Coaches

Gold Team

Jim Sheridan (Head Coach)

Jim Sheridan serves as the head swim coach for Columbus North High School and Donner Swim Club, and Dean of Students for Columbus North High School. While at North, Jim coached to three consecutive Boys’ State titles between 1998-2000.

From 1980 until 1984, Jim served as the head swim coach for Columbus East High School; there he won his first state championship. He also has a Girls’ title while at Columbus East High School, becoming one of the very few coaches who have state titles at more than one school.

Jim has received many awards such as Indiana Coach of the Year nine times, four years with the boys’ team and five years for the girls’ team, including the 2005-2006 school year. Jim’s teams have produced more that 90 All-Americans.

Prior to his stint at Columbus North, Jim was head swim coach for the men and women at Clemson University from 1991 through 1994. The women's team did reach a top 20 ranking during his time at Clemson. While at Clemson, Jim earned a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling. He also has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Health Education from Marshall University.

Jeff Jones

Jeff Jones is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and relocated to Columbus in 2001. Jeff began his coaching career in the Fall of 2007, working with Donner's developmental team. In the Spring of 2008, Jeff became the senior team assistant coach.

Jeff has two sons who participate in swimming

Age Group Elite (AGE)

Jennifer Brinegar

Jennifer Hooker Brinegar, a native of Bloomington, and a former student-athlete at Indiana University, joined the Donner coaching staff during the summer of 2009.

During her swimming career, Jennifer won seven individual Big Ten Championships, was a member of the 1981 Big Ten Championship team and held many school records. She competed on the 1976 U.S. Olympic Swim Team, and was a U.S National Team member from 1976 through 1979. Brinegar held two American and U.S. Open records and was a two-time U.S. National Champion in the 500 yard and 1650 yard freestyle events. In 1999, Jennifer was inducted into the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Jennifer received a B.S. in Business from IU, J.D. from Vanderbilt University, and an M.S. in Sports Management from IU in 1996. She has been working for the IU Athletics department since 1994. Jennifer ‘s two sons are also involved in swimming.

Age Group Developmental (AGD)

Katelyn Turner

Katelyn Turner has swum competetively since the early 1990's. She swam for Donner Swim Club from 1998-2004, and was a lady frog for all four years of high school. She also helped coached pre-team.

Currently, Katelyn is a student majoring in dietetics and studying to become a personal trainer. She is a U.S. Master's swimmer, and away from the pool enjoys spending time with her two young children.

Julie King

Julie King rejoined the Donner coaching staff during the winter of 2010. She previously coached the Age Group team for four years during the late 1990's. During Julie's youth, while living in Evansville area, she also swam for club.

All of Julie's daughters have particiapted in swimming. Two swam in the late 1990's, and her third daughter is currently participating in Donner Swim Club.

Professionally Julie is the assistant principal and a teacher at St. Bartholomew, where she has been on staff for ten years. Prior to teaching at St. Bartholomew, Julie taught for BCSC. She has a bachelor of science degree from IU in Elementary Education, and a master's degree in Education from Indiana Weslyan.

Away from the pool and school, Julie enjoys watching her older daughters play volleyball, spending time with her family, reading, and playing bunco.

Beginning Competetive Swimmers (BCS)

Veronica Henry

Veronica Henry was a competitive swimmer for 16 years. Starting with the Donner Swim Club at age 6. She went on to swim as a Lady Frog for Columbus North, where she competed at the state level all four years. At Xavier University, Veronica competed at the Atlantic 10 Conference all four years and was named top Scholar – Athlete.

Professionally, Veronica is a dentist at North Park Dentistry. She is getting married next summer to Kyle Turner.

Meika Sheridan

Meika has been coaching swimming and teaching lessons with Jim across the country. Meika started her coaching career in 1987 at Trinity Aquatic Club in Florida, and then Clemson Aquatic Club and CU Swim Camp. She has been on deck with Donner since 1996, serving where needed. Currently Meika is the pre-team head coach, organizes all of the private Frog swim lessons in the summer, and teaches adult swimming lessons.

Meika received her BS from Marshall University in Elementary Education and Orthopedic and Cognitive Disabilities. She has a master's degree from Indiana University in Special Education and Learning Disabilities.

Meika is currently a teacher for students with orthopedic disabilities. She serves students in five districts, from preschool through high school.

Meika and Jim have also raised their two children Erika and John (Kris), and are proud grandparents of Carter.

Kim Newkirk

Kim has two daughters who have participated with Donner Swim Club. Kim spends her day working with children as an occupational therapist. In 2006, she and Meika teamed together to take on the Pre-team coaching.

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