by Alan Babbitt

John Patnott, retired Hope College swimming and diving coach and professor, has been chosen for a select College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America panel for the organization's year-long centennial celebration.

The panel will vote on the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and alumni and consists of influential figures from across college swimming and diving including current and former coaches, past athletes, and members of the media.

Founded in 1922, the CSCAA is the nation's first professional association of collegiate coaches. 

As a part of its centennial, the association is recognizing the 100 Greatest Swimmers & Divers, Coaching Pioneers and 100 Greatest Coaches, 100 Alumni of Impact, and a Centennial MVP Team. 

The CSCAA will announce nominees for the 100 Greatest Swimmers and Divers next week. 

Patnott started Hope's swimming and diving program in 1978 and developed it into one of the nation's finest small college programs for men and women. He also was a professor of kinesiology. He retired following the 2018-19 season.

In 2018, Patnott received the CSCAA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Patnott coached 121 All-Americans and had national champions in 31 events during his Hope career. He coached three NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients and one NCAA Division III Men's Swimmer of the Year. He was voted the Division III Coach of the Year twice for the women and once for the men.

Hope's teams claimed 32 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles during Patnott's tenure: 20 women's and 12 men's.