Jessica McCoy, "Coach Jess", is a swim coach located in Midland, Texas. Jessica swam for 22 years where she competed both nationally and internationally on the nationally ranked team and University of Texas' club team-Texas Longhorn Aquatics (TXLA). Inspired by her experience at TXLA, Jessica began her coaching career at 13 years old as a Junior USA Swim Coach. With this start, Jessica was able to develop a love for coaching, specifically, to instill confidence and joy within her swimmers. 

 

As Jessica's swimming career grew, she became ranked as a USA Swimming "Top 16" swimmer, placing nationally in more than eight events. She also participated in two different relays that made USA Swimming National Age Group Records" that maintained their standing for 5+ years. 

 

During Jessica's senior year of high school, she was recruited by the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Rice, LSU, Purdue, Columbia, Yale and TCU, before signing for a swimming scholarship to Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 2010. Jessica swam for SMU for three years before retiring from swimming, to complete her two Bachelor of Arts degrees in English Literature and Sociology. Jessica credits her love of coaching to the consistent support that both Eddie Reese and Chris Kubik, at the University of Texas at Austin, provided during her time at TXLA and during her time swimming at the colligate level at SMU. 

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Upon graduation, Jessica obtained a Graduate Certificate from SMU Cox’s School of Business in Accounting and Finance. She is now getting her M.Ed. of Sports Management at the University of Texas at Austin, with the goal of applying her education earned at Texas to reduce drownings in West Texas on a larger scale. 

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Coach Jess' coaching style can best be described as compassionate, patient and adaptable towards her students. Jessica is passionate about coaching children without fear as a motivator, using evidence based curriculum to support parents to foster children reaching their highest potential.

 

In collaboration with professionals such as Licensed Professional Counselors who specialize in working with children and adults to write Head Above Water Midland's curriculum, Jessica is able to coach children in a way that makes children feel confident, safe and empowered to make safe choices in and around water. 

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Jessica works diligently to participate in continuing education by taking courses through USA Swimming, American Red Cross, the United States Swimming School Association, and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. Jessica is also a certified American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid course instructor, with the ability to train and certify aquatic professionals in these credentials. 

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Jessica is married to her husband of nearly 7 years, Matthew McCoy, who is a native Midlander. They have two children under the age of 5. Jessica is from Austin, Texas, and while she misses the wildflowers of the hill country, West Texas is her permanent home. 

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Being adopted greatly influenced how Jessica views the world. She hopes that her coaching can help equip and empower parents with the tools they need to keep their children safe, as well as doing so for their children. 

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