Coach - Kevin Brooks

Kevin Brooks

Head Coach

Responsible for the ‘day to day’ coaching of Performance A, Elite Sprint, Sprint Squad, Masters &Fitness and the delivery of all morning sessions at the Aqua Vale, in Aylesbury

No. Years coaching: Started in 1998 when I was 17

My Aims:
To develop swimmers to reach their full potential
Develop Maxwell into a sustainable, productive club in order to retain performance on the national and international stage.

Qualifications:
BSc Hons Sports Development & Coaching Sciences
ASA Coach (Level 4), ASA Club Coach (Level 3), ASA Teacher (Level 2), ASA Assistant Teacher (Level 1)

Sporting successes/achievements:
Craig Gibbons - British Championships Bronze Medallist 100m Free – 49.85 LC
Craig Gibbons - Double ASA National Champion – 50 & 100m Freestyle 2010
Craig Gibbons - 2x British Record Holder - part of the GB 4x50 Freestyle & Medley Relay Team (Istanbul 2009)
Craig Gibbons - Great Britain European Short Course Team 2009 - Istanbul, Turkey (6th in the 100 Free final, 46.90 and 21.49 on 50 Free).
Steven Slee - Maltese World Championship Long Course Team 2009
Hannah Askew - Great Britain European Long Course Team 2008
Hannah Askew - 16/17 years 50 Free Silver Medallist – Nationals 2007
Hannah Askew - Great Britain European Junior Team 2007
Julie Ramply - 16/17 years 200 Backstroke Silver Medallist – Nationals 2006
Edward Downes - 17/18 years 200 IM Silver Medallist - Nationals 2005
Edward Downes - Great Britain European Junior Team 2005
Edward Downes - Great Britain European Short Course Team 2004

Plus coach to numerous British Championship Finalists & Qualifiers, National Finalists & Qualifiers and Regional Champions & Qualifiers. Maxwell SC also holds many ONB County Records.

I’ve assisted in the coaching of:
Craig Gibbons - Great Britain European Short Course Team 2008
Craig Gibbons - Great Britain World Short Course Team 2008
Craig Gibbons - Great Britain World Long Course Team 2007
Craig Gibbons - Great Britain European Short Course Team 2004
Neil Van Den Broke - Great Britain European Short Course Team 2004
Karen Legg - Great Britain Olympic Team 2004
Karen Legg - Great Britain World Long Course Team 2003
Alex Savage - Great Britain World Long Course Team 2003
Seth Chappels - British Championships Finalist 50 & 100 Freestyle

Other Achievements:
Led Maxwell to the top club in the County in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Group Coach on the ASA Zonal Level 2 Camps 2010/11 & 2011/2012
Group Coach on the Open Water ASA SER Level 2 Camps 2009/10
Head Coach of the ASA South East Region Level 2 (Youth) Camps 2008/9
ASA South East Region Coaches Panel Member 2007 onwards
British Swimming Select Coach - Included a 2 week trip to the USA for coach development/sprinting
Buckinghamshire Performance Coach of the Year 2007
Devising & Implementing the ‘Swimming Development Academy’
British Swimming National Youth Programme Coach 2005-2008
Great Britain National Team Staff European Juniors - Budapest 2005
Head Coach – ‘Bucks Sport’ Swim Development Camps 2004 onwards

Finest sporting moment:
I have five that I’ll never forget...

Coaching my first National Qualifiers when I was an age group coach at 18.
When Edward Downes qualified for the GB Euro Juniors 2005; My first International swimmer as a Head Coach.
When I was selected as a GB Coach for the first time – Euro juniors 2005
When I was selected to tour America, to learn from the best USA Coaches - Best experience ever!
Developing the Swimming Academy – which has developed massively and received awards and been copied in various locations!

Sporting heroes:
Alexander Popov; the greatest sprinter of all time ...

Favourite sport other than swimming:
Rugby (to watch), Tennis, Cycling & Surfing (not that I get the chance anymore!)

Three words that best describe you:
Perfectionist, Spontaneous, Dedicated.

Most prized possession:
My puppy, Sasha!

Biggest influence on career of swimming coaching:
All the coaches I meet; and the swimmers I coach. But if I had to pick the biggest few it would be, Bill Sweetenham (NPD) for providing me with amazing opportunities to develop, Tony Watson Olympic Coach and Janko, who coached at Maxwell before I took over.

Biggest passion away from swimming:
Walking my dog ... and MUSIC ... Dance Music ... DJ’ing has been a passion of mine since my teenage years and I try to do a few gigs when I get some time away from the pool.

Ultimate ambition:
My ultimate ambition is to coach an Olympic Gold Medallist.

Tip for the top:
Set clear achievable goals. Have confidence in your ability ... and RACE the RACE! Above all, you’ve got to believe it to achieve it.

Click here for Kevin’s blog.