Matt Sinnott - Men's Head Varsity Coach
Matt is a 2003 graduate from Washington High School and has been coaching with the men’s program since 2007. Beginning as an assistant on for the JV team, Matt was named the high school's 4th Head Coach in 2021. While swimming at Washington, he earned his varsity letter all four years (2000-2003) and qualified for the State Meet three of those years. He focused on the butterfly and the IM, finishing as high as 8th and 12th respectively. Continuing his swimming career at Coe College, he set the school record in the 100 Fly and was on 3 school record setting relays. After completing his education at Coe, Matt continued with obtaining his Master's in Administration from Concordia University, Nebraska in 2020. Matt is currently teaching Physical Education at Wilkins Elementary School in Marion, Iowa.
Randy Ironside - Men's Head JV/Asst. Varsity Coach
Randy is a 2001 graduate from Washington High school, lettering three years. His focus was on Butterfly, IM and Distance Freestyle. Randy began his coaching career immediately upon graduation, serving as the Xavier Women's Head Coach from 2001-2003 and has been coaching with the Washington Men's team since 2001 as well. He took over as the JV head coach in 2003 and has held the position since. He held the same role with the Women's team from 2012 to 2019. Randy earned his Bachelor of Sociology with a minor in Pre-law from the University of Iowa prior to completing his Master of Business Administration. Randy also holds the highest levels of certifications from USA Swimming for club, High School (IGHSAU) and the NCAA for officiating. Randy currently works as an Implementation Project Manager at National Information Solutions Cooperative. Randy has two children, Everett and Delaney.
Nick Gearhart - Assistant Varsity Coach
Nick is a 1969 graduate from Washington High School and has over 50 years of coaching experience, ranging from the YMCA to middle & high school, college and Master's. He is currently the Head Coach of the Milky Way Master's team in Cedar Rapids. Nick was previously on the coaching staff, serving as an assistant coach for Jim Voss from 1984 to 1995. Nick swam under Hall of Fame coach Hal Krizan as a member of three state championship teams (1967-1969). Nick qualified for the state meet as both a junior and a senior, anchoring the champion Medley Relay and a member of the runner-up 400 Free Relay during his senior season. He continued his swimming career after high school, walking on at Indiana University. There, he earned a BS degree in Marketing. Nick was inducted into the Washington Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Nick and his wife, Jeane Schlatter (married in 2018), currently work as a real estate team with Coldwell Banker Hedges, serving both Cedar Rapids and the Kalona area. All three of Nick's children, Robbie ('14), Nichole ('17) and Matthew ('21), graduated from Washington High School.
Chris Tyler - Volunteer Assistant
Chris is a 1988 graduate of Washington High School. He was a member of three State Championship teams, Washington's first National Championship team, and was an Academic All-Conference selection his senior year. Chris is a 1992 graduate of Luther College where he was a three-year Varsity letter winner. Afterwards, he graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and has established his dental practice in Hiawatha. Chris has been helping coach in the Washington swimming program since 1996. He and his wife, Charity, have three children; daughters Calli and Samantha and son Jonathan.
Zach Kolker - Volunteer Assistant
Zach is a 2019 graduate from Mount Vernon High School and was a member of the Washington swim team for four years. During his time at Washington, he focused on butterfly and distance freestyle. He earned honorable mention all-state awards in the 500 freestyle in 2018 and 2019. After high school, Zach attended Coe College and earned his bachelor's degree in biology, with a certification in secondary education. While at Coe, he continued his swimming career and focused on butterfly and backstroke, breaking the school records in the 100 fly, 100 back, and 200 back along with the 200 and 400 medley relay records. He currently teaches biology, chemistry, and anatomy at Lisbon High School and is working towards his master’s degree in science education through the University of Northern Iowa. He and his wife, Katheryn, reside in North Liberty while she attends PA school at the University of Iowa.