Gustavus Swimming Camps

Camp Director

Jon Carlson
Head Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving Coach / Camp Director

Coach Jon Carlson is in his 31st year as the head coach of the Gustavus Adolphus swimming teams. His teams are recognized as one of the nation's top small college swimming programs.

Since 2000, his men's and women's teams have won 19 conference championships, had nine top-ten finishes at the NCAA Championships, and have garnered over 100 All-American awards.

The Gustie men recorded team finishes at the NCAA Championships for 16 consecutive years between the 1996 and 2011 seasons. The squad placed 28th in 1996, 18th in 1997, 22nd in 1998, 34th in 1999, 26th in 2000, 23rd in 2001, 30th in 2002, 29th in 2003, ninth in 2004, seventh in 2005, 11th in 2006, fifth in 2007, 12th in 2008, 15th in 2009, 23rd in 2010, and 24th in 2011.

Carlson has coached 100 male swimmers who have earned 691 All-Conference honors and 28 male swimmers who have earned 93 All-America honors in 11 individual events and 17 relays. He was also named MIAC Men's Coach of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2019 and 2020 when Gustavus posted top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships.

The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving program has won 10 MIAC Championships since 2002. The team has also recorded team finishes at the NCAA Championships 17 times during Carlson’s tenure, including finishing 48th in 1994, 30th in 2002, 23rd in 2003, 13th in 2004, 16th in 2005, 30th in 2007, 35th in 2009, eighth in 2010, 19th in 2011, 11th in 2012, 10th in 2013, seventh in 2014, and 10th in 2015.

Carlson has coached 93 All-Conference female swimmers and 23 individuals who have earned 64 All-America honors. He was also named MIAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year in 2002, 2010, and 2014.

Participation in swimming and diving has grown significantly since Carlson took over head coaching duties in 1990, as the men’s and women’s teams’ sizes have each more than doubled over the past decade. The teams combined now consistently accommodate at least 80 student-athletes.

Along with his duties directing the swimming and diving teams, Carlson is also the head coach of the Gustavus women's tennis team. Jon and his wife, Heidi, live in St. Peter and have three daughters, Calleigh, Grace, and Josie.