2001 COACH OF THE YEAR NOMINATION
I believe Coach Michael
Collins from the Irvine Novaquatics deserves the SPMA
Coach of the Year award
for 2001.
Michael Collins joined our
team as the Masters’ Coach in November of 2000.
In only 8 months the team has doubled in members. He has turned the program into a
fun and efficient way to workout, and led
the Novaquatics to win its first SPMA Regional
Championship ever.
Triathletes, competitive swimmers, and people that just want to
get in shape, have all found a place in the program. Coach Mike always seems to
have time to coach everyone’s needs in the pool.
As a retired competitive
swimmer, who would do anything but swimming to stay in shape, I am now excited
about swimming again. I feel that Coach
Mike uses unique ways of motivating and helping his swimmers give the best of themselves in order to reach their goals, and the goals of
the team.
Included are a list of
accomplishments and what people are saying about the Irvine Novaquatics
program and coach Michael Collins.
Sincerely
Gabriela Hickman
Michael Collins -
Irvine
2001 Accomplishments:
Club size:
Began
coaching the team in November of 2000. Doubled the number of registered USMS swimmers from 75 in 2000, to
over 150 in 2001.
Team moral and workout
atmosphere seems to be at an all-time high.
Participation in SPMA &
USMS events has increased significantly.
Competition Results:
USMS Hour Swim Postal
Championship - 30 participants. 6th in Medium Team
Division.
USMS
3,000 & 6,000 Postal Championships – 30 participants.
3000 Team Scores: 1st
in Men’s, 2nd in Women’s & Combined
Broke 4 USMS National
Records (1 individual & 3 relays)
25
participants
SPMA
LC Regionals - 1st place overall. 29 participants
SPMA
SCM Regionals – 3rd place overall. (1st place team from
SPMA)
24
participants
Contributions to
USMS/SPMA:
Hosted
SPMA SC Championships. The best
run Masters meet in SPMA for quite some time.
Offered
Stroke Improvement Clinic Series for Masters in the winter.
Regularly attends SPMA
Committee Meetings
WHAT MEMBERS ARE SAYING ABOUT
As a Triathlete,
I want to thank you for the tremendous enthusiasm and expertise you bring to
the Nova Masters Program. I have swum
with Nova for the past 12 yrs., and this is as good as it has ever been. The technical advise
and non-boring workouts, have made it enjoyable to swim 4 days a week in the
pool. With the increased yardage I have
produced some great early season swims, like a 31:01 swim(1.5
miles) at the “Escape from
Dan Neyenhuis, 63
Before coming to NOVA I
could barely swim on lap in a pool, but now my technique has improved to the
point where I just completed a ½-Ironman and the swim portion was without
wetsuits...
David Nicholls
I push myself harder at
workouts when swimming with Novas than when I do lap swim on my own. Having Coach Mike give the workouts
makes sure I get in the yardage.
Having other swimmers my speed to race, makes me try to swim fast.
Mike Hsi
Venturing over to speak
with that Masters coach was the greatest infusion of adrenaline into my
swimming career. The workouts at Masters practice are spiced with variety,
creating a curiosity and desire to return to the pool rather than become bored
with the same old self-constructed workout found in lap swimming. I’m hooked on
Novas!!!
Denise Berger
I was a “beginner” swimmer
finishing in the last 1/3 of triathlon swims. Now I finish in top ½ due to the
coaching, stroke analysis and focus on technique. Although it is a large group, I always feel
that I get individual attention. I drive from
Judy Pitman
More quotes:
A fresh
approach to swim workouts. Very
creative! Each with a purpose and fun. I can see why
my friends have been improving their swim.
Bill Leach
Being in the Nova Masters
Program has been beneficial to my swimming workouts. Not only has it helped improve my stroke, but
I feel it is making me a stronger swimmer.
Having a coach giving specified workouts, having the ability to ask
technique questions throughout the workout, and the camaraderie of the swimmers
are just a few reasons I benefit from being part of Masters. Not only do we have a well respected and
talented coach who helps with swim technique and continues to give beneficial
workouts daily, but the members of Nova Masters are also very friendly and
helpful to their fellow swimmers. One other benefit from being affiliated with
Nova Masters is receiving e-mails on upcoming events, information, etc.
Marcia Z.
I trimmed 5 minutes off my
0.5 mile time and 8 minutes off my 1500 M times in triathlons with only six
months of swimming with Nova coaches.
R.J. Kern
I first joined NOVA Masters
9 years ago to get back into shape after many years of doing very little
physical exercise. About 5 years ago I
was diagnosed with cancer to my head-neck region and after many radiation treatments
and surgeries, the NOVA program took on a whole new
meaning. It afforded me the opportunity
to build up strength and a sense of wholeness after radiation and radical
surgery to my neck, however, my “physical therapy “ sessions at 6 AM in the
pool have now evolved into friendships, great exercise and a sense of well
being that I treasure and look forward to.