We had a chance to spend a few days at Auburn University and check out what the team was doing in preparation for the SEC championships. And even though Glenn (as a Alabama alumni) used to view Auburn as an opponent, we were welcome with open arms. And after three days in Auburn I can say we definitely liked what we saw.
It isn’t always easy being a stranger on someone else’s pool deck but the Auburn coaches, led by Brett’s Hawke, and the entire Auburn team was so warm and welcoming from the beginning. I can honestly say that I felt like part of the team almost immediately and left the visit very impressed.
What impressed me the most was the diversity amongst the staff in terms of personalities and coaching styles. Some head coaches are afraid to hire those who are different than him/herself. But Brett Hawke clearly understands that different swimmers respond to different coaching styles. And he embraces that. This program has divided up the training groups by personality traits, and have paired the swimmers with the coach that fits them the best. This, plus little things such as special swim caps for those who achieve a 4.0 GPA make it apparent that the swimmers at Auburn are seen as students and as individuals, not simply athletes.
And from what we saw, the swimmers are responding well. We saw athletes who looked comfortable and happy in this positive team and training environment.
With SEC’s just wrapping up (a 2nd place for men and 4th place for the ladies) and NCAA’s just a few weeks away we will have to wait to see how this has helped the team this season. But, no matter how this season goes, I believe we will see a team that continues to get faster over the next few years.
Categories: Team Visits, The Quest
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