast swimmers come and go.
Strong, resilient, self-aware humans last.
What I do now
Most of my work is focused on helping swim parents support their kids without over-coaching, over-controlling, or losing themselves in the process.
I help families move away from:
- Obsessing over times, rankings, and comparisons
- “Division I or bust” thinking
- Panic-driven recruiting decisions
- Letting swimming run the entire household
And toward:
- Long-term athlete development
- Clear, realistic recruiting timelines
- Strong parent–athlete relationships
- Confident, informed decision-making
Most families aren’t short on effort.
They’re short on clarity.
That’s the gap I fill.
I also work directly with swimmers
In addition to mentoring parents, I work directly with swimmers through mindset and video-based consultations.
This isn’t about fixing strokes or writing training plans.
It’s about:
- Confidence under pressure
- Handling setbacks, slumps, and disappointment
- Navigating coach feedback and expectations
- Rebuilding belief after injury or illness
- Learning how to think like an athlete instead of spiraling like a teenager
Sometimes a swimmer needs a voice that isn’t their parent — and isn’t their coach.
That’s where I come in.
I don’t coach mechanics.
I coach how to show up.
A few things you should know about me
- I’m direct, honest, and very no-BS
- I believe parents should support — not coach — their kids (unless you’re actually the coach)
- I believe burnout is preventable — for swimmers and parents
- I believe swimming should build strong humans, not just fast ones
I’ve watched incredibly talented swimmers quit because the process crushed them.
I’ve also watched “average” swimmers thrive because the environment supported growth.
Talent matters.
But approach matters more.
Why this matters
The college recruiting process doesn’t need to consume your life.
But without guidance, it often does.
That’s why I created resources like the College Swim Recruiting Guide — to give parents a clear, step-by-step roadmap instead of endless Googling, conflicting advice, and second-guessing every decision.
If you’re here, chances are:
- You want to help your swimmer without damaging your relationship
- You want clarity instead of chaos
- You want your child to love the sport long enough for college swimming to be an option
- You want to feel confident you’re doing enough — without doing too much
You’re in the right place.
Start here
If you want a smart, grounded starting point, grab the College Swim Recruiting Guide and get on my email list.
That’s where I teach, mentor, and help swim families focus on what actually matters — both in and out of the pool.
You don’t need to do more.
You need to do the right things, in the right order.
Let’s start there.