Matt Finnigan named Boys Swim Coach of the Year

Intermountain Catholic

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Matt Finnigan (left), meets with his daughter Lily, 5, who he calls his pride and joy, Assistant Coach Giulia Longo, and Graduate Assistant Becky Jackson. Jackson is currently a student at Westminster College. Finnigan said the biggest success is that all the students who graduate from Judge Memorial, all go on to swim at college, and then go out and make a difference in the world, as a result of help from their parents, teachers, and coaches. Photo courtesy of Jack Elizando

SALT LAKE CITY — Judge Memorial Catholic High School Swimming Coach Matt Finnigan has been selected as the 2008 Boys Swimming Coach of the Year by the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA).

Selection of this award is based on the 2007-2008 school year and is sponsored in part by the National Federation of State High School Associations. UHSAA Coach of the Year honors are given to those coaches who hold the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct, and moral character.

"Matt epitomizes personal and professional excellence," said Judge Memorial Principal Rick Bartman. "He is a great coach who cares deeply for all of our students and athletes. We could not ask for a more inspirational role model for our students. We are very pleased that UHSAA has recognized Matt. He is highly deserving."

Finnigan has been at Judge Memorial for the past five years. He also is the school’s director of community relations.

Under his leadership, Judge Memorial has won four state titles in swimming. Honored in 2006-2007 as Judge Memorial Catholic High School’s Coach of the Year, Finnigan was twice named as the 3A Girls Swim Coach of the Year by the Utah Swim Coaches Association in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007.

"This award recognizes the hard work and commitment of the entire team," said Finnigan. "I give all the credit to our squad. They are a great group who make what I do easy."

Finnigan grew up in Los Altos, Calif.

"I swam for a couple of great coaches, and swim teams," said Finnigan. "I was able to have the pleasure of swimming for the Santa Clara Swim Club, one of the most storied swim programs in the country. I also swam for the Los Altos Aquatic Club, which is just as successful. I would say that everything that I have put into the Judge Memorial program has come from my coach, the late Kevin Perry. He died this past April. He coached a number of national swimmers, Olympic trial swimmers, and a few Olympic swimmers. He was an awesome coach.

Perry was the one who really got me, not only into the sport of swimming, but also to respect and love swimming. I talked to him about a month before he died. He was always my mentor, not only as it related to swimming, coaching, and trying to relate with kids at this peculiar age, but also just doing what you love, whether that is coaching or community work, or building a business. The things I have been able to do in my life before coming to Judge, I have done with the guidance of my parents, as well as Kevin. I am hoping in the end that I am able to provide that for a lot of the kids I am coaching.

Finnigan swam at Florida State University, but said college was tough because there was so much swimming involved along with balancing school work.

"It was not as fun and innocent as it was in high school," said Finnigan. "But none the less, I am swimming to this day. I have never competed in a Master’s Meet, I just swim because I love it. Every once in a while I will time myself in a 200 butterfly or 400 meter freestyle, and go online to see what people in my age group are swimming at the national competitions. My times are actually right there. I like to swim for the health benefits. I like to get the kids to race and compete because I feel it is their time.

Finnigan said the girls swim team is obviously pretty talented.

"My expectations have been high working with the girls on the teams we have had over the past few years given the successes we have had," said Finnigan. "It makes it a little bit easier than on the boys side, where we lost the core of boys and essentially had to rebuild a new team. That can be fun too, actually. It is fun how these two totally different spectrums work together.

"In 2003-2004, we had a solid team of 18 boys when I started, and then nine of the boys graduated," said Finnigan. "Then we really did not have a team to replenish them. We had one freshman boy come in, and two the following year. So when we went to the State Championship, I put my best kids where I could and hoped for the best. Yet we were still placed 4th at State in 2004-2005. Then the following year we did not have any seniors, and we placed 11th. That year, we had a relay that did really well, but was disqualified because one of the kids left too early. We also had another student disqualified. That was the lowest point for the boys program.

"The following year, 2007-2008, the boys placed 4th again," said Finnigan. "This year it is a wide open race. We will go to State in February, and the boys were recently ranked third in the 3A polls. The team that is ranked first has beaten us once and we beat them once. So anything can happen.

"The great part of the story is that last year we had a small team of 11 boys and we finished in the top five," said Finnigan. "This year we have close to 30 boys on our team. They are mostly freshman, sophomores, and juniors, and only three seniors. We jokingly say we are the lacrosse swim team because half of the boys actually play lacrosse. I would say 85 percent or more of the boys on our team play another sport. They represent Judge football, volleyball, soccer, track and field, and cross country.

"They are athletes, and we encourage them to play other sports," said Finnigan. "That is what is so great about Judge Memorial."