Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) swim coach John Fowlie has been named the 2011 Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) Coach of the Year.

Fowlie, who coached Alicia Coutts to five gold medals at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi, joins an impressive list of Australia’s who’s who of swimming coaches who have won the award.

Previous winners have included the late John Carew, Bill Nelson, Scott Volkers, Doug Frost, Shannon Rollason, Ian Pope, Denis Cotterell and Stephan Widmer.

Australia's National Head Coach Leigh Nugent likened Fowlie to a young Forbes Carlile.

'There is no doubt in my mind that John Fowlie is one of the most exciting young coaches in the world of swimming, who has the ability to be up here again accepting this award in the future,' Nugent said.

'His work with Alicia Coutts to win gold medals in two individual strokes (butterfly and freestyle) and the 200 IM, as well as her part in Australia's gold medal winning relays was nothing short of fantastic.'

'Apart from his coaching ability and his love of the sport he also uses all the tools and technology at his disposal at our National Training Centre in Canberra, where he started his rise to international coaching as a scholarship coach.'

'He is quickly developing into a modern day Forbes Carlile with his innovative coaching style.'

Fowlie is currently away on a third altitude training study with his AIS athletes preparing them for this year's world championships.

Other coaches' awards included Craig Jackson (Melbourne Vicentre) Age Group Coach of the Year; Ken Wood (Redcliffe Leagues) Open Water Coach of the Year; Graeme Carroll (AIS) Multi-Class Coach of the Year; Francis Godden (Doncaster Dolphins) Masters Coach of the Year; and Matt Brown (Brothers Qld) received his Platinum Licence certificate.