Office of Development and Communications
Johnston Hobbs
False starts are the bane of every competitive swimmer. Although Johnston Hobbs (M.S.‘98) didn’t suffer from false starts as an athlete, his role as an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina was another matter. “Athletic success distracted me from my studies,” says Hobbs. “It wasn’t until I signed a contract with my parents that I finally straightened up.”
Having spent summers in Bloomington for IU swim camps, Hobbs chose to enter the School of HPER for his master’s degree, despite heavy recruitment from other schools. “I knew Bloomington was the place I wanted to be. I told my family I’d never wear a [class] ring until I graduated from Indiana.”
After completing his master’s degree, Hobbs joined Keith Switzer’s coaching staff at the University of South Carolina, successfully recruiting three Hungarian Olympians for the program. As much as he enjoyed the position, his entrepreneurial instincts and Indiana ties led Hobbs to found Indianapolis Pool Management with two partners.
The company has been so successful, he has been able to endow a graduate fellowship for social science of sport students in the School of HPER. “I’m in business, so for me it naturally follows that I would support IU with a gift.”
Hobbs credits his work ethic and philanthropy to his upbringing. “I’ve been fortunate. My parents were always involved with charitable causes. Typically, when I ask them what they want for Christmas, they request that I make a donation to a given charity.”
Currently, Hobbs is establishing another pool management venture in Columbus, Ohio. He recently finished a two-year stint as the NCAA Division I men’s swimming and diving meet coordinator. No matter how successful he becomes, he will always be grateful to IU for giving him his start. “Every day I think to myself, ‘IU is such a terrific place,’ and if someone can get even a tenth of what I received, then let’s go for it. Let’s create an opportunity so that someone else can grow into their promise.”
