MEET OUR COACHES
St Thomas
Coach John Vasbinder
1977-1982, 2009-PRESENT
NATIONAL SWIM COACH FOR AUSTRALIA, USA AND USVI (VIOC, VISF)
Coach JOHN is our Head Coach and has over 45 years of competitive aquatic experience. He started his coaching career in Australia and has continued to coach all over the world. John has been the National Coach for Australia, the US Virgin Islands and the US. He has been awarded the YMCA National Coach of the Year twice.
Significant achievements:
-ASCA level 5 Coach in USA and International
-World Aquatic ( FINA) certified National Coach 2015
-3 times National Coach for 3 countries
-6 times Olympic Coach :1976 Australia , 1980 US VI, 1988 USA, 2012, 2020 USVI
-2 times YMCA of USA National Coach of The Year 1989, 1998
-18 YMCA National Championships
-South Carolina State Championships for 12 years 1984-1996
-8 times South Carolina Coach of the Year
-USA Swimming Coach Excellent Award
-25 years as a Coach of Record for having a
FINALIST in USA National Championship each year.
-USVI National Coach for Olympic Games , Jr Olympic Games ,
World Championships, Jr World Championships,
Pan Am Games, Jr Pan Am Games,
Caribbean Games, CAC Games, CCCAN,
CARIFTA and UANA Swim Meets.
Coach JOHN is excited with the continued development of the VI swim teams and is looking forward to another successful year with STSA.
Coach Susie Andrews
Coach SUSIE is our Assistant Coach and has been involved in competitive swimming for most of her life. Susie attended and competed for the University of Michigan and Lehigh University. She is an ASCA level 4/5 coach with more than 35 years of coaching experience. She has coached at Summerset Hills YMCA in NJ advancing children from novice to Olympic trial qualifiers. She then worked for 16 years at Lehigh University, a Division I NCAA program and spent one year at Princeton University before moving to the Virgin Islands. Coach Susie is very excited to bring her Knowledge and expertise to the very successful STSA programs.
Scott Fortier
St. Croix Dolphins Head Coach
Coach Scott Fortier joins the St. Croix Dolphins in the US Virgin Islands after serving as an Assistant Coach and Men's Director of Recruiting at the University of Cincinnati. During his tenure at Cincinnati, Coach Fortier played a pivotal role in coaching multiple groups and contributed to the success of numerous NCAA and Olympic Trial Qualifiers. Under his guidance, the program achieved remarkable milestones, including breaking 21 school records, securing 13 Conference Championships, and earning 13 Scholar All-American Honors. In addition to his collegiate coaching duties, Coach Scott Fortier also served as the Head Swim Coach for a summer league program comprising 120 swimmers. He was responsible for all aspects of the program, including season planning, meet organization, and budget management
Before his tenure at the University of Cincinnati, Coach Scott gained valuable experience through various roles at Louisiana State University. He served as a Volunteer Assistant Coach, an Assistant Coach of Tiger Aquatics, and took on the responsibilities of Meet Director.
Prior to transitioning into coaching full-time, Scott was a student-athlete at the University of Alabama, where he was a scholarship swimmer. Unfortunately, his swimming career was prematurely halted due to a career-ending injury. Undeterred, he remained closely involved with the sport, assuming the role of Student Assistant Coach, and he also took on the position of Head Swim Camp Counselor for the Rising Tide Swim Camp, demonstrating his dedication to the swimming community
During his own swimming career, Scott achieved remarkable accomplishments. He qualified for the 2012 US Olympic Trials, where he finished 52nd in the 200 Butterfly, showcasing his dedication and skill. Additionally, he held the title of a US Junior National Qualifier throughout all four years of his high school journey. Notably, he was the former record holder in the 200 Butterfly for the 13/14 age group in Florida Swimming.
All of these achievements were accomplished while Scott was growing up in Tallahassee, Florida, and representing the Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club. Swimming has been an integral part of Scott's life, as he has been involved in coaching since the age of 15, making it his sole occupation throughout his career.
His passion for the sport is unwavering, and he is thrilled to take on the role of Head Coach of the Dolphins.