Jon Carlson ’88Alumni and Staff

Jon Carlson is in his 33rd 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 for the 2022-23 season. Under the direction of Carlson, each program has emerged as both a conference power and a national contender.

The Gustie men recorded team finishes at the NCAA Championships for 16 consecutive years between the 1996 and 2011 seasons. The squad placed 28th in 1996, 18th in 1997, 22nd in 1998, 34th in 1999, 26th in 2000, 23rd in 2001, 30th in 2002, 29th in 2003, ninth in 2004, seventh in 2005, 11th in 2006, fifth in 2007, 12th in 2008, 15th in 2009, 23rd in 2010, and 24th in 2011.

Carlson has coached 115 male swimmers who have earned 721 All-Conference honors and 28 male swimmers 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, and 2022.

The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving program has won 10 MIAC championships since its first in 2002. The team has also recorded team finishes at the NCAA Championships 17 times during Carlson’s tenure, including finishing 48th in 1994, 30th in 2002, 23rd in 2003, 13th in 2004, 16th in 2005, 30th in 2007, 35th in 2009, eighth in 2010, 19th in 2011, 11th in 2012, 10th in 2013, seventh in 2014, 10th in 2015, 51st in 2016, 51st in 2017, 27th in 2018, and 40th in 2019.

Carlson has coached 92 All-Conference female swimmers and 24 individuals who have earned 65 All-America honors. He was also named MIAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year in 2002, 2010, and 2014.

Participation in swimming and diving has grown significantly since Carlson took over head coaching duties in 1990, as the men’s and women’s teams’ sizes have each more than doubled over the past decade. The teams combined now consistently accommodate at least 80 student-athletes.

Along with his duties directing the swimming and diving teams, Carlson is also the head coach of the Gustavus women's tennis team. Jon and his wife, Heidi, live in St. Peter and have three daughters, Calleigh, Grace, and Josie.

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Jon Carlson is in his 33rd season as head coach of the Gustavus Adolphus College women's tennis team for the 2022-23 season. Carlson has had a long and successful tenure directing the women's tennis program, as he has compiled a record of 654-227 overall and 303-10 in the MIAC in his 32 seasons as the head coach.

A 1988 graduate of Gustavus, Carlson served as a supervisor at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla. from 1988-89 before returning to his alma mater to assume direction of the women's tennis program in 1990. In his first season at Gustavus, Carlson led his squad to the 1990 NCAA National Title and his squads have finished in the top four at the NCAA Championships five other times, including second in 1991 and 1993, third in 1999, and fourth in 1992 and 1994.

Gustavus has won the MIAC title 24 times in Carlson's 32 seasons and earned NCAA Tournament bids in all but seven seasons. He has earned MIAC Coach of the Year honors 10 times (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2022), and was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III Coach of the Year in 1994 and 2002. 

During the span of his tenure, Carlson has coached 60 separate athletes to 153 All-Conference honors and 18 individuals to 32 All-America honors, including two-time NCAA Division III Doubles Champions Tara Houlihan and Lyndsey Palen (2005, 2006).

Carlson is also active in the tennis community, serving as a member of the NCAA National Championship Committee, including serving as the National Chair for Division III in 1997-98 and 1999-2000. He has also been an active member of the ITA, serving as the ITA National Awards Chair and on several other ITA regional committees.

Along with his duties directing the women's tennis team, Carlson is also the head coach of the Gustavus men's and women's swimming and diving teams. Jon and his wife, Heidi, live in St. Peter and have three daughters, Calleigh, Grace, and Josie.

Courses Taught