Can you describe your coaching journey and the experiences that led you into coaching?
I got into coaching because of my coach. I swam when I was little, and I remember very vividly the impact he had on me. Some people know this story, but I specifically remember being in Grade 7 during one of our practices. I do not remember exactly what we were doing that day, but I remember coming home and saying, “I want to be a coach.” From that moment on, I did everything I could to work toward that goal. When I finished high school, there was never any question that I would pursue a kinesiology program. I completed my university education in Poland and, shortly afterward, moved to Canada to continue my journey.
When I arrived in Canada, I started as a volunteer with a swim team in Barrie, Ontario, and worked my way through a variety of coaching positions. Although I already had coaching qualifications, it was important to me to also complete the Canadian education pathway. As a result, I pursued the full NCCP coaching education program and became fully certified in Canada. Throughout that process, I continued gaining experience and developing my skills, ultimately building the career in coaching that I had set my sights on back in Grade 7.
How many years of experience do you have in your sport?
As an athlete, I have been involved in swimming since I was six years old, so the sport has been a part of my life for a very long time. My coaching career began in Poland, where I coached for two years before moving to Canada in 2000. Since then, I have spent 26 years coaching in Canada, bringing my total coaching experience to 28 years.
What significance does the mentorship program, and mentoring in general, have for you?
Mentorship is an opportunity to give back to the coaching community and support coaches as they navigate their own journeys. Coaching can often feel isolating, especially when faced with challenges or important decisions, so having someone to connect with, learn from, and lean on can make a significant difference. Through mentorship, I hope to help coaches build confidence, expand their networks, and overcome barriers that may stand in the way of their growth and success. I was fortunate to have a mentor early in my coaching career, and the impact was invaluable.
Having someone who could share their experience, offer guidance, and provide perspective helped me grow both personally and professionally. It gave me the confidence to take on new challenges and reinforced the importance of continuous learning. Because of that experience, I believe strongly in the power of mentorship and am grateful for the opportunity to support and encourage the next generation of coaches in the same way.
What is your vision for Swimming in New Brunswick?
My vision for sport is rooted in a coaching philosophy I developed early in my career: helping athletes achieve more than they believe is possible. While high performance is important, it must be balanced with learning life skills and developing the ability to manage the demands that come with sport. Success is not just about results in competition, but also about personal growth and resilience.
For sport in New Brunswick, I want to see athletes in all disciplines successfully navigate the challenges of performance while building fulfilling and sustainable lives. The goal is for sport to become more than a one-time experience or achievement. It should be something that can be sustained, repeated, and integrated into how athletes see themselves, helping them develop habits, skills, and values that stay with them for life.
As someone who has coached for nearly three decades, what do you think has changed the most in coaching, and what lessons have remained the same?
One of the biggest changes I have seen in coaching is the growing recognition that success is about more than just performance. When I first started, coaching often focused heavily on training volume, competition results, and technical development. While those things are still important, there is now a much greater understanding of athlete’s well-being, mental health, balance, and the importance of building strong relationships with athletes. Coaches are expected to understand the whole person, not just the athlete standing in front of them.
At the same time, some of the most important lessons have remained unchanged. Trust, communication, consistency, and genuine care for your athletes are still at the heart of effective coaching. Athletes want to know that their coach believes in them and is invested in their development, both in and out of sport. While the methods and science behind coaching continue to evolve, the human side of coaching remains just as important as it was when I first started. Building meaningful connections and helping athletes grow as people will always be one of the most rewarding and impactful parts of the job.
Can you describe your coaching style or philosophy?
My coaching philosophy is best described as performance-oriented, strategic, collaborative, and person-centered. While I am committed to helping athletes reach their highest potential, I believe that performance starts with understanding the individual behind the athlete. It is important for me to get to know each person, including their strengths, challenges, motivations, and the obstacles they may be facing. That understanding allows me to design programs that are tailored to their needs and help them find the right balance between sport and the other demands in their lives.
I believe that when coaches focus only on athletic performance, they can miss the bigger picture. By understanding and supporting the whole person, we create an environment where athletes can thrive both in and out of sport. When that foundation is in place, strong performance often follows naturally as a result of the athlete feeling supported, confident, and empowered to succeed.
Based on your experience, what guidance would you offer to a younger coach entering the coaching world, or your younger self?
If I could give advice to my younger self or to a young coach, it would be to stay curious and embrace every opportunity as a chance to learn. Rather than assigning value to an experience before it happens, approach all aspects of sport, training, performance, and competition with an open mind. Ask questions, even if they seem simple or if you worry about not having all the answers. Curiosity is one of the most valuable tools a coach can have, and it is often through those questions that we gain a deeper understanding of both coaching and sport itself.
I have learned that when we stop being curious, we can become stuck in a very narrow way of thinking. Being open to different perspectives, experiences, and opportunities allows us to see the bigger picture and grow both personally and professionally. Every opportunity offers something new to learn, and that willingness to explore different approaches helps us think more creatively, become better coaches, and ultimately support our athletes more effectively.
