Character First:
In Their Own Words

The Athlete Experience

  • "I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. There is so much to say, from even letting me join the team, to taking the time to fix the small details of my stroke. You've not only changed my life in some of the best ways possible, but you've made regular swimming into something much more than just a sport. I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart!"

    — OA Swimmer

  • "Thank you so much for everything that you've done for me. You've played a pivotal part in shaping who I am today and I will forever be grateful for all of the opportunities and support that you've provided for me. Looking back at my time on OA, swimming, while it was the forefront of my mind at the time, is somewhat of an afterthought. Well before I remember the swimming, I think about the lessons that I learned and the priorities that I will carry with me for the rest of my life of respect, caring, and understanding. Thank you for always believing in me, despite my swimming not making me stand out. Your belief in me helped me grow from a timid middle schooler into a much more confident adult, and that will always be what I think about when I think about OA. OA will always be my family."

    • OA Alum

  • "Time and time again I have gotten to realize just how much I took for granted. Working in swimming has shown just how special OA is, and how much more value athletes are able to get out of their swimming experience when given a little extra attention and taught to believe in themselves. I have subconsciously modeled much of my coaching from OA, and always just assumed that was what most coaches were offering. It has blown me away how much it has helped me stand out from some of my peers and the appreciation shown by athletes years later."

    -USA Swimming Coach/OA alum

  • "I have had many coaches, but none have impacted my view on life as much as you. Continually, you remind your swimmers, through quotes, letters, and personal guidance, that who you are as a person, your character, should always be the most essential guide in your life. You always ask us to lead with kindness, truthfulness, respect, responsibility, a good work ethic, and a strong sense of what is right and wrong. I can't thank you enough."

    -OA swimmer

  • "Last week I finished my last meet ever at SEC's and I have been reflecting a lot over the last few months as this chapter in my life comes to an end. You were an integral part in my swimming journey and I want to thank you so much. I would not be here where I am today without you. Thank you for teaching me what it means to live a life with impeccable character, integrity, resiliency and kindness. I will carry what I've learned from you and OA with me for the rest of my life and i'm forever grateful to have a mentor like you in my life. Thank you for everything and I hope you're doing well!"

    -OA Graduate

  • "I am so very impressed with the program you have created, built, and nurtured for 35 years. The impact that you have had on people's lives is profoundly evident. You must be so proud of the legacy that you are leaving every day you run your program!!"

    -oa masters swimmer

The Family Perspective

  • "I am endlessly inspired by the conduct, maturity, and character on display by Orinda Aquatics swimmers. Thank you for the life's work and care that you have poured into this team (our children). I'm so grateful that we have been a part of this journey."

    -oa parent

  • "My son he has grown into such a humble, intellectual, happy young man through the wonderful community at Orinda Aquatics. He has learned so much from you and his peers. We feel very fortunate that he is very successful in academics while swimming competitively year-round and along with many leadership roles. He loves you and his friends from OA very much."

    -OA parent

  • "Thank you! We are at Orinda Aquatics for the team culture! You achieve it by walking the walk, investing your time and effort into every kid who shows up and letting them know they're worth it, regardless of their times. Thank you for all your care and attention to our child. She came to OA struggling and she has learned over the years that she truly matters. You and your coaches have been reliable, kind, and safe adults for her during some very difficult years, and the most amazing partners in raising teens that parents could ever hope for. Thank you!"

    -oa parent

  • "What a wonderful testament to your vision! Countless children and young adults have benefitted and flourished because of your commitment to holding them accountable to excellence in all of their endeavors - both in and out of the pool. How wonderful it must be to reflect back on all that you have accomplished (over the past thirty years), and all of the lives made better because they had you to direct them."

    -parent in the community

  • "The privilege of being a part of this remarkable (OA) community under your guidance is invaluable. The influence you have extends far beyond mere words, and has significanlty enriched all of our lives. We are incredibly grateful for the culture that you have cultivated, and for your commitment to each child. Please accept our profound appreciation."

    -oa parent

  • "It's your beautiful way of giving, understanding, being honest, and lifting others that inspires everyone, with a depth and heartfelt significance of generosity that feels natural and effortless."

    -oa parent

  • "I know I have said thank you a thousand times, but as my child experienced her first peak meet in college, she is overjoyed with the opportunity to swim collegiately. She sent me a text saying that she is the happiest and so blessed to have such opportunities. Her work ethic, she continues to contribute to her faith and you! Thank you, thank you."

    -oa parent

  • "Orinda Aquatics is such a wonderful, extended family, away from home for our son. We could not be more appreciative of what the staff and club do, day in and out. Happy Holidays!"

    -oa parent

Respect from the Swimming Community

  • "You run a program unlike any other, which is a direct result of your foundation of character and culture. Thank you for and all you do for the sport, your athletes, and the human race."

    -Swimming Journalist

  • "Hi Donnie & Ronnie- I just finished listening to your recording on the USA Swimming site about Developing Character in Swimmers. It was outstanding! Thank you for doing it and taking the time to share your philosophy. Coincidentally, I will be using your philosophy tonight in our swim team's Board meeting, specifically the idea that the team takes precedence over the individual, to address a problem that we are having on our team. Though I am a Masters coach & my day to day dealing is with adults, occasionally I sub for the age group coaches. I see how your team philosophy takes care of many of the problems that irk me when I coach the age groupers. I am going to recommend that our head coach & the Board study your team culture and adapt it to our team. Fantastic job that you have done; congratulations!"

    -USA Swimming Coach from coaches’ clinic

  • I am writing this email because I think your presentation can help many young, passionate coaches who are considering getting into the swim coaching world/arena because character education is essential when working athletes of any age. As a staff member for the CCC Board of Supervisors, I completely agree that we live in a society that does not stress the importance of character education and I again, commend you, USA Swimming, and ASCA for highlighting that today.

    -a coach from coaches’ clinic

  • "Hi Don, I began loooking over the ASCA yearbook from last year's world clinic. I started through the table of contents and decided your “Cultural Headwind” talk was the place to start. You say in your opening that it may not be the sexiest talk, but it could be the most important. So true. I am excited to read talks by Gold Medal coaches, but I thought it appropriate to start here, with this big picture. I shared some excerpts with my team during our Monday morning meeting before practice. We have great kids in our program and we're proud of them, but I see a lot of what they face societally, amongst peers, soaked in technology, and grappling with changing brains and hormones in a pressurized and demanding environment. The more I coach, the more I realize the odds seem stacked against young people today in terms of negative inputs, distractions, and mental health challenges. We as coaches here are doing more than ever to offer tools and development opportunities to our kids in what feels like an attempt to make up for experiences and perspectives lacking in their culture leading up to college. Thank again for the insight."

    -college coach

  • "Congratulations Coach, for the incredible culture delivered through OA and Character First. I hope the awareness across clubs is that that the path to success (and, what is defined as success) is the Character First way."

    -Community Coach / Peer

  • Don & Ron, thank you so much for doing this Character webinar for USA Swimming, and for making it available to rewatch. I asked our staff to watch this and we had a discussion about it at our last staff meeting. We have been undergoing cultural improvements since I joined last year, but I think your presentation really hammered home the "why" of why we are in this profession, why character is so important, and how this can lead to faster and more fulfilling swimming."

    -usa swimming coach

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