Jon Carlson

Biography

Jon Carlson is in his 36th season as the head coach of the Gustavus Adolphus College men's and women's swimming and diving teams and the women's tennis team in 2025-26. Under Carlson's direction, both the swimming and tennis programs have emerged as a conference power and national contender. In the pool, Jon's teams have won a combined 25 MIAC championships. The Gustie men, winners of the last six titles, recorded team finishes at the NCAA Championships for 16 consecutive years between 1996 and 2011. The team posted its highest finish in 2005, taking fifth. Carlson has coached 129 male swimmers who have earned 783 All-Conference honors and 28 who have earned 93 All-America honors in 11 individual events and 17 relays. He was also named MIAC Men's Coach of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The women's swimming & diving program has claimed 12 MIAC championships, including last year's title at the 2025 meet. The Gustie women recorded team finishes at the NCAA Championships 18 times during Carlson's tenure, most recently taking 22nd in the 2023 season. The team's highest finish came in 2014, taking seventh. Carlson has coached 105 All-Conference female swimmers and 24 individuals who have earned 74 All-America honors. Carlson, who was a tennis athlete himself while at Gustavus, took over the women's tennis program in 1990, and led the team to an NCAA Championship in his first season. Carlson's tennis teams have finished in the top four at the NCAA champions

Career Path