Jon Lau enters his second season as Senior Associate Head Coach with the Queens University Charlotte swimming program in 2024-25 after serving four seasons as associate head coach.
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The 2023-24 season culminated in runner-up finishes at the ASUN Championships for both the men’s and women’s teams. At the ASUN Championships, Queens set three new meet records, collected 15 gold medals, ASUN Swimmer of the Meet (Danielle Melilli), ASUN Freshman of the Meet (Abigail Zboran), and ASUN Female Student-Athlete of the Year (Sophie Lange). At the CSCAA National Invitational Championship (NIC) the Royals captured a runner-up finish for the men’s team while the women’s team had their highest finish in school history at 4th place. Queens set 6 new NIC meet records, while collecting 11 indiv/relay championships, and the NIC Men’s Swimmer of the Meet (Matej Dusa). Melilli and Nien Levy competed in the 50m Free at US Olympic Team Trials. Dusa went on to represent Slovakia at the 2024 Olympic Games Paris (50m Free).
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It was a year of firsts during the 2022-23 season as Queens entered its inaugural season as an NCAA Division I school. The swimmers lead the way with the CSCAA National Invitational Championship (NIC) men’s team title and 10th place finish for the women. At the NIC, Royals captured 15 gold medals, 14 meet records, and the men’s swimmer of the meet honors (Alex Bauch). At the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Championship the men’s team captured the conference title and the women’s team placed 3rd. The Royals secured 26 gold medals and 11 meet records. Alex Kunert and Danielle Melilli were named the CCSA Swimmers of the Meet. Daniel Meszaros and Annika Huber were named the CCSA Most Outstanding Freshman Performers. Jan Delkeskamp was honored as a Walter Byers Scholarship Finalist.
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The 2021-22 season was one of the most successful in Queens history culminating in the Royals’ 7th men’s and women’s NCAA Division II National Championships to go along with their 8th pair of Bluegrass Mountain Conference Championships. At the NCAA DII National Championships, Jan Delkeskamp and Kayla Tennant were honored as Elite90 award winners, Alex Kunert and Danielle Melilli claimed the CSCAA Swimmer of the Year awards, the Royals captured 50 All-American finishes and 16 individual/relay NCAA titles, and in the 50-yard freestyle both Matej Dusa (18.88) and Danielle Melilli (22.15) set new NCAA records. Outside of the pool, Danielle Melilli was honored as a Honda Award Finalist, Kayla Tennant was a Walter Byers Scholarship Finalist and Top 9 Finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year, and the men’s swim team captured the Royal Service Award for leading the campus in community service hours. Lau also acted on the 21-22 CSCAA Men’s DII Top 25 Poll Committee. In November 2021, Lau served as the head manager for USA Swimming’s National Diversity Select Camp in Chula Vista, CA.
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Amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic during the 2020-21 season, Lau coached the Royals to their 6th pair of men’s and women’s NCAA Division II National Championships, in addition to securing Bluegrass Mountain Conference (BMC) Championships for both genders as well. Queens tallied 61 All-American honors at the National Championships and captured 11 individual and relay national championship titles (Francesca Bains 1650 Free, Lexie Baker 100 Free, Giulia Grasso 500 Free, Alex Kunert 200 Fly & 200 Free, Danielle Melilli 100 Breast & 50 Free, Men’s 800 Free Relay, Women’s 800 Free, 200 Medley, and 400 Medley Relays). Melilli was named the CSCAA Swimmer of the Year for NCAA Division II.
In 2019-20, Lau helped lead Queens to the 2020 Men's & Women's BMC Championships as well as two NCAA Division II National Titles in the Women's 200 IM (Lexie Baker) and the Women's 200 Medley Relay before the championship meet was cut short due to COVID-19.
COACHING BEFORE QUEENS
Lau joined the Royals after successfully serving the Lindenwood University Lions (St. Charles, MO) in various coaching roles for eleven seasons, most recently as the top assistant for both the men’s and women’s programs.
He was instrumental in Lindenwood’s climb to NCAA Division II national prowess after transitioning from the NAIA.  This period was highlighted by a 2016 National Runner-Up finish by their men’s team. In their first six years of NCAA Division II competition the Lions captured 76 All-American recognitions, eight individual NCAA National Titles, set four NCAA National Records, and captured six conference team championships during this span. During the NAIA period, Lau coached the men’s team to back-to-back third place NAIA National finishes in 2010 and 2011, while his athletes set 64 school records, gathered nine All-American (Top three) nods, captured three individual National Championships (Sarah Billiamosa 400 IM 2010, Sergio Molina 200 Breast 2010, Javier Hernandez 200 Fly 2011), and set an NAIA National Record (Hernandez 200 Fly 2011).
As a student-athlete for the Lions from 2004-08, Lau was a six-time NAIA All-American (Top three). He was a member of Lindenwood’s first relay national championship in program history (400 Medley Relay 2006) and in 2016, this relay was inducted into the Lindenwood Athletics Hall of Fame.  Lau was the first athlete in program history to earn All-American recognitions during each of his four seasons. He served as the men’s team captain from 2005 to 2008 and held school records in the 100/200 fly, 200 IM, 200/400 Medley Relay, and 200 Free Relay.
Lau has served as an assistant coach at the University of Texas Longhorn Swim Camp (summer 2011 and 2013-2018). He has worked closely with Olympic Coach Eddie Reese and Carol Capitani, along with Olympic gold medalists and former world record holders Ian Crocker, Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Ricky Berens, Garrett Weber-Gale, and Josh Davis.
Lau also has experience coaching at the Indiana University Swim Camp (summer 2018 & 2019) working with Olympic Coaches Ray Looze and Coley Stickels. In 2019, Lau served as a USA Swimming Sport Development Camp Assistant Manager at the Southern Zone Select Camp (University of Louisville).
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PERSONAL
Lau earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Lindenwood in 2009. He also earned a Master of Science degree in Health Management from Lindenwood in 2010 and an MBA in 2012. Lau is a certified Level 4 Coach with the American Swimming Coaches Association. An avid US Masters swimmer, Lau is a two-time national champion (400 IM 24-29 age group 2013 & 100 fly 30-34 2016).  His wife Amanda is also an alumnus of Lindenwood swimming. Their newly born daughter, Regan, is learning how to swim.
COACHING HISTORY
