I am Philip Kohler. I was born in Philadelphia. I attended Philadelphia Public Schools from Kindergarten through Senior High School. After graduating from Overbrook I attended Villanova University earning a bachelor’s degree in education and psychology. I currently live in Havertown with my wife Beth, son Seth and daughter Rachel. I was a special education teacher for 43 years, retiring in June 2023.
Over the last 47 years, I have dedicated much of my life to giving back to the Jewish community through athletics, mentorship, and service.
After completing a decorated high school swimming career, I began attending Villanova University. In order to help pay for my education, I took a job at the Kaiserman Jewish Community Center as a lifeguard. One day while I was on the stand, the swim coach quit unexpectedly. With the confidence—and perhaps the ego—of a 17-year-old swimmer, I told the aquatics director that I could be the swim coach. To my surprise, she told me the job was mine. That moment marked the beginning of what would become a lifelong career in the JCC movement.
As the newly appointed coach, I entered our swim team into the Jewish Ys Swim League. Both the team and I were new, but together we quickly began to make a name for ourselves as we grew and started winning competitions.
In recognition of my contributions to aquatics. I was honored (for rescuing a young person’s life) into the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame—an honor that reflects not just my own journey, but the many athletes and communities I have been fortunate to work with along the way.
In 1982, David Groverman contacted Beth and introduced us to the JCC Maccabi Games. With his encouragement, and with the support of my wife, we established the first Philadelphia Maccabi team. The Maccabi program provided my wife and I with an incredible platform to work with Jewish athletes—helping them pursue their athletic goals while also strengthening their connection to their Jewish identity. It also allowed our family to combine our love of sports with our commitment to Judaism.
At Sesame Rockwood Day Camps, I had the opportunity to teach campers essential water safety skills, ensuring that generations of young people learned how to be safe and confident in various aquatic environments.
In 2001, I had the honor of being selected as one of the United States swim coaches for the 16th Maccabiah Games, often referred to as the “Jewish Olympics.” It was a tremendous privilege and honor for me to represent our country and work with such talented Jewish athletes on an international stage.
In 2014, I began coaching the swim team at Julia R. Masterman Senior High School, where I continued mentoring young swimmers until my unofficial retirement.
While my swimming career can be measured in years, my true legacy lies in the countless swimmers I have taught and coached over the decades.