Johno Fergusson
Associate Head Coach
Johno Fergusson joined the SIU swimming & diving staff as an assistant coach in 2019, and was promoted to associate head coach in 2023.
During his first four years as an assistant coach at Southern, Fergusson played an instrumental role in Southern's success helping the Salukis record a 45-19 dual meet record as well as three conference runner-up trophies. In 2023, the program featured its first All-American swimmer in 18 years. Academically, both the men's and women's teams earned national recognition from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) for its academic success.
Fergusson has 20 years of coaching experience. Prior to SIU, he spent four years as an assistant swimming coach at Scottsdale Aquatic Club in Arizona, where he helped lead the program to first-place finishes at Winter Junior Nationals in 2015 and 2016.
Prior to Scottsdale Aquatic Club, Fergusson spent four years (2011-14) as the head coach at Tucson Ford Aquatics in Arizona. He was named the Arizona Swimming Senior Coach of the Year in 2013 and developed 10 Olympic trials qualifiers, three Junior National finalists, three Arizona state record holders and four senior state championship winning teams.
Fergusson also served as a volunteer assistant at the University of Arizona (2011-14) and Arizona State (2015-16), where he worked under legendary swim coaches Eric Hansen and Bob Bowman.
His first head coaching stint came with the Sunday Tribune Penguins Swimming Club in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa from 2005 to 2011. He coached several world record athletes, national champions, national finalists and national record holders from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. Additionally, he mentored national age group medalists and FINA World Cup finalists.
A native of South Africa, Fergusson represented his home country internationally in both swimming and water polo.
Fergusson earned his bachelor's degree in human kinetics from the University of Natal in 2005 and currently resides in Carbondale with his wife, Maggie.