James Sheerin enters his first season as Head Swim Coach at West Morris Mendham High School with extensive experience as both a competitive swimmer and coach.
A Cranford High School graduate, Sheerin was a four-year varsity swimmer, two-time Union County champion, two-time Meet of Champions qualifier, and school-record holder in four events. He continued his swimming career at Rowan University, where he competed in the individual medley, butterfly, and freestyle. Rowan's records document multiple individual event victories during his collegiate career.
Sheerin began coaching at age 17 with his summer team and has accumulated coaching experience at the summer, club, Masters, and high-school levels. His coaching background includes eight years with the Jersey Gators, three years coaching summer swimming, three years coaching Masters swimmers, one season as Head Coach at Gill St. Bernard's, and a season as an assistant coach at Mendham.
Outside of coaching, Sheerin remains an active swimmer, competing in Masters swimming and open-water events. His open-water experience includes completing a 10K swim.
Sheerin's coaching philosophy centers on creating a positive and enjoyable high-school swimming experience. He believes athletes can develop physically, emotionally, and competitively while still having fun and enjoying the process. Above all, he emphasizes the importance of being part of a team, building relationships, supporting teammates, and creating an environment where swimmers want to be there each day.
Danielle is excited to join West Morris Mendham High School swim team as the assistant coach. A lifelong swimmer, she grew up in Westfield and competed for Westfield High School before swimming at The University of Scranton, where she primarily competed in sprint freestyle and butterfly.
Danielle has known Coach Sheerin since they were 15, when they swam together at Jersey Gators. The two have known each other and kept in touch ever since, making the opportunity to join the Mendham coaching staff a particularly special connection.
After taking a long break from competitive swimming to run marathons, Danielle returned to racing in 2026 and now competes in both pool and open-water events, ranging from sprint distances to 5K races. She is a USA Swimming Core Certified Coach and has also coached youth athletes through Girls on the Run.
As a coach, Danielle enjoys helping swimmers develop strong technique, learn to train with purpose, build confidence, and discover what they are capable of in the pool. She is looking forward to getting to know the Mendham swimmers and being part of the team this season!