Lessons with the Legends: John Collins
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Swimming World continues a series in which top coaches share some of the secrets of their success. The September issue of Swimming World Magazine highlights the many accomplishments of Coach John Collins.
A lawyer by education and well-versed in modern aquatic training methods, Collins is well into his fourth decade as a decorated swim coach. As such, he has been a mentor to more than a dozen Olympians, world and national champions such as Rick Carey, Lea Loveless, Tobie Smith, Cristina Teuscher, Jenny Thompson and Cody Miller. He also directed NCAA D-III Manhattanville College aquatics for 22 years.
Coached by his father and schooled by Doc Counsilman at Indiana, Collins became an NCAA butterfly All-American and USA national team member before earning a J.D. from Fordham University. Law degree aside, Collins followed his father into the swim coaching business. For years, he ran workouts from a six-lane pool in Larchmont, N.Y., home base for the team established by his mother and father in 1945.
In 2018, he still advocates eight to 12 workouts per week. The addition of Lehman College’s 50-meter indoor pool, coupled with Badger’s “blue jewel” 50-yard outdoor facility guarantees longcourse training year-round.
Collins was a U.S. national team coach from 1984-2007 and head coach for the 1995 Pan American Games, 1997 Pan Pacific Championships and the 2001 and 2007 World Championships. He was also named 1983 ASCA Coach of the Year and has been inducted into the Metropolitan Swimming, Westchester County Sports and ASCA halls of fame.
To learn more about Collins and his many accomplishments, check out the September 2018 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
Swimming World subscribers can download this issue in the Swimming World Vault!
[PHOTO COURTESY: POLLY LINDEN]
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FEATURES
017 A YEAR TO REMEMBER
by David Rieder
North Allegheny High School won its first national title in school history, defeating Carmel High School (Ind.), 168 to 142.5, to capture Swimming World’s 2017-18 boys’ national high school championships.
021 “…NEVER THIS GOOD!”
by Annie Grevers
Forty years since Harpeth Hall School (Tenn.) finished second in Swimming World’s National High School Championships, the Bearacuda girls finally made it to the top, outswimming Buchholz High School (Fla.), 170.5 to 135.5—and ending Carmel’s (Ind.) five-year reign as national champions
027 TOKYO TAKEAWAY
by David Rieder
For Team USA, their performance at the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo was cause for some concern. For Australia, it was reason to be excited. For both, it wasn’t the end game.
029 PROJECT 56
by David Rieder
At the European Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain’s Adam Peaty—the best sprint breaststroker in history—took aim at an unfathomable boundary: swimming the men’s 100 meter breast under 57 seconds.
030 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH ALLISON SCHMITT
by Annie Grevers
040 AROUND THE TABLE WITH MARIAH DENIGAN—A LOOK INTO TEENAGE NUTRITION
by Annie Grevers and Dawn Weatherwax
COACHING
010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: JOHN COLLINS
by Michael J. Stott
014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMAL MODEL FOR TECHNIQUE: PART 3—HEAD POSITION AND MOTION
by Rod Havriluk
This month’s article examines the effect of head position and motion on body rotation, and consequently, body size and shape. The head is critical because a slight variation in the non-breathing position or excess motion during breathing can impact resistance from the rest of the body.
032 SPECIAL SETS: EARLY FALL SEASON TRAINING
by Michael J. Stott
Coaches Ethan Hall (Crow Canyon Sharks) and Brian Elko (Egg Harbor Township) share some insights and actual sets that they offer athletes, ages 15-18, as they resume aquatic training.
034 PREHAB/REHAB VIA THE SWIM BENCH: STAYING FIT
by Michael J. Stott
This installment is the third in a multi-part series and explores the role of the swim bench in injury prevention and rehabilitation.
042 Q&A WITH COACH MIKE NOVELL
by Michael J. Stott
043 HOW THEY TRAIN DANNY KOVAC
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
026 DRYSIDE TRAINING: STROKE AND DISTANCE STRENGTH SERIES—INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
036 GOLDMINDS: SETTING GOALS…AND HOW TO ACHIEVE THEM!
by Wayne Goldsmith
Exchange your hopes for “actions,” trade in your wishes for “commitment” and swap your dreams for “goals”—and you’ll be on your way to realizing your full potential!
045 UP & COMERS: MAGGIE WANEZEK by Taylor Brien
COLUMNS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
013 BEYOND THE YARDS
016 THE OFFICIAL WORD
039 MOMS AT MEETS
046 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
047 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT
Did he coach Jenny Thompson? Or cody? Nope
Robb Zarges, I think you said you swam for him?
Robb Zarges I think you said you swam for him?
Yes I swam at a badger for 10 years