Coaches & Board Members

Clinton Bailey

2006- Newton Nitros Head coach. Throughout his tenure, he has won numerous Missouri Valley small teams division championships and coaches age group swimmers to become Missouri Valley Champions and Zone Qualifiers. His success with senior-aged swimmers continues as he coached swimmers into national meets and had many continue their careers with Division I & II colleges. Clinton coaches with a strong fundamental stroke mechanics philosophy and he believes that strong technique translates into strong swimming.

1998-2006 John Muir High School, Pasadena, Cal. Head coach, boys and girls swimming; boys and girls water polo.

1993-1998
Gerrish Swim & Tennis Club, Pasadena, Cal. Head coach.
Wichita Swim Club, Wichita, Kan. Assistant coach.
Valley Center Swim Club, Wichita, Kan. Head coach.

Personal
Originally from Valley Center, Kan, Clinton returned home to coach the Newton Nitros and reside near his parents. Clinton and his wife Cecilia have 9 children. He comes from a supportive swimming family of 14 and swam competitively as a child and in college for Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. He holds a bachelor degree in Mathematics from California State University, Los Angeles. He has coached swimming since age 19.

Jason Heppler

2020- Newton Nitros Assistant Coach. Started with the Nitros as a volunteer for the Newton Nitros Summer League program where he enjoyed teaching technique to the newest swimmers.

Prior to coaching the Nitros, Jason coached the Wichita Genesis Summer League. He has also coached numerous school team sports including track and soccer; plus recreation team sports basketball and baseball. Jason competed on the collegiate level on the Benedictine College and Bethel College soccer teams.

Personal
Originally from Wichita, Kan, Jason and his wife Adrienne reside in rural Walton with their three sons Ben, Matthew and Luke. All three boys swim for the Newton Nitros. Jason also volunteers at his boys’ school and his church. Jason is a former police officer for Newton Police Department and was part of the team that was named 2016 Team of the Year by the Kansas Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials. When he is not on the pool deck, Jason enjoys time with his family, constructing LEGO sets.
Wife Adrienne was a club and high school swimmer.