John Trembley

Collegiate competition Trembley attended the University of Tennessee from around 1970–1975, where he was voted an All-American nine times. His swimming years were from 1970–1974, and he was mentored by Hall of Fame Coach Ray Bussard. In his Junior year, he was a member of the parachuting club and he completed his degree with a B.A. in Philosophy in 1975. One of his early Tennessee swim mates was Olympian David Edgar, and the two standouts greatly enhanced the team's success. He won five individual NCAA titles between 1973–74, with two in the 50 freestyle, two in the 100 butterfly, and one in 100 freestyle, and swam in four NCAA-winning relays, which included the two times in the 400 medley relay and twice in the 400 freestyle relay. He won the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly in SEC championships between 1971–1973. In his swimming career, he set three American records. In the summer of 1976, he was injured in a touch football game resulting in a blood clot in his rear carotid artery in his brain and six weeks of hospitalization, ending his chances of competing in the 1976 Olympic trials and hopes of becoming an Olympic competitor. While at University of Tennessee, two of his swimmers, Jeremy Linn, and Tripp Schwenk also went on to be Olympic competitors.

University of Tennessee Coach During Trembley's reign as Tennessee Swimming Head Coach from 1988–2012, the team won two Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championships in 1989 and 1996. As a high point, while serving as an Assistant Coach at Tennessee from 1978–79, the team became the first in the Southeastern Conference to win an NCAA championship. Trembley's 2001 team finished second in the SEC, and placed third at the NCAA championships, in one of the best years in his coaching tenure. In his last season as coach in 2012, the Tennessee Vol Men Swimmers finished 12th at the NCAA Championships. During Trembley's time at Tennessee, including his four years as a swimmer 1971–1974, and his 23 years as a Coach, the men's program had 19 Olympic swimmers. His overall record at Tennessee included 282 wins and 65 losses, for a winning percentage of .813, second only to his predecessor at Tennessee, Hall of Fame Coach Ray Bussard. Trembley married Joanne Hogan, who he met while attending Tennessee, and had three children.

Trembley was released as Coach in January 2012 for what Athletic Director Dave Hart termed "gross misconduct" related to his use of e-mails, and though "financial improprieties" were also investigated, they were ruled unfounded by the Knoxville Police Department after an investigation.