Being the Coach’s Kid: What It’s Like Having a Coach for a Parent

Photo Courtesy: Eva Fabian

By Ashlee Weingarten, Swimming World Summer Intern

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a parent who doubled as a swim coach? The following are the stories of three swimmers who were willing to describe their relationship with their parent, who also happened to be their coach.

Kim Lessard has been the head coach for Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, for more than 25 years. In addition, she also coached Sho’men Aquatics, also based in Chestertown, where her two daughters swam. Although Kim coaches at the collegiate level, both of her daughters chose to continue their swimming career at Susquehanna University. Her youngest daughter, Kelsey Lessard, shared what having her mom as a coach meant to her:

“My mom was never the crazy, obnoxious parent who hardly knew the sport. Having a mom who knew what she was talking about was a great feeling. She never pushed my sister and I into swimming and gave us the opportunity to try any sport we wanted. Of course, we always loved swimming the most! There were times that I didn’t want to listen to her at practice, and I was never allowed to miss a practice or meet, but in the end, those were only things that helped me become the swimmer I am today. At every big meet, I always look to her before checking the clock, because I love to see her reaction.”

Photo Courtesy: Kelsey Lessard

Jerry Foley is the head coach at Susquehanna University, as well as the head coach of Sunbury YMCA, in Pennsylvania. Jerry has two daughters who swam for him until leaving for college. Daughter Caitlin Foley, who will be attending Kenyon University in the fall, says “having a parent as a coach obviously has its positives and negatives.” Although, she believes that the positives outweigh the negatives. The positives that come out of having a coach for a father made for a unique relationship between Jerry and Caitlin in the following ways:

Sense of comfort- “I’m not afraid to voice my opinion,” says Caitlin. “I can tell that I feel more comfortable in that area than the other swimmers.”
Accessibility- “Whenever I have a question, my dad is usually around to answer it,” says Caitlin. “It doesn’t happen a lot, but knowing he’s there to help me whenever I need it is comforting.”
Invested in my career- “Even though my dad is coach to many swimmers, I feel that he is still invested in my swimming,” says Caitlin. “Just because he is a coach, doesn’t mean he isn’t just as proud as other parents.”

At times, it may be hard to go home after a meet or practice with the coach. “Sometimes it can be rough,” Caitlin says. “But we always talk out whatever issue went on by the time we get home.”

Photo Courtesy: Caitlin Foley

Jim Schmidt was a coach at Plainfield High School, head coach for the Hackettstown Hurricanes (a summer recreation league in New Jersey), and also an assistant coach to The Seadragons, a club team also in Hackettstown. His daughter, Donivyn Schmidt, was a member of the Seadragons, and continued her swimming career at William Paterson University.

“Having a parent that was involved in coaching me was never something I appreciated while it was happening,” says Donivyn. “I now realize what an enormous advantage it could have been if I had recognized it then.”

Competitive athletes strive to be the best and most want to find ways to get the coach’s attention and focus. Being the coach’s daughter made Donivyn the “coach’s pet.” Always interested in helping her improve, Jim challenged Donivyn and gave her advice. “When I finally took his advice and applied it to my swimming, I came to the realizaztion that my dad was only trying to help me,” says Donivyn. “Thanks to my dad, I became a respectable swimmer and soon after, a respectable coach in my own right.”

Donivyn went on to coach multiple levels of competitive swimming for 10 years, and even found herself teaching the same ideals her dad taught.

Photo Courtesy: Donivyn Schmidt

Some swimmers may think that having a parent as a coach would be the worst thing to happen to their career. They believe it would make them push swimming away. To these three girls, having a swim coach who is also one of the most important and influential people in your life was a gift that they will never forget. Being the coach’s kid isn’t always such a bad thing.

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Hannah Bell

8 years ago

Great stories! Wishing there was a mother-coaching-a-son point of view though!