MISHAWAKA — There has been a major shakeup in the South Bend area swimming scene, as Penn High School head coach Jess Preston is moving to Noblesville, just north of Indianapolis.
The news was announced early Tuesday morning in a press release from Noblesville High School. Preston will oversee both boys and girls programs at the school, as well as the Noblesville Swim Club.
“I’m beyond excited to become the next Head Coach of the Noblesville Swim Club and Noblesville High School girls and boys swim teams,” Preston said in the release. “This program and the Noblesville community are so welcoming. I absolutely love that their leaders are committed to accomplishing the highest level of success. With the continued growth and great sense of community Noblesville has to offer, the possibilities are endless.”
Preston has led the Penn programs since 2008-09, with this past season being arguably his best overall. The Kingsmen girls and boys both finished as state runner-up, the first time the program had ever done that in the same season.
At Penn, Preston's girls teams went 204-11-1 in dual meets and the boys 194-22. He won a combined 26 sectional championships (14 girls, 12 boys) and had 15 individual state champions, highlighted by six from 2024 graduate Lily Christianson and five from 2014 alum Bethany Galat.
"We will miss Coach Preston leading our Swimming and Diving programs at Penn, but I'm excited for this opportunity he has to make a positive impact on the program at Noblesville,” Penn athletic director Jeff Hart said in a statement to the Tribune. “Jess has had great success at Penn in competition, and also in developing the complete student-athlete. He has been a positive leader and mentor to so many Penn swimmers through the years and I have enjoyed our friendship through athletics during our time together here. I expect him to continue to continue to make an impact in this next chapter of his career."
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Preston becomes the second high-level swim coach from the South Bend area in the last decade to take a job in the Indianapolis area. Joe Keller, who led Northridge to new heights from 1991-2017, took the same position at Fishers seven years ago.
The Noblesville boys program has only had one individual state champion in its history, coming in 2005. It placed 14th at this year's meet, the best finish in program history. The Noblesville girls program has produced six individual state titles, with its most recent coming in 2020. Its best finish as a team at state was fifth in 2009.
“The hiring of Coach Preston is a big-time commitment to Noblesville Swimming and the future vision of this program,” Lisa Conner, President of the Board of Directors Noblesville Swim Club, said in the press release. “We are so excited about what he will do for our program at all levels. We feel so fortunate that Coach Preston has chosen to continue his career leading our program.”
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