A Lion has returned home. And the deep end is calling.
Former Lyons Township High School boys swimming standout Brendan Weibel has been named the new girls swimming head coach. The move follows the retirement of head coach Scott Walker, who led the program for 24 seasons and left a lasting legacy.
Returning to LTHS, Weibel is eager to build upon the foundation laid by Walker, who was the boys head coach when Weibel competed during his four years before graduating in 2014.
“My primary goal is to maintain what has been built over the years,” Weibel said. “Lyons Township swimming is more than just a program. It’s a pillar of the community. I want to preserve that culture of hard work and unity while continuing to grow the team.”
After graduating from LTHS, Weibel maintained his connection to swimming by coaching youth teams while attending the University of Illinois.
More recently, he served as girls swimming head coach the past two seasons at Lane Tech in Chicago. His leadership propelled the team to historic success — eight school records and a program-best 16th-place tie at the 2024 IHSA state meet (34 points). The Lions finished fifth at state last season (146 points) with five top-eight, all-state finishes and seven school-record performances over the prelims and finals.
Julie McDermott remains the girls diving coach.
Weibel said his coaching philosophy emphasizes consistency and dedication that turns an individual sport into a team endeavor.
“It’s important that the team trusts the process,” Weibel said. “Swimmers need to understand that while each race is their own, they’re working every day to better the whole team.”
Inclusivity is also a key focus for Weibel, especially when welcoming new swimmers or those new to competitive swimming.
“Not everyone will swim in the same lane or at the same pace,” Weibel said, “but everyone is a component of this team — in workouts, team gatherings and on and off the pool deck. Getting people into this sport, creating opportunities for them to be part of it, that’s what excites me most.”
Weibel’s journey with swimming started in 2005 and stretched across some of the most competitive club teams in the area with Lyons Aquatics and the Westmont Swim Club. By the time he hit his stride at LTHS, he was among the team’s top-ranked swimmers during his junior and senior seasons. He qualified for state his senior year in both the 200-yard individual medley (18th, 1:57.74) and 500 freestyle (24th, 4:44.90).
Looking ahead, his goals are grounded in progress. He wants to uphold the LTHS standard of excellence while making sure every swimmer ends the season stronger — in the water, and as teammates.
“If we keep focusing on improving every aspect — technique, endurance, mindset, and teamwork — the team success will follow,” Weibel said. “I want every season to end with our swimmers improved and proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
Bill Stone contributed to this story