One of the country’s top swimming coaches is joining the Coaching Staff at Shirley Swimming Pool to assist with the training of the club’s up and coming youngsters.
Matt Heathcock (35) has been the Head Coach at London’s biggest swim Club, Camden Swiss Cottage, for the last three years but his family home has always been in Southampton.
“Things have been going really well at Camden but my heart has always been in this area,” he said.
“I’ve always desperately wanted to come back to the South Coast and now I also have a baby girl who lives in Southampton.”
The appointment comes after yet another year of success for the Southampton Dolphins and Head Coach Chris White.
“It’s a very exciting appointment that can only help our coaches and swimmers keep moving forward. Matt has a wealth of experience in developing talented young swimmers, we are really lucky to have him”, said Luke Perry, the pool’s managing director.
In his career to date, Matt has been involved with County, Regional, National and International training camps and teams.
Great Britain Head Coach to three Junior European Open Water teams and Head Coach to two Junior World Open Water teams, Matt has also worked alongside two Olympic Coaches – Dave Heathcock and Bob Pay.
For the first time in Camden’s history, Matt’s coaching took the squad to the National Junior Inter-League Final, with some of the fastest 9-12 year old swimmers in the country.
He also led Windsor Swimming Club for seven years, taking them to two Arena League national finals.
The son of former Southampton head coach, Dave Heathcock, said there were personal as well as professional reasons why he was trading London’s second biggest club for the South Coast
“I was brought up in Southampton, my family used to have a beach hut at Mudeford and my best friend still has one there.”
” I met up by chance with Dave (Perry) at Wembley when Saints played and I told him I had been keeping an eye on Chris and the Dolphins. It’s amazing how they keep producing great swimmers out of that tiny pool, I hope I can help keep that going”
Matt’s involvement with swimming began at an early age and he competed up to Regional level. At the age of 16 Matt began teaching swimming, progressing to becoming an Assistant Coach and a full time coach at 20.
Matt will take on the Saturday afternoon coaching from 4.30-6.30, starting November 18th 2017.
The session is open to all swimmers from Southampton Dolphins. On specific days, Matt will be away at open meets with Swim Bournemouth and when this happens there will be another coach or an in house gala.
A warm welcome from all the staff and swimmers to Matt. Welcome home!