Sports
October 04, 2008 12:28 AM
Mike Hayakawa
Nick Rottmann attended the University of Toronto and majored in engineering.
The 57-year-old hopes to engineer success in the swimming pool as the new head coach of the Stouffville Ducks Swim Club.
Rottmann succeeds Brandon Oates, who resigned earlier this year to accept a similar position in Collingwood.
A native of South Africa, Rottmann knew Stouffville club president Reg Chappell when they were students at U of T.
He has National Coaching Certification Level III and Level I and II course conductor certificates, Rottmann comes to Stouffville with some impressive credentials.
Coaching last year in Antingonish, N.S., Rottmann elected to come to Stouffville when philosophical changes at the east coast club surfaced.
“It was then that I started looking around and I have family in Ontario,” Rottmann said.
Growing the Ducks is one goal.
“I’d like to see us have anywhere from 60 to 80 kids in the program. That would be wonderful and to have a good crop of younger kids to learn the sport and to have some of our returning swimmers provide leadership to the younger ones,” he said. “Right now, we’re in a building process.”
While acknowledging swimming is an individual sport, Rottmann hopes to instill a team approach.
“We race as individuals. But I’m team-oriented or a team concept person,” he said.
Prior to his time in Nova Scotia, Rottmann coached the Aurora Master Ducks from 2004 to 2006 and served as an assistant coach in Richmond Hill from 2002 to 2004.
In his early coaching years, Rottmann worked his way up the ranks starting as an assistant with the Scarborough Swim Club before being elevated to the head position.
Rottmann also spent time with the Hamilton Aquatic Club as head age group coach before moving to the Oakville Aquatic Club where he was head coach from 1982 to 1985.
He was also head coach of the Ontario entry at the 1984 Canada Games.
While working at the provincial level, Rottmann was named head coach or assistant coach on several tour teams that competed in Australia and California.
From 1986 to 1988, Rottmann directed the Barrie Aquatic Club into the national rankings, with many swimmers making finals at the nationals.
He has been associated with swimmers attaining six national and 12 Ontario age group records and is the only coach to have won all four divisions of the team championships.
Rottmann’s accomplishments earned him national coach of the year honours in 1984, 1989 and 1999.
A national-calibre swimmer himself from 1969 to 1974, Rottmann placed fifth in the 200 metre breaststroke at the 1971 nationals, competed in the 1972 Olympic Trials and was a member of the University of Toronto’s Canadian University champions in 1971, 1973 and 1974. He was inducted into the school’s swimming hall of fame in 2008.
Rottmann has been a masters swimmer since 1975 and attended world and national masters championships.
Also joining the club’s coaching staff are Peter Griffin and Alysha McFee, along with returning coach Andrea James.
Chappell is excited about the new additions to the coaching ranks.
“This year’s coaching staff bring a wealth of knowledge and excitement to the club,” he said.
For more information on the club, log on to:
www.ducksswimming.ca or by calling (905) 888-9994.