Hunter Garcia is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Cortez High School for AZPreps365.com

High school coaches often play a major role in shaping student-athletes, and at Cortez High School Jeanette Pogue  has made that responsibility her purpose. She goes beyond the surface level of training her swimmers to compete, and additionally mentors them to grow as people, teaching them confidence, community and compassion with every practice or meet. 

“This is my dream,” Pogue said. “Being a teacher and being a coach is what I imagined doing from the time that I was 3 years old. I want to give these kids all the support and love that I have, and that’s what I try to do every day.” 

Coming into the role of head coach at Cortez, Pogue had a clear vision of what she wanted her program to look like. She wanted a place where her athletes could challenge themselves, knowing their teammates and coaches would always be there to lift them up. 

“Everybody needs that sense of community,” Pogue said. “Being able to give these kids this team so that they can build it together, and grow year-round support means I am doing my job right.” 

Competitive swimming and diving are often viewed as more individualized than team-based sports, but to fight against that perception, Pogue pushes her team to build an inclusive environment where everyone, including the coaching staff, supports one another.

“You are only as good as the person next to you, so you have to support that person in order to push yourself,” Pogue said.   

Assistant coach Jasmin Ojeda, who previously coached at Apollo High School, noticed the biggest difference after joining Cortez was the depth of the relationship between coach and athlete.

“One thing that Coach Pogue really pushes is to be inclusive of everybody, no matter where they come from,” Ojeda said. “When I came here, I realized that Coach Pogue was very in tune with her swimmers and really values getting to know them.” 

That connection Ojeda mentioned is what defines Pogue’s leadership. Her approach blends empathy with accountability and thrives on shared effort between coach and swimmer. 

“I’ll never ask them to do anything I’m not willing to do,” Pogue said. 

Beyond teaching technique, Pogue focuses on building a mutual trust between coach and athlete. She believes that true growth can only occur through transparency of both sides, and encourages her swimmers to be honest with their struggles. 

“I’ll always tell them the why,” Pogue said. “Why are we doing a certain drill? Why am I pushing them a little harder? They deserve to understand what’s behind the work and that builds trust.” 

That trust translates directly into the water. Pogue’s athletes say her willingness to explain her teaching and listen to their concerns creates an atmosphere where they feel valued beyond their performance.

“She really taught me the meaning of family within our team,” senior Hyrum Pulver said. “I’ll always remember how she taught me to stay humble and feel accomplished when cheering on my team.” 

Pulver’s reflections mirror exactly what Pogue strives to create. As a senior, he has a responsibility to support his younger teammates while maintaining a level of humility that further builds the team’s trust and bond. 

“Seeing them bond and connect with each other in or outside of school and swim is one of the coolest things I’ve experienced,” Pogue said.

Pulver's experience captures what Pogue hopes to give every swimmer who joins her program. A belief that their potential far exceeds what they see in the mirror, and to reach that potential, they need to lean on one another. 

“I want to give these kids that confidence that they are capable of so much more than they think they are,” Pogue said. “I know they can do incredible things.” 

Pogue embodies what it means to follow one’s purpose and give it fully. On and off the pool deck, she’s a constant reminder of how important community and heart can change the course of a young athlete’s life. 

“Everyone deserves an opportunity,” Pogue said. “Some of these kids hit rough patches in their lives, and the person that they turn to is me, and that means everything to me. It means that I am a safe place for them, and they know that I am going to support them regardless of what is going on in their lives.”