May 21, 2026 | WALLS 102

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L-P to name East Building pool after outgoing swim team coach

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Assistant coach Brent Thomas takes over La Salle-Peru co-op swimming program

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L-P to name East Building pool after outgoing swim team coach

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Assistant coach Brent Thomas takes over La Salle-Peru co-op swimming program

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Assistant coach Brent Thomas takes over La Salle-Peru co-op swimming program

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After serving as an assistant coach for the boys team for the last four years, Brent Thomas has been hired as the head coach for the La Salle-Peru boys and girls swimming teams, replacing long-time coach Rob

Assistant coach Brent Thomas takes over La Salle-Peru co-op swimming program

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L-P to name East Building pool after outgoing swim team coach

A La Salle- Peru High School swim coach is leaving his mark on the high school he’s spent so long building up.L-P High School’s Board of Education voted Wednesday night to name the swimming pool in the East Building the Rob McNally Pool.“Thank you, I’m honored to represent the school,” McNally said.McNally is an L-P alum who swam for the Cavaliers in the early 70’s and then went on to become a collegiate swimmer.He then returned in 2012 to become the swim coach of the boys’ team, and he later established the girls’ team in 2016.Before his return, McNally led the Illinois Valley YMCA Dolphins for two decades.Board President Greg Sarver said that every school swimming record that is currently displayed on the record board was achieved under McNally’s coaching leadership. “The Board of Education values the history and reputation of La Salle-Peru Township High School,” Sarver said. “It takes great care to determine whether any room or facility shall be named in honor of any individual or family.” McNally coached more than 125 swimmers throughout his L-P coaching career, coaching athletes from La Salle, Peru, Ottawa, Streator, Woodland, Earlville, Serena, and Henry-Senachwine. Under McNally’s leadership, seven boys qualified for IHSA state meets, including five individual qualifiers and two relay swimmers, with several swimmers earning multiple appearances. McNally coached three girls’ qualifiers for state and individual events, who all appeared at IHSA meets in multiple years. He coached his final L-P swim competition this February.“It is with deep appreciation for Coach McNally that we name the East Building pool in honor of his dedication, service, leadership and lasting impact in the school and surrounding communities,” Sarver said.

Assistant coach Brent Thomas takes over La Salle-Peru co-op swimming program

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L-P to name East Building pool after outgoing swim team coach

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Assistant coach Brent Thomas takes over La Salle-Peru co-op swimming program

For the first time since the La Salle-Peru co-op boys swimming program restarted in 2015 and for the first time ever for the girls program, which started in 2016, someone other than Rob McNally will be coaching the Cavaliers next school year.That person is Brent Thomas.After serving as an assistant coach for the boys team the last four years, Thomas was hired to replace McNally at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” said Thomas, who is a special education teacher at L-P. “Any time I have an opportunity to represent the school, I’m really excited about it.”Along with coaching at L-P, Thomas also has a background in triathlons of all distances from sprints all the way up to Ironmans.Thomas said working under McNally has prepared him to serve as L-P’s head coach.“Working with Coach McNally for the past few years, he shared quite a bit of information with me - styles and techniques - so I’m really looking forward to being able to help the team move forward,” Thomas said.During McNally’s tenure, 12 L-P swimmers advanced to the state meet, including junior Sam Nauman who placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and 10th in the individual medley at the girls state meet in the fall.“I think we’re in great shape,” Thomas said about the state of the program. “Coach Rob left us in a really, really good way. We’ve got a wonderful girls team that has a lot of competitors on it and we’ve got a great boys team with some seniors coming back.”

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