Hope College

Jake Taber '04 was hired as Hope College's co-head men's and women's swimming and diving coach on April 10, 2018. He took over sole head coaching duties after John Patnott's retirement following the 2018-19 season. 

In May 2025, Taber was elected to the College Swimming and Diving Association of America Board of Directors as an NCAA Division III representative.

Taber has guided the Flying Dutch to four consecutive Top-20 finishes at the NCAA Division III championships: ninth in 2024-25, 15th in 2023-24, 10th in 2022-23 and 19th in 2021-22.

Taber has led the Flying Dutch to six MIAA team championships, including five in a row (2021-25). He has coached five MIAA Most Valuable Women's Swimmers, three MIAA Most Valuable Women's Divers and MIAA champions in 68 individual and relay events combined. Taber was named MIAA Women's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year by his peers in 2024 and 2025.

A former swimmer for the Flying Dutchmen, Taber returned to Hope after successful head coaching stints at Albion College (2012-18) and Olivet College (2007-2012). He was an assistant for Patnott for three seasons at Hope before becoming a head coach.

Taber guided the Albion men to Top-25 finishes at the Division III championships, including a program-best 13th-place finish in 2017. The Britons were 2017 MIAA champions, their first conference championship in 46 years.

Taber led the Britons to school records in all but two men's events during his tenure. He coached 45 MIAA event champions, two All-Americans and nine honorable-mention All-Americans at Albion.

The Albion women set 15 school records, claimed five MIAA event titles and had one national qualifier during Taber's tenure.

At Olivet, Taber received the American Swimming Coaches Association's Award of Excellence in 2009 and 2010 — an honor earned by coaches who have led a swimmer to a top-eight finish at one of several USA national-level championships.

Taber graduated from Hope after majoring in management. He holds a master's degree in sports studies from Western Michigan University.

Taber and his wife, Kelly (Kraft '04), have four children, Tessa, Colby, Sloane, and Augusta. Kelly was a two-time, All-MIAA shortstop for the Hope softball team.