By Brendon Ward, CEO Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association
Photo credit: St Peters Western
WORLD Championship winning swim coach Dean Boxall has joined a "who's who" of Australia's legendary list of swim coaches after being named the 2019 Australian Swimming Coaches And Teachers Association (ASCTA) prestigious Coach of the Year.
The St Peters Western (Brisbane, Qld) Head Coach won the award for his efforts with Ariarne Titmus, Clyde Lewis and Mitch Larkin at last year's Fina World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Titmus was Australia's sole individual gold medallist at the Championships, defeating legendary five-time Olympic gold medallist US and the world's greatest ever distance freestyler, Katie Ledecky in an epic 400m freestyle – over-taking Ledecky on the final lap.
While Lewis was a member of Australia's gold medal winning 4x200m freestyle relay and also becoming Australia's second fastest ever 200m freestyler behind Ian Thorpe while Larkin swam his way back on to the World Championship podium, winning bronze in the 100m backstroke after a stellar Commonwealth Games in 2018.
He won the award from Australia's impressive list of coaching achievers at last year's World Championships in Gwangju – Craig Jackson (for Mack Horton), Michael Bohl (for Emma McKeon), Richard Scarce (for Alex Graham), Mick Palfrey (for Brianna Throssell), Simon Cusack (for Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell), Peter Bishop (for Kyle Chalmers) and Adam Kable (for Matt Wilson).
And Boxall joins the likes of coaches John Carew, Doug Frost, Denis Cotterell, Ian Pope, John Fowlie, Bill Nelson, Michael Bohl, Scott Volkers, Stephan Widmer, David Lush, Bishop, Jackson and Cusack.
And as he watched a replay of Titmus' race on ASCTA's Virtual Award's Presentation Boxall revealed he had to get away from his peers on the night in Gwangju as he watched the race unfold, finding a "quite" spot in the VIP area – alongside three-time Olympians, gold medallist Chris Fydler and Matt Dunn.
He was quick to praise his three mentors Volkers, Widmer and Bohl who he described as his "Triangle of Power" as well as his team of coaches who have helped him steer St Peters Western to the number one swim club in Australia.
"I want to recognise Stefan, Michael and Scott who have all won the award and what a great feeling to think I'm actually now there with them," said Boxall.
"I so glad I could stand there with those three – and I've learnt so much from all of those guys in my career. So blessed to have had those coaches influence my career – all in different ways.
"I feel very fortunate to have great coaches who have backed me, believed in me and put some time and energy into me.
"I always think of the three and there are times when the plan is thrown out the window and you have to think on your feet. I coached in Qatar for four-and-and-half years and did it by myself, I dug my teeth in, learning on the job, I had nobody, I learnt for the whole time, I got things wrong but just moved forward, I still look up to those three, who have all won Olympic gold, I'm just the novice, I'm not in their league."
But Boxall, who also praised his assistant coach, Maxine Seear as well as his junior and age coaches Stewart Melton and John Gatfield, is certainly taking his squad on a trajectory towards next year's Tokyo Olympics. "I have to pay tribute to Maxine who I think is the greatest assistant coach in the world who compliments my attributes perfectly and I believe I do the same for her," said Boxall. "Max really helps me manage St Peters Western Swim Club which is a beast in its own, and she is rightly fully up there with some of the greatest assistant coaches – and an integral part of a great team we have here."
ASCTA also recognised SOPAC coach Adam Kable with an Outstanding Coaching Achievement Award for Matt Wilson's world record equalling swim in the semi-final of the 200m breaststroke at last year's World Championships, while the "great survivor" of swim coaching in Australia John "JR" Rodgers won back-to-back Open Water Coach of the Year Awards.
Rodgers coached Kareena Lee into seventh in last year's World Open Water 10km Championship and an automatic nomination for the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo.
It was a day that also saw former AIS, VIS, WAIS coach and ASCTA CEO Ralph Richards, the former coach of three-time Olympian, 1992 and 1996 silver bronze medallist Nicole Livingstone elevated to Life Membership for his 35-year services to coaching in Australia.
Swim Australia also recognised the remarkable job that Australia's often unheralded swim teachers including:
- Lyn Barrett (Yeppoon Aquatic Centre) who was named Swim Australia Teacher of the Year
- Trish Bailey (Goonellabah Sports And Aquatic Centre, NSW) winner of the Swim Australia Teacher of Learners with a Disability, Teacher of the Year:
- Craig Beck (Northern Rivers Swim Academy, Lismore, NSW) who was awarded the Swim Australia Teacher of Babies and Toddlers Teacher of the Year with;
- Chris Delitt (Little Snappers Swim School, FNQ) awarded the Meritorious Service To The Teaching of Swimming in Australia.
Here is the full list of award winners from the Virtual Awards:
2019 ASCTA/SWIM AUSTRALIA AWARDS
Coach of the Year: Dean Boxall (St Peters Western, QLD)
Outstanding Coaching Achievement: Adam Kable (SOPAC Hub, NSW)
Open Water Coach of the Year: John Rodgers (Noosa Aquatic, QLD))
Multi-Class Coach of the Year: Jon Bell (Tiffany Thomas Kane); Harley Connolly (Lakeisha Patterson)
Masters Coach of the Year: Greg Gourley (Tuggeranong, ACT)
Outstanding Contribution To Swim Coaching In Australia: Reece Rackley (Rackleys, SE Qld)
Outstanding Contribution to swimming in Australia: Peter Tonkin OAM OLY
Life Membership: Ralph Richards
Outstanding Supporters Awards for Swim Australia: Vorgee, Dawn Fraser, Kids Alive and World Wide Swim Schools (Laurie Lawrence); Gold Class (Leigh Nugent, Gary Barclay and Rohan Taylor); Dita Solutions; Ian Hanson (Hanson Media Group).
Outstanding Community Service Award: The Warwick Indoor Recreation And Aquatic Centre
SwimSAFER: Airlie Beach Swim School by Danielle Shae;
Best Swim School- Marketing, Promotion and Customer Service: SwimSations (Goonellabah Sports And Aquatic Centre, NSW); Jayson Lamb's Splash Factory
Best Swim School- Inovation: Barker Foundation Aquatic Centre); Kirby Swim Karrinyup
Swim Australia Teacher of the Year: Lyn Barrett (Yeppoon Aquatic Centre)
Swim Australia Teacher of Learners with a Disability, Teacher of the Year: Trish Bailey (Goonellabah Sports And Aquatic Centre, NSW)
Swim Australia Teacher of Babies and Toddlers Teacher of the Year: Craig Beck (Northern Rivers Swim Academy, Lismore, NSW)
Meritorious Service To The Teaching of Swimming in Australia: Chris Delitt (Little Snappers Swim School, FNQ)
