“It’s just such an honor and pleasure to be here”

Moses Lake S&D coach Jason Hart shows commitment to swimmers

MOSES LAKE — Jason Hart had numerous stops on the road in his coaching career, which eventually led to him taking over as head coach of both the boys and girls Maverick swim teams. Having coached the Moses Lake Manta Rays from 2005-2006, Hart said his past experiences in the community, along with being good friends with Tony St. Onge, made coaching the Mavs an enticing opportunity. “When I coached up here before, it made me feel at home,” Hart said. “Even back then I didn’t live here, but I’d walk around and know people. Everyone was nice and friendly – you don’t get that in Tri-Cities. That small-town vibe is pretty cool.” Despite coaching Moses Lake, Hart doesn’t live in the area – he commutes to the school every day from Tri-Cities. “It’s interesting because I used to deal blackjack for so many years, so I worked graveyards, and now I wake up at 5:15 in the morning,” Hart joked. “And it’s okay because what I do is I get up and I get going, the drive goes and I have an hour to get ready to see people.” How does Hart keep himself entertained over the nearly three-hour commute each day? “I love sports, and I love Metallica,” he said. Along with being the swim and dive coach, Hart also teaches aquatics classes at Moses Lake High School. Hart teaches three aquatics classes that vary in experience levels, where he enjoys getting to know Moses Lake students who don't participate in school sports. “When you coach, you really get to know all the kids that are able to go out for a sport,” Hart said. “Not every kid can go out for a sport for various reasons, and for me, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know all the kids who don’t compete (in athletics).” Even on days when school is off and the Mavericks still practice in the pool, Hart makes the drive. “It’s been good so far – sometimes we don’t have school and we still have practice, I still come up for practice,” Hart said. “We have practice Saturday at 8:15, we don’t have school but I’m still coming because it’s part of the job.”