Pan Pacific Championships: Teri McKeever for U.S. Olympic Head Coach – Coverage Sponsored by TYR

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Column by John Lohn

IRVINE, California, August 20 (updated August 25). WE might be two years out from the London Olympics, but the process to select the United States' head coaches for the next Olympiad has already started. Applications have been mailed out to coaches who might want to guide the Stars and Stripes at the next Games. And, soon, a committee from USA Swimming will make a decision as to who gets the nod.

When the decision is made, the coaches who are picked will have a splendid combination of positive attributes. The chosen coaches will obviously be among the elite in the world, will have prior international coaching experience and will have a knack for being personable and approachable for the athletes.

As the process unfolds, there is no doubt the committee will do its due diligence before making a final call. Not that it matters in the slightest bit, but here's one vote for a selection. As the American women head for London, it would be great – and well-deserved – if Teri McKeever, the coach of Cal-Berkeley, was overseeing the United States.

In a country that has long boasted the globe's best coaches and still does, McKeever ranks right at the top of the list. It was no accident that she was the head women's coach for last week's Pan Pacific Championships, where she had four of her Cal Aquatics swimmers on the United States team, and two others racing for Hong Kong and New Zealand.

"I think Teri has a unique understanding of what motivates women, which is different from men," said Dana Vollmer, one of McKeever's troops. "She understands the importance of developing not just a swimmer, but also a young lady. She knows if you're not happy in life, you're not going to be swimming as well. She's also a life coach."

In addition to Vollmer, who produced a sterling time in the 200 freestyle, was the runnerup in the 100 freestyle and won the 100 butterfly, McKeever placed Natalie Coughlin, Caitlin Leverenz and Madison Kennedy on the American team at Pan Pacs. Meanwhile, the United States excelled in the water as a whole, with McKeever leading the way.

McKeever is the only female in United States history to land an assistant coaching role for the Olympic Games, serving in that capacity in 2004 in Athens and two years ago in Beijing. Meanwhile, this is her second stint as women's coach of the Pan Pacific squad, complementing her selection to guide the 2006 team in Victoria, British Columbia.

A look at McKeever's resume is not a cursory chore. It takes time, such is the depth and impressive nature of what she has accomplished in the sport. A former All-American at the University of Southern California, McKeever has been a three-time American coach at the World Championships and led Cal-Berkeley to the 2009 NCAA championship.

Of course, she is best known as the guiding hand of Coughlin. When Coughlin joined McKeever at Cal, she was coming off struggles at the 2000 Olympic Trials, brought on by a shoulder injury that hindered her vast talent. McKeever obviously found a program that clicked with Coughlin, turning her into one of the finest female swimmers the sport has seen.

When her athletes speak of her, they obviously give a nod to her skill in designing training programs that work. Yet, spend an equal amount of time crediting McKeever with having a firm grasp of the importance of team-building activities. It is not unusual for her swimmers to take part in hip-hop and step classes. And, she's always available if a chat is needed.

Clearly, the selection process is going to be difficult with this nation featuring more than a handful of capable coaches, and deserving ones at that. That depth, however tough it makes things, guarantees the final choice will be top-notch.

"It's like a football team," said Jim Wood, the President of USA Swimming. "You would rather have six great tight ends to pick from and have to choose than to have no great ones. It gives us options. We have a great pool to pick from. When you're making a subjective decision, it's always challenging."

The next point is not meant to make this a gender issue over anything else. Teri McKeever, plain and simple, is a phenomenal swim coach. Her record (refer above) speaks for itself. However, with no woman ever leading a United States Olympic Swim team, her nomination to that role would also be ground-breaking.

Since she's mentored Olympic medalists, guided highly successful teams and demonstrated an ability to manage teams and athletes out of the pool, it's hard to argue against McKeever getting a long look as an Olympic coaching possibility. At least one of her athletes thinks she's earned the nod.

"She deserves it more than anyone I know," Vollmer said. "She knows how to get it done. I hope it happens."

It would be a well-deserved honor.

Coverage Sponsored by TYR

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