Starting a College Swim Team From Scratch with McKendree's Jimmy Tierney

#361 Starting a College Swim Team From Scratch with McKendree's Jimmy Tierney

Today Brett sits down for an inspiring interview with legendary swimming coach Jimmy Tierney. Coach Tierney currently coaches at McKendree University but has had an illustrious career coaching including 21 years as the Head Coach of Northwestern.

In the interview, Coach Tierney reflects on his journey through coaching and some of the great mentors who have influenced him along the way. He talks about coaching at his hometown club Lakeside Swim Club in Louisville and learning from coaches like Dennis Pursley and Bill Peak. Coach Tierney then shares about his college coaching experiences at Southern Illinois University and Northwestern University.

When asked about starting the program at McKendree from scratch, Coach Tierney explains the challenges of building a team without a pool at first. However, he is grateful for the support of the university administration and discusses how the program has grown tremendously in a short time.

Coach Tierney provides wisdom for younger coaches, emphasizing the importance of finding your own coaching style and trusting your process. He also stresses continually learning from other coaches and getting involved in organizations. Coach Tierney thinks it is crucial for coaches to understand today's athletes and connect with them on a personal level.

The interview inspires me with Coach Tierney's passion for the sport and positive impact on so many swimmers over the decades. Enjoy!

Listen on Apple Podcasts here.

Watch on YouTube here.

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Time Stamps:

00:00 Hello Jimmy Tierney
05:34 Starting a New College Swim Team
10:29 Recruiting with No Team
16:39 Differences between D1 & D2
24:53 Suiting Up for Dual Meets
28:23 How Swimming Has Evolved
32:43 Advice for Young Coaches
38:23 Richard Quick's Innovation
46:14 Coaching College vs Club
49:22 Upcoming Championship Season

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