Coach Mike

Mike Koerner is a retired Naval Officer who served as both a Cryptologic and Surface Warfare Officer for over 20 years. While in Navy, he served three years as an Physical Training Instructor where his duties included development and training of Naval Aircrew Candidates for swimming and deep water survival.

A native of West Des Moines, IA, he began his swimming career at age 6 and competed as an AAU and USS age-group swimmer earning both regional and national qualifications as a Sprint Freestyler. He continued his career as a high school swimmer where he earned All-American honors as a high school senior, three State top 10 awards while helping Valley High School to the State Swimming Championship in 1984. He was recruited and swam all four years for the University of Northern Iowa, leading the team as one of the co-captains his senior year while also earning a BA in Criminology and minor in History.

Mike is a USA Swimming and ASCA Level 1 certified coach. He is currently working on an additional designation as an ASCA 8 and under developmental coach, and continuing education in swimming physiology and sports psychology for swimming. In addition to coaching with Break Through Multisport, Mike is currently the Assistant Coach for Swimmer Development at Midway Aquatics Club, an affiliate of the University of Chicago.

When he is not coaching, Mike enjoys training and competing in triathlons, while still swimming and competing as a member of the Chicago Blue Dolphins Masters Team.

Race History:

Sprints:

1988 Big Creek Triathlon - Des Moines, IA

1997 Company F Triathlon - Misawa, Japan

2005 Palm Springs Triathlon - Palm Springs, CA

2005 Mission Bay Triathlon - San Diego, CA

2007 Sandman Triathlon - Virginia Beach, VA

2008 Harbor Light Triathlon - Waukegan, IL

Olympics:

2007 Hy-Vee Triathlon - Des Moines, IA

2008 Philadelphia Triathlon – Philadelphia, PA

2008 Accenture Chicago Triathlon - Chicago, IL