Clayton Douglas Joyner "Coach CJ" believed in teamwork, breaking records, and living the dream! Coach CJ was head coach of the Falls Church High School (FCHS) Swim and Dive Team, head coach of the Holmes Run Acres swim team, and was coach and manager of his own year round swim club, Victory Lane Aquatic Club (VLAC). A native of Annandale, Coach CJ was born in Arlington, VA on June 17, 1984. He grew up in the Camelot neighborhood where he attended local schools.

​

A tri-athlete at Falls Church High School where he lettered in swimming, soccer, cross country, and golf, he was captain of the swim and dive team, a member of the FCHS chorus and Madrigal singers, and was voted Most Likely to be Remembered by the senior class. Clayton attended Northern Virginia Community College, then earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and the Choral Arts Society. He earned a master's degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University. He was an adjunct professor of physical education at Northern Virginia Community College.

 

Under Coach CJ, the Holmes Run Acres Hurricanes won a combined eleven division and relay carnival championships in eleven seasons. The team rose from Division 16 to runner up in Division 7 in 2013. While head coach at Robinson High School, the girls' swim team swept the 2010 district, regional and state titles. In his third season coaching at his alma mater, the FCHS swim and dive team members broke 21 of 24 school records including Joyner's own 2002 record in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The 2013 team ranked second in the region and the boys' team ranked fourth in the state, the highest ranking in FCHS history. In March 2014, a VLAC swimmer placed in the top ten at Junior Nationals competition.

 

Clayton was the son of Dr. Nancy Douglas Joyner of Annandale, VA and the late

Dr. Christopher Clayton Joyner. He was a popular local swim coach who died at 29 years old on May 5, 2014 at INOVA Fairfax Hospital after suffering a heart attack on April 22. He is survived by his mother and sister Kristin Elizabeth Joyner.