Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John-Michael Dooley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, John-Michael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I was fortunate to grow up with great parents who encouraged me to be well rounded and participate in a variety of activities. My mother and my father had different strengths and came from different backgrounds, which allowed for many unique experiences. They also taught me to be understanding, compassionate, and open minded, which is essential to being a successful coach, trainer, teacher, and parent.

From an early age, I was interested in sports. I have competed in a number of sports and still love watching and playing all kinds of different sports. With that said, when I was young, swimming was not a sport that sparked my interest. When I was around 7 years old, my mother signed me up for swim team. After the first practice, I immediately wanted to quit. The water was cold, the work out was hard, and I thought it was boring.

I begged my mom to quit after every practice, and refused to compete in meets. My mom told me that I needed to finish out the year and then I didn’t have to continue. The next season came around and I told my mother that I was not going to join the team, but she told me to give it one more shot and that I didn’t have to practice when I didn’t want to. I begrudgingly agreed.

But this season was different. I started making friends, and I started winning races. I started to participate in team activities and had great performances in meets. All of a sudden, I wanted to go to practice and I wanted to improve. Practices were still hard, but I saw the work paying off, which grew my confidence. From that point on, I enjoyed swimming and I started having great success.

Looking back, it’s clear that my mother saw something in me and knew that if I put in the effort, swimming would be a sport and activity that would greatly benefit my life. I’m thankful she didn’t let me quit, but I’m also thankful that she didn’t push me or put any pressure on me. She knew that to enjoy swimming and to be a good competitor, that it would ultimately have to be my choice. She showed me that there is tremendous value in simply trying and following through with commitments.

As a coach and as a person, I try to live my life based on those principles- try new things and give them time. My parents also taught me to believe in myself, be adaptable, understand that everyone has different backgrounds, goals, needs, and people inherently deserve respect. Internalizing these values helped me earn a law degree, start a business, and have a desire to help my community and those in need.

My parents are both passed, and I miss them very much, but I will forever be grateful for the lessons they taught me and the great experiences we shared.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is John-Michael and I am the owner of Savannah Swim School, a swim school based in Savannah, GA. I was a competitive swimmer from ages 7-18, which instilled a love for swimming, movement, competition, and exercise. During my years as a competitive swimmer, I was fortunate to swim with some outstanding athletes and train under fantastic coaches, which has helped me develop significant knowledge about the biomechanics that allow humans to swim.

When I was 16, I started coaching young swimmers on my club team, and I found the experience extremely rewarding. After graduating high school, I coached for a USA swim club based in Southern California. This gave me the opportunity to help develop highly talented athletes and attend very competitive meets. While in California, I quickly worked my way up to being the head coach of the 6-10 age group, and watched my swimmers experience great success.

Unfortunately, while coaching in California, my father became very ill and passed away, so I moved to Virginia to help him during his final days. During my short period in Virginia, I worked as the head coach of a summer swim team with about 70 athletes aged 5-18, and managed 4 assistant coaches. It was a very rewarding yet challenging experience. At only 20 years old, I was one of the youngest head coaches in the NVSL (the largest summer swim league in the United States).

After the season ended, I moved to my mother’s house in Marietta, GA. When I moved to Marietta, I took a break from coaching and enrolled at Kennesaw State University. After a year at KSU I transferred to the University of Georgia, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in 2015. After graduating from UGA I enrolled in law school and graduated from Emory University School of law in 2022. Throughout my college years, I continued swimming, teaching lessons informally, and was frequently in the water.

During the pandemic, my wife and our new born daughter decided to move away from the Atlanta area and start a life in Savannah. I was finishing law school remotely and, to earn some money, I decided to work for a company teaching swim lessons. As soon as I started teaching lessons again, I immediately realized that I loved helping people learn new skills, achieve goals, and gauge progress. I saw my swimmers have great results and realize I had the ability to make a difference in people’s lives while doing something I love. So I decided to use my knowledge of swimming and my theories on teaching physical education and created Savannah Swim School.

Savannah Swim School continues to grow and we now have multiple instructors throughout the Savannah area. It is fulfilling to be able to help so many people achieve their goals. Whether it be a young child just starting out, an adult who never learned to swim, someone in need of aqua therapy, or a competitive swimmer training, helping people reach their potential is incredibly fulfilling.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

To be successful as a coach or teacher, it is important that you are adaptable and tailor your lessons to the needs of the individual. It is also necessary that a coach be patient, understanding, and create achievable milestones.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Since starting Savannah Swim School, I have had the pleasure of working with great and coachable individuals. Because these students achieved success, parents and students have spread the word to their friends and family, which has helped me tremendously. Facebook has been beneficial for advertising, but it is truly the kind words and recommendations we have received from our swimmers that has helped us build our reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: Savannahswimschool.com
• Instagram: @Savannahswimschool
• Facebook: Facebook.com/savswimschool