Riverton Head Boy’s Swimming Coach Jay Dayton has been honored as the Class 4-A West Coach of the Year. Dayton led the Wolverines to their first-ever conference swimming title last weekend in Casper.
Dayon began his Wyoming coaching career under the legendary Bruce Gresly. The late Gresly recruited Dayton to help coach the Lander Swim Club from 1985 to 1987 when he was a student at Central Wyoming College.
Dayton transferred to Black Hills State to finish his teaching degree and was head coach of the Spearfish Swim Club while a student.
His first teaching job was in Ashland, Montana.
“I taught PE and was the aquatic director and started a swim club at Saint Labre Catholic School,” Dayton said. “I was also the head cross country coach and track coach. At that time, many of the tracks were still cinder or gravel in eastern Montana. Long spikes in the running cleats.”
He taught Physical Education and Health for 33 and one-half years. Four-and-a-half in Montana and the remainder in Riverton beginning in 1995.
He was also honored in 2021 as Physical Education Teacher of the Year.
In his three decades in Riverton, he coached cross country for 24 years, 22 as head coach. He was named Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2012. He coached track and field for a couple of years as well.
He retired from teaching in May 2024.