Men’s Swimming
Varsity Blues MacDonald fitting choice for swimming colleague’s coaching excellence honour
U SPORTS sits down with one key athlete, coach, and staff member of each U SPORTS athletic program in our new interview series “Getting to know…”
- Name: John Peters
- School: Mount Allison University
- Sport: Men’s and Women’s swimming
- Position: Head Coach
- Seniority: 22 years
- Hometown: Saint John, NB
1. How did you first get involved in coaching? What was your path to your position as head coach of Mount Allison?
I was an age group swimmer and continued to swim at my university. My age group coach phoned me one day when I was on leave and asked if I would fill in for him while he was away on his honeymoon. He never returned to the job, so I just kept coaching and was offered the job at the beginning of the next season.
2. Who are the people that have influenced you most as a coach?
My age group coach “Fitzy” and my university coach “Jack”, they are two totally different people with opposite coaching styles but were able to keep me focused, and involved in swimming. My age group coach was pretty laid back and nothing seemed to bother him. He worked a full-time job and coached for the enjoyment. My university coach was a full-time professor teaching kinesiology and coached. He was very focused, driven, and always had a plan. He went on and won back to back CI’s titles. I developed a very strong relationship with both men, unfortunately, my university coach passed away shortly after I graduated. I still keep in touch with Fitzy to this day.
3. How would you describe your coaching style?
I would like to believe that I am laid back, easy going, take everything in stride, but my swimmers say that I’m anything but, so somewhere in between.
4. What is the most “out-of-the-box” thing you’ve done as a coach?
My brother is a second-degree black belt Taekwondo instructor, and I would get him to do some morning classes including light sparing with my swimmers. It was a lot of fun.
5. What is your greatest coaching moment or achievement?
Anytime one of my swimmers does the unexpected. I love the underdog.
6. What’s the best advice you can give to an athlete and/or athlete’s parents?
My best advice to athlete and parents is to come to practice, work hard, be patient and enjoy the ride. It goes by so fast.
7. How have you changed as a coach over time? What principles/values, etc. have remained the same?
My coaching style changed the most when I started coaching my four children. I have the great pleasure of coaching my four children through age group and into university. Our unspoken rule was never talk swimming at home, and leave all the gossip and crazy at the pool.
8. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not in coaching mode?
When not coaching, I enjoy operating and fixing machinery. I have a 1986 military “Iltis" that I’m currently rebuilding and my children/swimmers think I’m obsessed with tractors.
9. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you as a coach?
I was at national championship at Brock University sitting on the deck in front on the balcony, middle of the pool. They had just done the national anthem and when I sat down all four legs on my chair gave out. I got a big cheer from the crowd.