Earlier this week, we reported on Ethan Hall taking over head coaching duties with the Crow Canyon Sharks. We caught up with Ethan, a former UNC and UCSB standout and the husband of U.S. Olympian Natalie Coughlin to get his thoughts on the new gig, coaching philosophy and marital bliss between competitive swimmers:
SwimSwam: You’re back with the Crow Canyon Sharks after a short stint with the recreational team. What brought you back to the Sharks?
Hall: The sharks were without a coach and I was asked to step up. I still have a lot of pride for the Sharks (a team that I co-founded in 2005). I was still in touch with many of the athletes and knew many very well from their days on my recreational team. It is a great fit and I couldn’t be more excited for the future at Crow Canyon.
Swimming and coaching for a country club is something a lot of swimmers aren’t familiar with.
SwimSwam: Are there any major differences between a country club program and an independent swim club?
Hall: There are some great advantages to training at Crow Canyon. Our facility is only 6 lanes, but it is seriously my favorite pool in the country. It is great to be in shouting distance of the whole pool at all times. It is great to have breakfast in the grill right after practice and be just steps away from the fitness center. Ultimately there are no major differences to the swimmer vs. an independent club..
SwimSwam: You were obviously a great collegiate swimmer and had a lot of your own success in the pool. How does your own swimming career impact your coaching?
Hall: I think I learned a lot from my swimming career that can be applied when working with these athletes: how to deal with success and failure, how to time manage, when to be tough, when to back off, how to manage injuries and sickness… The list goes on and on. I am also very thankful for the lessons all my former coaches taught me along the way.
SwimSwam: Do your swimmers know much about your swimming days? Do you talk to them about your swimming experiences often?
Hall: I’m not above a little trip into the glory days, but I try to keep the focus on the athletes. Ha!
Ethan Hall (right) and wife Natalie Coughlin-Hall.
SwimSwam: Your marriage to Natalie Coughlin is something that will pique the interest of a lot of swimming fans. Does that impact your coaching at all? Are there things you pick up from her and put into practice with the team?
Hall: She is a really great resource for me to bounce ideas off of. She always claims that she doesn’t know how to coach, and that I am the coach in family… but she has an incredible feel for the sport. She is really a great example of the psychology of a successful person and I try to pass that along when ever I can.
SwimSwam: Do you and your wife ever get competitive about your own swimming abilities? Have you two ever found a neutral event and raced for bragging rights?
Hall: I try not to compete with Natalie at anything. The last time a beat her at billiards she hit me with the pool cue. She’s the ultimate competitor.
Excellent part time job!
I’d argue and say excellent full time job! I love how this couple does what they love to do and they don’t fall victim to the cubicle world or social pressures of others.
Life is too short to not do what you love and to do it in the quantity that suits you.