Coach Jack Simon Award Pushes Distance Training in US Club Swimming to the Forefront
AWARD FOR DISTANCE COACHING EXCELLENCE
CREATED AND FUNDED BY COACH JACK SIMON
The American Swimming Coaches Association is pleased to release the criteria for the Jack Simon Excellence in Distance Coaching Award. This award will provide a cash prize for any coach who achieves it.
The establishment of the Jack Simon Award for Distance Coaching Excellence was announced at the 2022 ASCA World Clinic Banquet by ASCA CEO Jennifer LaMont and Coach Jack Simon. It is Coach Simon’s sincere desire the award will foster discussion and education on distance training and create a much-needed focus among club coaches in the U.S.
Through Coach Simon’s incredible generosity, a cash award will be given to a club coach who has an athlete who comes within 1% of the World Record in the 1500 freestyle and meets all other criteria. The award is currently funded by a donation from Coach Simon and will eventually grow significantly, as he has willed the vast majority of the proceeds of his estate to this award
Coach Jack Simon was inducted into the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007 after spending five decades as a head coach in the USA and multiple other countries. He has had the distinction of having 75 of his athletes achieving Top 25 World Rankings. His athletes broke three world records and competed in numerous Olympic Games. As an ASCA Level 5 coach, Coach Simon spent over 25 years on the U.S. National Coaching staff. He led the American Swimming Coaches Association as President and Vice President and served three terms on the Board of Directors of USA Swimming. Coach Simon has served on every major USA Swimming Committee and has authored over 20 articles in technical publications.
To support this award, Russell Mark will be hosting an ASCA Live on January 18 at 1 p.m. EST on “Constructing the Best 1500.” ASCA members can register at www.swimmingcoach.org.