Joe Flaherty - Head Coach
Joe Flaherty has been teaching and coaching swimmers and swim teams in Montgomery County, MD for more than 30 years. Joe started his career as the head coach for Montgomery County Swim League’s highly successful Flower Valley summer swim team, a position he held for 25 years. He led that team to an unprecedented 20 consecutive years in the “A” division, was undefeated for 16 years of “B” meets, and coached 40 15-18-year-old swimmers in his final year. He founded the Dolphins year-round competitive swim team and program in 1983.
Since then, he has worked with thousands of swimmers, from beginners, to competitive athletes who have ranked among the top 16 in the United States. Joe took one swimmer to Olympic Trials His expertise in stroke technique regularly brings swimmers from other teams to his advanced stroke clinics.
Coach Flaherty’s emphasis is on leadership and character development as much as technique and speed, and many Dolphin alumni have paid tribute to his role in their success as adults. He was the 2005 recipient of the coveted Doc Counsilman Creative Coaching Award from the American Swim Coaches Association. In 2003, he received the Small Business Award from the Montgomery County, MD Workforce Investment Board for his professional coaches training programs.
COACH FLAHERTY’S INDUCTION INTO THE MCSL HALL OF FAME
Coach Flaherty wants “to God for allowing him to coach for 40
years. Despite my many mistakes, I am thankful that God has
blessed my swimmers & coaches with a lot of success”
Guest appearance on a TV talk show “College Athletics and You”
Several times interviewed as a guest on radio talk shows about the
benefits of athletics for young people
USA SWIMMING
A dozen who have gone from the JFD stroke clinic to Olympic Trials
14 who have made top 16 ranking in the USA
2 swimmers ranked # 1 in the USA
Received the Doc Counsilman Creative Coaching Award from the
American Swim Coaches Association at the World Coaches Convention
Made a presentation at the World Coaches Convention
PVS SWIMMING
In 2011, 4 graduates of the JFD stroke clinic were PVS outstanding
Swimmers in their various Age groups
Zone Coach 4 times Twice as head coach
Three swimmers had Eastern Zone 1 st place finishes
JFD SWIMMING
For many years, in virtually every PVS Championship meet,
JFD has outscored all teams their size
COACHES TRAINIG
JFD techniques are so respected in this county that he annually
trains about 50 new coaches for JFD and various summer league
pools.
Coach Flaherty received the small business award for his program
that trains future coaches on how to excel in their jobs.
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS EMPLOYING 80 COACHES
JFD has grown every year since 1996.
JFD received a letter from the United States Senate recognizing the
business for stimulating the economy by expanding and giving so
many employees a chance to prosper in their field.
HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING
Coached Good Counsel for 7 years
His last 4 years as Metro Champions
His last 6.5 years undefeated
One year His Falcons Won first place at every event at the
Prep School Relay Carnival
FLOWER VALLEY SWIM TEAM
Flaherty was part of 6 FV “A DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
(as a swimmer & as a coach)
He kept FV in A Division for 22 of his 25 years as their coach
And set up the system that kept them there another 9 years
after he was gone.
Under his inspiration, FV was undefeated in B meets for Coach Flaherty’s last 16
years, and many more years after he left
IN 1998 FV had
FOURTY TWO 15-18’S ON THE TEAM
254 MEET SWIMMERS
90 ON PRE-TEAM (who never swam a meet)
MANCHESTER FARM SWIM TEAM
Took Manchester Farm from N division to B Division in 5 years
from 60 swimmers to 200+ swimmers
HIS KEY TO SUCCESS
Has been able to find / develop top level coaches
He wants to thank those who helped him build his programs in the early years
Ingrid Jensen Ralph Mariani
John Polous Tara Zimmerman
Cathy (Cuddeback) McMillion Meg (Cuddeback) Vaughn
Chris Mann Beth Mann
Geoff Sipes Lisa Sheskin
Dave Huband Mike Huband
Lindsay Cromarty John Crocker
Jim Crocker Dave Crocker
Katie Hverkos Mike Herberg
As well as those who are building upon the foundation laid
Shannon English Shannon Dietrich
Boris Cicmil Kyle Brown
THROUGH IT ALL
Coach Flaherty wants to thank his family who has supported him in many, many ways,
especially to Jackie Flaherty, who has been a quite noticeable character at swim meets for every
one of the past 49 years.
A TESTIMONY TO THE LIFE LONG IMPACT OF THE JFD PHILOSOPHY
When Coach Flaherty considered purchasing the house right across the street from
the Quince Orchard winter bubble, his alumni rallied to support this as they know
how much it would mean to Coach Flaherty’s current & future swimmers. Their
donated / discounted services were coordinated by real estate agent Thomas
Powers
To help Coach with the purchase of the JFD house, Coach Flaherty’s alumni /
current swimming families donated / greatly discounted the following services
Finance Company
Home inspection agent
Electrical upgrades
Window replacement
Landscaping
Tile research
Painting
Furniture
Recreational equipment
Settlement attorney
JFD CAUSES
After so many years of struggling to build a program, JFD is financially secure, and able to donate to worthy causes, where many JFD alumni, relatives and friends actually go and are part of established on-going efforts where progress is slow, the work hard, but over time, lives are transformed. For more information, see Coach Flaherty
1 The Lord’s Table A local soup kitchen (at St Martin’s Church in Gaithersburg) Donations can be made at any time. Our key days to attend are the Friday of Thanksgiving break and Dec 24 th
2 Water for Uganda A project in Uganda where, year after year, a few JFD alumni have been part of digging wells and much more
3 Rancho 3M An orphanage in Mexico where over 100 JFD swimmers / coaches / relatives have gone for many, many years.
4 Rockville Where incredible help of all kinds is given to Pregnancy Center mothers and babies in need
5 Everyday is Alumni Besilica (Reaves) and her husband Denis Christmas Castenieda work to provide presents (and much more) that struggling parents can buy at a very low cost. A great mix of support and a call to responsible living.
6 Mission of Mercy Provides free medical help to those who have fallen thru the insurance cracks
8 F C A Many resources to help make coaches better
9 CLC School A local private school where many JFD swimmers /coaches attend or have graduated
10 As JFD swimmers / coaches / alumni ask, JFD may supports various short term projects in the USA and abroad.
At Thanksgiving, JFD donates $1 for each swimmer in the program to each of these causes, in 2014, our donations totaled $9,998
