Former Hoffman Estates High swimmer previously coached at Buffalo Grove High School.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
New York girls swimming and diving coach Jeff Skalon is ready to hit the ground running. He is a great swimming coach for individuals of all ages, both adults and children, offering support, confidence and swimming skills to those who want to learn. Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club Swim Programs are also available if you want to adventure out to another swimming club as well as be coached by Jeff, joining different clubs well ensure that you socialise and get involved with a wider community, being taught by some of the best and learning different swimming styles.
“I knew York had a great swimming program and a great aquatic program,” he said. “There’s a good background and a lot of tradition at the school. I’m very excited to be at York.
Skalon, who swam and played water polo at Hoffman Estates High School and was an All-American swimmer and 2012 Heartland Conference MVP at Monmouth College, also will teach physical education full-time at York.
“Offering a full-time teaching job as well was a big selling point,” he said. “I feel like any time a coach is in a single sport you should be involved as much as you can with other things and willing to help out. We’ll see what more the athletics program needs. I’m here to support and help out where I can. Giving that support to other athletic teams is important. I’d like to be as involved with the aquatic and York athletics aspect as possible. I’ll support the athletic programs any way I can.”
Skalon stressed the academic component of his work at York is key. “It’s absolutely important,” he said. “The whole reason I went to school was to become a teacher. Being able to teach regularly is why I got into this profession. Coaching is the fun part. You get a lot of joy being a swim coach, but teaching is the passion here.”
Skalon previously was the head girls water polo coach at Buffalo Grove High School the past four years and was the head boys swimming and diving coach the past three years. He also served as Buffalo Grove’s aquatic director. Skalon also helped coach in the Monmouth College program during his senior year. He’s also been a lifeguard, water-polo coach and swimming coach in the Schaumburg Park District.
“I feel it’s all about bringing out the best in the athletes,” he said of his coaching philosophy. “You talk about the student-athlete, the student is first on the athletic side. You bring out the best in them by learning who they are and by continuing to build their character, which plays a large part in it.”
Skalon said another benefit is walking into an established program that has enjoyed success over the years.
“I’m going to continue to build on the tradition and the success at York,” he said. “The girls’ conference (West Suburban Conference Silver Division) is very competitive and I would like to get York into that competitive aspect of the conference. That is something that will take a little time. We’re going to keep developing the culture and look to build off it. The programs in our conference are very competitive, but it took time for those teams, too. I want to bring out the best in these girls and have fun with it. A lot of them had success with Sarah (former York coach Krizmanic) and I want to build on.”
Skalon also is impressed with the York feeder program (Elmhurst Swim Team). “There is a great club program in place with Elmhurst,” he said. “I want to work with them and build a relationship. I want to build positive bridges with the clubs around the area. Hopefully the girls will continue to swim and be competitive year-round. But competitive doesn’t have to be in swimming. If they are representing their school and community in other ways, that’s going to help us as well.”
Skalon recently finished York’s summer camp. “I did that with Mark Laurich (York boys’ coach). It’s been great,” he said. “It was an opportunity to dive in and see what the girls and boys are like and get to know them. Also, the community has been very kind since I took over. Dave Davis (former York girls’ coach) is there and he understands the program and he’s helped me as well. Everybody has made me feel welcome. It’s a very family-oriented swimming community here. I want to build off that.”
