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May 23—JAMESTOWN — Ben Smith has held his dream career for almost 20 years.
"Ever since I joined the swim team in high school I wanted to be a swim coach," said Smith, the head coach for the Jamestown High School swimming and diving team. "It's a really big part of my life. Swimming isn't going anywhere, it's just changing for me."
Jamestown High School announced Smith's resignation as the head swimming and diving coach on May 11. As of May 19, the position has not been filled.
"(The decision to leave) was based on time and family," Smith said. "Running four or five programs depending on the season got to be a lot of nights and a lot of weekends. I love my job and what I got to do every day, but needed a better work-life balance."
Smith has been coaching in Jamestown since 2009. He also oversaw the University of Jamestown swimming and diving program and his own swim club, Prairie Rose Aquatics.
"It's been really special," he said. "I just want to thank everyone who has let me be a part of their story through swimming and coaching. It's fun to watch people grow into the person they want to become. Coaching is so much more than a profession, you get to be a part of people's lives. Athletes come back and they're teachers or doctors ... you get invited to their weddings, that's really special."
Finn Moser, a sophomore for the JHS boys swim team, has been training under Smith since the summer of 2022.
"When Ben first started coaching me, I couldn't even swim all four strokes legally," Moser said. "He fixed my stroke technique and built up the strength and stamina I needed to get where I am today. The first practices he coached me through were incredibly difficult. I thought he was a tough coach. He worked us hard, but he soon proved to be kind and compassionate."
Moser is the current program record holder in the 100 yard butterfly. The sophomore broke the previous record on Dec. 16. He clocked a time of 53,26 seconds to best the previous record by 1.37 seconds.
"I wouldn't be the same athlete that I am today if (Smith) wouldn't have coached me these past five years," Moser said. "I want to thank (him) for all the things that (he's) done to help me become a better person both in and out of the pool."
This past season, the Blue Jays boys team finished at 9-2 overall. At the 2026 State Swimming and Diving Meet, the athletes posted new school records in the 50, 100, 200 and 500 yard freestyle. The team also earned school records in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Two athletes, Moser and Kaden Fabian, were named to the First-Team, All-State roster, while Smith was named the 2026 Coach of the Year. As for the girls team, the squad placed in the top six teams at five of their eight meets last year.
"Jamestown has done a great job supporting the program that we have had," Smith said. "Thank you for supporting me and all of the kids who have come through the program. It really, really means a lot. I am going to be (the program's) biggest fan still. I will be following along and going to as many meets as I can. Any way I can give back, I am going to. I just want to say thank you. It's very bittersweet to leave."
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"Ever since I joined the swim team in high school I wanted to be a swim coach," said Smith, the head coach for the Jamestown High School swimming and diving team. "It's a really big part of my life. Swimming isn't going anywhere, it's just changing for me."
Jamestown High School announced Smith's resignation as the head swimming and diving coach on May 11. As of May 19, the position has not been filled.
"(The decision to leave) was based on time and family," Smith said. "Running four or five programs depending on the season got to be a lot of nights and a lot of weekends. I love my job and what I got to do every day, but needed a better work-life balance."
Smith has been coaching in Jamestown since 2009. He also oversaw the University of Jamestown swimming and diving program and his own swim club, Prairie Rose Aquatics.
"It's been really special," he said. "I just want to thank everyone who has let me be a part of their story through swimming and coaching. It's fun to watch people grow into the person they want to become. Coaching is so much more than a profession, you get to be a part of people's lives. Athletes come back and they're teachers or doctors ... you get invited to their weddings, that's really special."
Finn Moser, a sophomore for the JHS boys swim team, has been training under Smith since the summer of 2022.
"When Ben first started coaching me, I couldn't even swim all four strokes legally," Moser said. "He fixed my stroke technique and built up the strength and stamina I needed to get where I am today. The first practices he coached me through were incredibly difficult. I thought he was a tough coach. He worked us hard, but he soon proved to be kind and compassionate."
Moser is the current program record holder in the 100 yard butterfly. The sophomore broke the previous record on Dec. 16. He clocked a time of 53,26 seconds to best the previous record by 1.37 seconds.
"I wouldn't be the same athlete that I am today if (Smith) wouldn't have coached me these past five years," Moser said. "I want to thank (him) for all the things that (he's) done to help me become a better person both in and out of the pool."
This past season, the Blue Jays boys team finished at 9-2 overall. At the 2026 State Swimming and Diving Meet, the athletes posted new school records in the 50, 100, 200 and 500 yard freestyle. The team also earned school records in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Two athletes, Moser and Kaden Fabian, were named to the First-Team, All-State roster, while Smith was named the 2026 Coach of the Year. As for the girls team, the squad placed in the top six teams at five of their eight meets last year.
"Jamestown has done a great job supporting the program that we have had," Smith said. "Thank you for supporting me and all of the kids who have come through the program. It really, really means a lot. I am going to be (the program's) biggest fan still. I will be following along and going to as many meets as I can. Any way I can give back, I am going to. I just want to say thank you. It's very bittersweet to leave."
Continue reading...
