THE OFFICIAL HOME OF
EUCLID PANTHER SWIMMING
COACHING STAFF
HEAD COACH: Steve Jacobs​
Cocah Steve took over as head coach of the Euclid High School team in the fall of 2015 as the Euclid Site Coach. He is passionate about helping swimmers of all levels learn to challenge themselves, and develop the drive and discipline required to achieve their "next step". Under Coach Steve's leadership the program has grown to over 20 swimmers, finished as high as sixth at the Sectional Championship, broken four school records, and produced the first male swimmer to advance to the state meet in three decades.
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He is also the Lead Site Coach for the University Swim Club training site at Euclid High School. The started, started in 2015, has grown from 10 to 90 members in less than 3 years, produced multiple USA Zone, Sectional, Futures qualifiers, has become an-offseason training location for high school swimmers all over the east side, and has had multiple swimmers crack the USA Swimming NAG Top-100
Coach Steve grew up swimming in Northeast Ohio competing for the Western Reserve Seariders, Firestone Akron Swim Team, Shaker Sharks and Kent Roosevelt High School. He competed on the collegiate level at Case Western Reserve University, where he was a Team Captain and perennial University Athletic Association Conference Finalist. He competed primarily in Breaststroke, middle distance Freestyle and IM events, though was a distance animal in his age group days.
Outside of the pool Steve is a Product Design Engineer, currently working with multiple start-ups in the Cleveland Area after years of leading new product development projects for global companies. He is also recreational triathlete and runner, and quite possibly the world's biggest Star Wars fan.
ASSISTANT COACH: Patti Pfriem
Coach Patti is starting her first year as an assistant coach on the Euclid High School coaching staff. Though she is new to the staff, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and is no stranger to Euclid swimming. Patti was one of the original coach's at the University Swim Club training site at Euclid High School site and has been pivotal in growth and success of the program, and is the driving force behind the launch and success of the Future Champion Swim Lessons program.
Patti's experience includes time as the Head Coach of the Lake Catholic High School swim team, Head Coach of the Willoughby Stingers Summer Team, an Assistant Coach at the Princeton Aquatic Club in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is currently the lead developmental coach of the University Swim Club Euclid training site and is the Head Coach of the Kirtland Country Club summer team.
Not only has Patti trained all levels of competitive swimmers, but she has trained countless others to do the same. Patti has published a book and written a curriculum to help guide swim instructors to teach proper foundations and technique in swimming, which then helps swimmers to easily transition into competitive swimming. This is the curriculum which guides the USC Future Champion Swim Lesson program.
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Outside of the pool, Patti is a school teacher at Ss. Robert and William Catholic School in Euclid. Patti is the loving and devoted wife of Chris and proud parent of 4 children: Kate, Andrew, Brenna, and Abby. Without their love and support, Patti couldn’t be the devoted coach, teacher, and mentor to the many athletes and children that she is so privileged to serve.
VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT: Charlie Lownes
Charlie is entering his second year as a volunteer assistant with the swim program, where he aids both the middle school and high school teams.
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Outside of the Euclid program, Charlie is entering his twenty-fourth year as the head coach of University Swim. Under his leadership USC has been to the Olympic Trials, produced six US Nationals qualifiers and over ten Junior National qualifiers, been a regular presence on the Lake Erie Zone team, placed as high as 2nd and the Lake Erie District Championship meet, and has inspired Passion, Dedication, and Motivation in thousands of swimmers. He can usually be found at the University School pool, but is seen regularly at Euclid as well.
Charlie is a 16-time NCAA All-American swimming at Dennison University and an All-American at Hebron Academy in Maine. Charlie began coaching at Paul Hannah Swim Club in Granville, OH. There he coached several swimmers ranked in the US Top 16 and one swimmer ranked in the Top 25 in the world. While in the Peace Corps he coached the Guatemalan National Team from 1988-1991. From 1991-1995 he coached high school and club teams in Cincinnati. Charlie was voted Coach of the Year, 2002-2003, for Ohio High School Swimming.