Q&A: Coach Emily Melina Has Grown Lake Oswego Program and is Leading Charge For Diversity

Q&A: Lake Oswego Coach Emily Melina Leading Charge For Diversity

Since her days as an Idaho state high school champion and varsity swimmer at UCLA, Emily Melina has grown the program at Lake Oswego Swim Club, Ore., and has become a leading voice in USA Swimming’s concerted effort to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive.

Emily Melina

Head Coach

Lake Oswego Swim Club

Lake Oswego, Oregon

UCLA, B.A., English language and literature, 2002
Head coach, Lake Oswego Swim Club, 2011-present
Head swim coach, Cleveland High School (Ore.), 2010-11
General manager, Alberta Grocery Cooperative, 2009-10
Deli manager, Moscow (Idaho) Food Cooperative, 2006-08
Graduate Assistant, Boston University, 2005-06
Undefeated in two years of high school swimming
Idaho high school state champion, 100 fly (2x), 200 free and 200 IM
Former Idaho high school record holder in 200 free and 200 IM
Staff member, USA Swimming National Select Camp and Zone Select Camp
ASCA board member
Head coach, National Diversity Select Camp
Member, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) National Council for USA Swimming
Member, USA Swimming Club Development Committee
General Chair, Oregon Swimming

SWIMMING WORLD: Born in South Korea, raised in Idaho, how did you find swimming?

COACH EMILY MELINA: In my town, only soccer and swimming were offered year-round…so I did both. But at some point, you have to choose. Soccer didn’t have a girls’ team at the time…so swimming it was!

SW: You had talent and drive to be a coach. Any formative influences along the way?

EM: My club coach, Jay Benner, instilled an enormous sense of work and pride into swimming. I feel incredibly fortunate that he happened to be coaching at Washington State University at the time.

SW: You’ve coached at Lake Oswego now for almost 12 years, and before that at Boston University. You also took a four-year hiatus. How did you come to coach?

EM: I think coaching chooses us. I took a break from coaching for a few years, but always stayed in the sport in some capacity. I actually moved to Portland (Ore.) to go to law school, but coaching was calling me back. Every experience I have had has given me perspective and made me the coach I am today.

SW: These days there are many resources for swim coaches. Where would you advise young coaches to go to advance their swim coach education?

EM: ASCA has grown to be a huge resource and opportunity for coaches to find a community. The biggest resource, however, is to find a mentor or two. I have had a number of mentors, and I always wanted to learn. My advice: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most coaches are willing to share! Mentors do not need to be older than you or even more professionally accomplished. They just need to be people you trust for guidance and support.

SW: You have been directly responsible for LOSC’s growth to more than 230 swimmers and attainment of USA Swimming Silver Medal Club Excellence status. Is there an ideal size you’d like LOSC to be?

EM: This is probably our ideal size, given our facility restrictions and the fact that we simply cannot put more kids in the pool. We have a large wait list. My goal is to accommodate everyone who wants to swim.

SW: How did you grow the Lake Oswego sense of family?

EM: Early on we had about 80 members, so having a family atmosphere was easy. As we’ve grown, it has meant we have had to be more intentional about our communication, activities and events.

SW: What is one unique value of which you are most proud at LOSC?

EM: Our athletes have immense pride in our team. We strive to develop champions in and out of the water. Our kids go on to do amazing things outside of the pool.

SW: And how have you grown in your time as a coach there?

EM: I have become way less rigid. I used to be compelled to follow a very strict season plan and never deviate. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to listen to the athletes more and be more flexible.

SW: One of the goals at LOSC is to expand the facilities. Right now you have two sites, both with eight lanes. What’s the timetable for expansion?

EM: A pre-pandemic bond referendum was passed to build a new pool. This has been delayed a bit, as was everything. At this moment, fall 2024 is the new date. The new pool will replace one of our current ones, so we don’t have a huge net gain. The new facility will be larger—although not 50 meters, unfortunately. That’s still a goal…

SW: Ten years from now when you look back, what would you hope you could say you have accomplished as a coach/person?

EM: I truly want to impact my athletes’ lives in a positive way. Sure, I want to help them swim fast—REALLY FAST—but I also want to be able to watch them grow into amazing adults. I want all of our athletes to know that college swimming is an option, and that there is a level and place for everyone if they want it. We have had a remarkable number of swimmers compete in college at all levels, and it makes me incredibly proud.

SW: You believe all coaches should be invested in the sport beyond time on deck. You may well be the poster child for that. What has been your motivation for that belief?

EM: I got so much from this sport. If my athletes get even a fraction of what I got, I would be thrilled. Part of that is due to people giving back. I simply want to give back to the sport that gave me so much.

SW: You may also be the poster child for your work with diversity, equity and inclusion in swimming. You serve on regional and national committees and councils on the subject. On a scale of glacial to hypersonic, at what pace is swimming moving to become more inclusive?

EM: I am an impatient person by nature, so it never moves fast enough for me. That being said, there are a lot of people who are passionate about DEI and are supporting these programs and initiatives. The demographic of swimming is changing, and programs need to change, too. Inclusivity benefits us all, and I think we’re getting there.

SW: What needs to happen to improve the pace?

EM: We just need to continue to talk about things, educate people and be visible. DEI changes through policy, but it also changes through relationships and conversations. I hope we all keep having them!

SW: Jay Benner liked volume and challenged you as an age grouper to commit to the process of swimming. Would he be surprised that as a Masters swimmer, you ended up being No. 1 in the 400 and 800 free in the 35-39 age group and an All-American in the 5K postal swim?

EM: I don’t think he’d be surprised at all. I suspect he would not think the 400 or 800—and maybe not even the 5K—are true distance swims. I won the Portland Bridge Swim, which is a 17K open water swim in the Willamette River. I think he’d respect that! I still swim daily, and some of my closest friends swim with me. It is just a reminder that swimming is a lifelong sport and has the best community.

SW: Would your LOSC swimmers be surprised?

EM: I’m not so sure they would be surprised about a whole lot, to be honest. However, several of my swimmers were surprised to find out I majored in English in college.

SW: Given that your shoe collection rivals that of Imelda Marcos, do you prefer Jordan lows or highs?

EM: That’s like asking which kid do you love the most! Kidding…but it’s close. I’m into lows over highs.

Michael J. Stott is an ASCA Level 5 coach, golf and swimming writer. His critically acclaimed coming-of-age golf novel, “Too Much Loft,” is in its third printing, and is available from store.Bookbaby.com, Amazon, B&N and distributors worldwide.

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