So, coaches are getting some bad press in a couple of other threads, so I thought it might be interesting to talk about who has really impressed us as a coach (masters or open) and what it was about that coach that was so good. Ok, I'll go first.
A fellow named Archie Mckinnon was my first coach in age group, when I was 7-9yrs old & was flat out the best communicator I have ever seen. He let us know why we were doing what we were doing, what we were going to do & consulted us frequently as to what we wanted to get from our swimming (us individually, not the parents). Sounds out of a modern textbook, right? This was 1959-62 I've never had a coach since who came close to him, which had a great deal to do with me leaving swimming when I was fourteen.
Parents
Former Member
Favorites--Rob Orr and Pete Orscheidt (a tie). Both were great motivators and really cared about all of the swimmers on the team. Rob is still coaching (Princeton); don't know about Pete.
Least favorite--Pete Payne (football coach turned swim coach at Memorial High School in Houston back in the 70s (he was actually the head coach for the entire Spring Branch school district--six schools, boys and girls).
Favorites--Rob Orr and Pete Orscheidt (a tie). Both were great motivators and really cared about all of the swimmers on the team. Rob is still coaching (Princeton); don't know about Pete.
Least favorite--Pete Payne (football coach turned swim coach at Memorial High School in Houston back in the 70s (he was actually the head coach for the entire Spring Branch school district--six schools, boys and girls).
