New Appointment of Head Coach
18 Sep 2020
We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new Head Coach, Iain Chalmers. Iain will coach our Senior Squad and work alongside Kevan our Junior Squad coach to give input across the club. Please offer him a warm welcome and a socially distanced wave! He is looking forward to getting to know all of you.
A word from Iain,
I’d like to thank all of the swimmers and parents that I have met so far and for the warm welcome I’ve received since providing temporary coaching cover at Dawlish. I’m excited to make that arrangement permanent and take on the role of Head Coach going forward.
Swimming is my life, and I have been involved for nearly 25 years. I started as a swimmer with Aylsham Vikings, and then swam to Nationals with Norwich Penguins and Plymouth Leander representing Norfolk County in the process. I then swam with Devonport Royal, Tavistock and Exeter while training as a swimming teacher and coach during my university years.
I took on the Head Coach role at the University of St Mark and St John, and won two varsity meets against Plymouth, the only time Marjon have done so, and the National BUCS team championship title.
I became Head Coach of Devonport Royal in 2015 and coached 4 able bodied swimmers and 3 multi class swimmers to Nationals, winning 11 medals in the process. 30+ swimmers made it to South West Regionals, and over 70 to Devon County Championships, with medals and finals at all levels alongside national, regional and county camp and team selections in the process. In this time I’ve been lucky to work with some fantastic coaches, and learn from them. The late Steve Purchase, Fred Furniss, Ron Berryman and Lindsay Powell, and learnt extensively from Jo John, Terry Mansell, Tony Davies, Brett Thorp, Neil West, Kevin Dart, Martyn Stacey among many others all of whom have my thanks and respect.
My approach to swimming is that while a swimmer should work hard, it should be enjoyed just as much, and I aim to make even the toughest sets enjoyable. My philosophy as a coach is that I will match the swimmers commitment. If the swimmer puts in 100% I will match that, 50% then I will match that. But I will always aim to get to know them, understand them as individuals and encourage them to better themselves, aim high, dream and achieve.
My coach as a junior swimmer gave me advice that has always guided me - if your heart isn’t in it, don’t do it. With that in mind, I hope to inspire as many swimmers to embrace, enjoy and achieve in this sport.
I’m looking forward to working with you all.
Iain