Megan McNeely ('06) - Swimming

My name is Megan McNeely and I am the Head Coach of both the Girls and Boys Swimming Team. I started off my career at Holy Trinity High School being a part of the Girls Swimming Team as well as Diving during the Boys Swimming season from Fall 2002 to Spring 2006 while having the honor of being team Captain of the Girls Swimming Team as well as the MVP my senior year. After my college collegiate career at Iona College, where I swam in the MAAC Conference - Division 1 and was Captain as well my senior year, I was asked to lifeguard for both the Girls and Boys Swimming Team in the fall of 2010.  I couldn’t have been any more excited to get back to helping out for my Alma Mata.  At the beginning of the next season Fall 2011, I went from lifeguard to Assistant Coach of both the Girls and Boys Swimming Team for the next two years and then was promoted to Head Coach of both the Girls and Boys Swimming Team Fall 2013 and have been ever since. 

Swimming has always been a passion of mine ever since I was a little kid. I grew up in the swimming pool and have participated in multiple teams ranging from CYO, Williston Park Pool Summer League, LIAC and Long Island Express. As well as even playing Water Polo and Diving throughout middle school and high school and even a bit of college. I started my coaching career at the Williston Park Pool working my way up from Coach to Head Coach of the whole summer swimming league on top of teaching private swimming lessons. I taught private swimming lessons at Hofstra University Saturday clinic throughout high school, ranging ages and abilities. Even while attending college, going to classes, homework/studying and with a gruesome Division 1 swimming schedule, I found time to continue a passion I love and got a chance to coach at The Gaels Aquatic Club.  I currently coach a Stroke Clinic (Island Swim Academy) out of Eisenhower that perfects each stroke working on certain drills and techniques. 

My coaching philosophy is “If you have the knowledge, pass it on to those who do not." I also believe that growing up playing sports during your youth not only builds character and confidence but also gives a sense of accomplishment. It also prepares them for life and the future that comes after high school. Working as a team and being a team player not as an individual is important to learn as well, especially in swimming as you are normally racing on your own but you are a TEAM in the long run. I also give as many opportunities to allow my athletes to develop and improve their skills. 

There is one particular personal experience that has helped me shape my coaching philosophy and that happened during my swimming career at Holy Trinity High School. I grew up as a very shy kid who relied on my parents to help me communicate with others that weren’t my friends. Joining the Holy Trinity Swimming Team throughout my career, I learned how to communicate with my coaches without my parents' help with everything and how to be responsible for many different things that went on throughout my high school career. My coaches taught me that I can do things on my own without my parents because when I would go away to college, I wouldn’t have them with me and would have to speak up about things whether it was to teachers, coaches or anyone in general and learn how to do things without them. They were there to help and guide me but they gave me the confidence I didn’t have at that time. Going into my college career with these life lessons really helped me and I wasn’t as scared because I went through my four years of high school slowly learning I had my own voice and not to be scared to use it to ask questions, say something I was thinking or even help someone else out that needed it. 

An advantage of being a Holy Trinity athlete is the community that you are involved in is one HUGE family. Once a Titan, Always a Titan! It has been almost 14 years since I graduated high school at Holy Trinity High School, I still see, hang out with and even travel with many of my high school friends even after all these years!

One of my best moments as a Holy Trinity Coach was last year when I received a letter in the mail from a former swimmer., that I coached one of my first years at Holy Trinity. Her letter expressed how much of an impact I had on her in and out of the swimming pool. She expressed the way that I inspired and coached her during her time at Holy Trinity lead her to pursue a career in Education in college because she wanted to be able to impact her future students the way that she stated I impacted her life. The letter was so sweet and touching and is one of the many reasons I coach.

My advice to current middle school student-athletes as they prepare for becoming High School athletics is to take it all in because it is going to fly by! You are going to have your ups and downs but you will have your friends, family, and coaches there with you every step of the way. High School is a great time and being a Titan is an amazing experience!