Crow flies back to Blue Devil nest

By Bruce Gallaudet Enterprise correspondent

Don’t tell Vivian Crow she can never go home again.

After an accomplished collegiate career at the University of Idaho, the former Davis High swimmer found herself in Europe, where she spent a stint as an au pair in Switzerland while touring the continent.

Wondering what her next step would be, Crow got a head’s up from her old stomping grounds — the Blue Devils needed a girls swim head coach.

After a couple of phone calls and a Zoom interview from 6,000 miles away with DHS Athletic Director Jeff Lorenson, voila, Crow finds herself back in the familiar confines of her hometown.

Now 25

Crow, 25, a butterfly and backstroke specialist who often took a leg on Blue Devil relay teams, finds her coaching post “perfect … comfortable” and right in step with her new-found love of teaching.

While at Idaho, where her 100- and 200yard backstroke efforts put up key points for the Vandals, Crow majored in biological sciences.

But summer employment with the Davis Arden Racing Team and the Davis Aquatic Masters programs saw her shift her interest from a possible physical therapy career to, perhaps, a lifestyle of coaching. When she started substitute teaching in Davis schools, Crow’s direction was cemented.

“I love teaching,” the daughter of William and Joan Crow told The Enterprise. “I get to see a variety of kids. It’s a cool way of connecting with so many different people.

“Coming back to Davis was an easy decision. I missed my family too much.”

Crow comes by her athletic prowess honestly. Her dad, a retired data technology manager at Sacramento State University, is an avid cyclist. Mom handles horses at a nearby ranch and swims.

Her brother Ben ran track at Davis High and now is a customer service representative for Alaska Airlines in Seattle.

After four years in the Idaho panhandle where Crow earned All-Western Athletic Conference academic honors, she’s delighted to put all she’s learned to work on the Arroyo Pool deck and in local classrooms.

‘People-pleaser’

“These girls make it so easy to coach,” says Crow, a member of Davis High’s 2013 SacJoaquin Section championship team — a squad that featured All-American competitors like Emma Barksdale and Chenoa Devine. “I love (this Blue Devil team). I’m the biggest people-pleaser. I want to make all my girls happy, make the team happy … while (competing) to the fullest.”

Crow gets help from veteran assistant Holly Riggle and has the ear of DART director Billy Doughty.

“I’ve received so much help in planning things like (creating) relay teams, strategy for lineups,” Crow continues. “We hope to have it all clicking by the end of the season.”

Through four dual meets, DHS is 3-1 in the pool (although an ineligible swimmer cost it the win versus Elk Grove). Its only statistical loss was to powerhouse St. Francis.

Shoulder surgery

Crow had shoulder surgery during her senior year at Davis, but still was recruited by a handful of colleges. She made campus visits to Colorado State and Idaho but said that heading to Moscow was an easy decision.

“I really was looking more for schooling than swimming,” she reports. “But the city was like a mini-Davis. The girls were great, and the people were really invested.”

The Blue Devils get a final Delta League tune-up this Wednesday when Pleasant Grove comes to Arroyo Pool. After that, it’s off to Roseville for the NorCal Swim Championships (April 14-15), following by Delta League trials and finals on April 20 and 21.

Feeling pressure?

So, does Crow feel any pressure?

After all, she is well aware that Davis High teams have won 22 section titles over the years, mostly under the watchful eye of her former mentor, Doug Wright.

But with John Varley in charge, Davis has an existing string of four straight Sac-Joaquin crowns.

“Of course there is,” she says. “But I’m determined to make the district proud that they hired me.”

Reflecting on Crow’s hiring last fall, Lorenson said he doesn’t think she has anything to worry about.

“She’s been great for the program, communicating, organizing, planning … all the things we really, really need for a sport that happens a couple of miles from school (Arroyo Pool in West Davis),” Lorenson said.

Notes: Speaking of pools, the new oncampus Aquatics Center (part of a capital projects school bond) is expected to be ready sometime in 2025, according to Lorenson. … A robotics building is almost finished and — thanks to recent rains — the STEM Building is a tad behind schedule. “It’s sure going to be exciting to have it all done,” adds the AD. … DHS beat Sheldon on Wednesday, 148-27.

— Bruce Gallaudet is the former Davis Enterprise editor and sports editor. He can be reached at bgallaudet41@gmail.com.