WASHINGTON, D.C. – After a successful 2022-23 campaign as the assistant coach for the Catholic swimming & diving programs, John Bodden has been named Catholic's head coach on an interim basis for the 2023-24 season.

"As we went through the search process for our next Men's and Women's Swim & Dive Head Coach, it became apparent that the right person for the position was already in the program," said Director of Athletics/Associate VP Kevin Robinson. "John Bodden showed he is more than prepared for this opportunity. His passion and energy for the student-athletes in the program is at such an elite level and he has demonstrated the coaching needed to keep our men's and women's programs at the championship level.  He is ready for this moment and we look forward to Coach Bodden leading our programs."
 
Bodden replaces Tyler Ziegler who resigned after a three-year run as the program's leader, winning five of six Landmark Conference Championships during his time. Bodden was Ziegler's top assistant in 2022-23 as the Cardinals went on to win both Landmark Championships. Under the staff's tutelage, freshman Katie Herman qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 50 and 100 freestyle.
 
During his season as an assistant, Bodden helped the Cardinals win their seventh straight men's title in the Landmark, while the women bounced back to win the crown in thrilling fashion. 10 women combined for 15 All-Landmark Conference honors in 2023 with Herman leading the way, earning Rookie of the Year and Swimmer of the Year honors. On the men's side, seven athletes combined for 13 All-Landmark Conference selections with Nathan Ober earning Swimmer of the Year honors and Charles Connolly II winning Diver of the Year. Ziegler, Bodden, and diving coach Courtenay Miller were named the Landmark's Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
Prior to joining the staff at Catholic, Bodden was a student-athlete and assistant coach at McKendree University, a Division II school in Lebanon, Ill. Bodden spent the 2021-22 as a volunteer assistant, helping with the planning and administering of practices specific to different strokes and athletes. During his season on staff, 10 individual athletes qualified for DII NCAA Championships.
 
Bodden also served as an assistant coach in the Stingray Swim Club program in his native Cayman Islands. He worked alongside a diverse group of athletes that ranged from ages nine to high school and collegiate ages, as well as working with special needs athletes. Bodden specifically worked with mid-distance and distance senior athletes while overseeing collegiate swimmers.
 
As a swimmer, Bodden earned all-conference honors twice in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, earning second team honors in 2018 and first team honors in 2021. Bodden represented the Grand Cayman Islands in the Pan American Games in 2019, securing a top-16 finish in both the 400 and 1500-meter freestyles.
 
Bodden is a graduate of McKendree with a bachelor's degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a master's degree in psychology here at Catholic.