About johnnie means aquatics
JMA is a competitive swim team based in Third Ward, Houston, Texas. Founded in 2022 to support the diverse community of central Houston.
JMA is a USA Swimming affiliated club and is a member of Gulf Swimming, one of five Texas Local Swimming Committees (LSCs).
about us
Our Team
Our swimmers come from all across the Greater Houston area to train. Our swimmers (ages 5-18) attend schools in Houston ISD, Pearland ISD, Fort Bend ISD, and Humble ISD. Our middle and high school swimmers also participate on the school swim teams.
OUR COACHES
Our Coaching team advances the legacy of Johnnie Means, Texas Hall of Fame Coach with over 60 years of experience. Our coaches have access to the most comprehensive training and certification program for youth coaches of any sport. Our culture of learning ensures that your swimmer is trained using the most current age appropriate programming.
NON-PROFIT STATUS
Johnnie Means Aquatics, a 501©3 non-profit club, is run by its elected Board of Directors which meets quarterly. All members are welcome at each meeting and encouraged to be involved in team activities and fundraisers.
Community Involvement
JMA has pledged to engage with the community we serve, partnering with local schools, neighborhood associations, government, and other nonprofit organizations.
Continuing the legacy
While Johnnie Means Aquatics was officially founded in 2022, our story stretches back generations — to a time when swimming wasn’t just a sport, but a stand for equity, access, and excellence.
- It all began in 1961, when Coach Johnnie Means launched an AAU swim team at Houston’s historic South Central YMCA. At a time when public pools were segregated, he courageously appealed to the AAU to desegregate swimming in Texas — opening doors that had long been closed.
- By 1963, Coach Means was leading the TigerSharks at Texas Southern University, establishing one of the first collegiate swim teams at a historically Black university. Under his guidance, the TigerSharks rose to national prominence in the NAIA, the first athletic conference to welcome HBCUs — breaking barriers in and out of the pool.
- In 1992, in partnership with educator Thurman Robins and Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee, Coach Means co-founded a free, competitive swim program that would reach thousands of children across three decades. This program — known as the Harris County Aquatics Program — became a training ground for champions at every level: regional, state, national, and international. Its final meet was held in March 2020, leaving behind a powerful legacy.
- In 2022, that legacy entered a bold new chapter. Means Aquatics, Inc. — now proudly operating as Johnnie Means Aquatics (JMA) — was born to carry the torch forward. Today, Coach Means has entrusted that vision to two of his longtime mentees, Candess Tucker and Dominique Hamilton, who continue to train, coach, and lead with the same passion and purpose that has shaped the Houston swim community for over 60 years.
At JMA, we honor our past while building a future where every child has the opportunity to swim, compete, and thrive.
Our coaches
Our highly skilled and supportive coaching staff are here to guide your swimmer to achieve their best in and out of the pool. If you have questions related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact us.
Training
Our goal is to provide a developmentally appropriate training progression from the youngest athlete up to the national competitor. We teach and perfect all four competitive strokes and emphasize the importance of streamlining, kicking, body position and body awareness.
COACHES
Johnnie Means Aquatics coaches are not just swim coaches. Our coaches hold certifications/licenses as Personal Trainer, USA Triathlon Coach, Youth Sports Specialist, Water Fitness Instructor, and Lifeguard Trainer. This means that our swimmers have access to a wide range of age appropriate modalities for their total development.
DRYLANDS
Each level of the dryland program (out of water training) is focused on physical literacy and technique first followed by progressive overload strength training where athletes are continually challenged and engaged.
THE WHOLE CHILD
JMA focuses on developing four critical athlete-centered outcomes: Competence, Character, Confidence, and Connection.
- Coach Johnnie Means’ story is woven into the fabric of Houston’s swim community and far beyond. A Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Famer, Coach Means began his career in 1959 with the American Red Cross and has since coached thousands of students in swimming, diving, water safety, and strength training. Whether seated in his Third Ward home, surrounded by college shirts gifted by former swimmers, or standing poolside, his life reflects decades of quiet leadership, discipline, and unwavering belief in young people.
- His impact reaches well beyond the lanes. In 1961, Coach Means launched an AAU swim team at Houston’s historic South Central YMCA and courageously challenged the AAU to desegregate swimming in Texas, expanding access at a time when public pools were still segregated. By 1963, he was leading the TigerSharks at Texas Southern University, helping establish one of the first collegiate swim teams at a historically Black university and guiding the program to national recognition within the NAIA. In 1992, he co-founded the Harris County Aquatics Program, a free, competitive swim initiative that served thousands of children over nearly three decades and produced athletes who excelled at the regional, state, national, and international levels.
- In 2022, that legacy entered a new chapter with the founding of Johnnie Means Aquatics. Today, Coach Means has entrusted the future of the organization to two of his longtime mentees, Candess Tucker and Dominique Hamilton, ensuring that his lifelong commitment to equity, access, and excellence continues to shape the next generation. Recently inducted into the Texas Southern University Sports Hall of Fame, Coach Means’ influence remains as powerful as ever, not only in the medals earned, but in the doors opened and lives changed through the water.
She is the Founder and Head Coach of
Johnnie Means Aquatics.
- Candess Tucker (Coach Candie) is an accomplished aquatic educator, coach, and program founder with more than 25 years of experience advancing water safety, youth development, and equitable access to aquatic sports. As the Founder and Head Coach of Johnnie Means Aquatics, she leads comprehensive learn-to-swim programs and competitive training for youth in Houston, prioritizing safety, progression, and confidence-building.
- Candess holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Texas Southern University and has completed her Master’s degree in Sport & Athletic Administration at Gonzaga University (May 2025). Her educational background strengthens her evidence-based approach to coaching, curriculum development, and community program design.
- She is a 25-year American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, a 20-year Lifeguard Instructor, a 24-year USA Swimming–certified coach, and an ASCA Level 4 coach. Throughout her career, she has founded and led multiple aquatic programs, including Water Wings, Inc./Newark Piranhas Swim Team. She has served as a 4-time coach for USA Swimming’s Diversity Select Camp across the country.
- Candess is passionate about expanding access to life-saving aquatics instruction in historically underserved communities. Her work centers on creating safe, inclusive, and empowering environments where children build confidence, discipline, resilience, and lifelong skills. Through intentional coaching and community-focused programming, she continues to drive meaningful impact and broaden representation within aquatic sports.
Co-Founder & Senior Coach
Johnnie Means Aquatics
- Dominique “Coach Dom” Hamilton is a proud Houston native whose swimming journey began at the historic South Central YMCA in Third Ward. From 1995 to 2002, she trained with the Harris County Aquatics Program under the guidance of Coach Johnnie Means and Dr. Thurman Robins, earning honors in USA Swimming and as a standout at Houston Lamar High School.
- She competed at Florida A&M University, where she set multiple school records, and returned to serve her community with purpose. In 1999, she began teaching swim lessons through the National Youth Sports Program at Texas Southern University, igniting a lifelong passion for water safety and access.
- From 2012 to 2022, Coach Dom successfully ran her own training and performance business, preparing youth athletes, triathletes, marathoners, and professional athletes to thrive in sport and life. A Certified Personal Trainer, USA Triathlon Coach,Sports Performance Specialist and Youth Sports Specialist, she blends elite-level coaching with a deep understanding of biomechanics, mindset, and community wellness.
- “Rooted in my family’s legacy of service in Houston, my mission is to help each child and person I encounter see, protect, and embrace the light within themselves. I strive to create safe spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive with confidence and compassion. In doing so, I carry forward the gifts entrusted to me, strengthen the communities I serve, and plant seeds of resilience and hope that ripple outward through future generations.”
- As Co-Founder and Senior Coach at Johnnie Means Aquatics, Coach Dom brings over two decades of experience, compassion, and visionary leadership to every pool deck — helping young people swim stronger, stand taller, and lead with confidence.
Swim Beyond Boundaries, Inspire Beyond Yourself.
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EVALUATIONS ARE ONGOING
Held at the TSU Recreation center where your swimmer can be evaluated by our coaching staff. Submit a request to schedule your child’s evaluation.
