Hargrave Military Academy named Coach Nathan Manley as its new Aquatics Director for its Onishi-Davenport Aquatic Center. The position involves programing for aquatics events and ensuring a safe environment for those activities. Additionally, he’ll be head coach for both Hargrave’s varsity swimming team and the U.S.A. Swimming competitive club program. The club program is open to non-Hargrave students of all ages.
“I’m excited to be here. It is a good time to be engaged with Hargrave. We will get the program moving forward,” Coach Manley said. “I think an important part of the aquatic center is to reach out to the community directly.”
Coach Manley is a graduate of Anderson University and holds a masters degree in physical education with a specialization in coaching from Ball State University. He is an American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Level IV certified coach with a 20 year coaching career.
Manley’s experience includes working directly with YMCA swimming and USA Swimming club programs. He is an experienced high school and summer club swimming coach.
Coach Manley comes to Hargrave from the Rapids Area YMCA Swimmers team program located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As the head coach for the program, his athletes broke over 200 team records and accumulated numerous National Top 16 times and All-American honors. His club swimmers have gone on to compete successfully at all three collegiate divisions.
“Coach Manley is a welcome addition to Hargrave’s commitment to aquatics,” BG Don Broome (USA Ret.), Hargrave’s president, said. “He brings the Academy both a great deal of energy and experience. He’ll have an immediate impact on the direction of the program. I’m very excited about what he can offer the Academy and the community. He is interested not only in seeing our young men progress as swimmers–but, grow as young men of character.”
Coach Manley has also been active with U.S. Paralympic swimming since 2006. He helped guide current U.S. National Para Swimming team member Elizabeth Stone to numerous American records and a silver medal in the 100m Backstroke during the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. Coach Manley served as head coach for the 2015 Parapan Am Team and regularly provides support for national team athletes at international competitions.
Coach Manley is passionate about helping young people develop character and life skills through the pursuit of excellence in the aquatics. He and his wife, Jodi, have three children. The family resides in Chatham.
