JCC volunteer swim coach Bill Rollinger has been named the 2025 Western New York Athletic Conference Distinguished Person of the Year. Photo courtesy of JCC Athletics

Jamestown Community College volunteer swim coach Bill Rollinger has been named the 2025 Western New York Athletic Conference Distinguished Person of the Year.

As volunteer swim coach Bill Rollinger is a mainstay around the Jayhawks’ aquatic center as both a vocal leader and inspirational mentor for the student-athletes, as well as a sounding board for national coach of the year Todd Conklin.

Coach Rollinger joined the JCC swimming and diving program as a volunteer in 2020; since then, the women’s team has won four national titles in five seasons, including three in a row.

“Coach Rollinger has a huge impact on our program and me,” said head coach Todd Conklin. “I spend lots of time with him discussing what we need to do and what we can do better.”

Rollinger has also overseen hundreds of All-Americans and assisted the men’s program to their best finish ever, second in the nation in 2025.

“The kids adore him but also believe in him as much as they believe in me,” added Conklin.

While the accolades are numerous, what might be the most important thing Rollinger brings to the team is a calming influence who has been around the sport for decades, earning a spot in the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame. If it’s not getting the athletes locked in with pregame speeches, it’s hearing how badly they want to earn a rubber ducky (a practice Rollinger started in his head coaching days) after events that show how much these young people truly love their volunteer head coach.

In short, the dominant JCC swimming and diving programs would not be the same without volunteer Coach Bill Rollinger.