More Than Just X's and O's A Swimming Coach's Lessons Become A Legacy For Life
There is nothing Bob Jennings loves more than helping someone improve, seeing a change, and guiding them to do better than they ever thought they could. It’s the key to great coaching. It’s why he became one. Jennings has been a mainstay in the masters swimming community, as both a multi-time medal winning athlete, and as a leader out of the pool with nearly five decades of experience as a coach. Most recently, he's been leading one of the most dominant senior athletic clubs in the world as head coach of the Villages Aquatic Swim Team. But in early 2022, the Hall of Fame mentor announced he would be retiring. “It will be bittersweet, but it's time for new people,” Jennings explained. “We've got four new coaches, and three of them have already been working with the team. They'll take over and come up with new ideas. They'll have new enthusiasm. So that'll be very good for the team. It's time for a change, and I'll miss it, but that's the way it goes.” Jennings is leaving a legacy for others to build from. His philosophy has revolved around something simple yet profound; that sports are just like life. As important as knowledge is, he realized that what athletes really need is inspiration. “People always think of coaching as just X's and O's, but it's so much more than that,” Jennings said. “You're taking care of people, helping with stroke mechanics, listening to some of the older swimmers. Being organized and being able to get them ready for their meets is so important. And it's understanding that there are other things in life also. You're helping other people and you try to inspire them with your love of what you're doing in the sport.” 24
G R O W I N G B O L D E R / M AY 2 0 2 2 D I G E S T
