Herbie Behm on Taking Care of Yourself as a Coach: “That’s the most important thing we have”

SwimSwam caught up with ASU head coach Herbie Behm at the 2025 ASCA World Clinic in Reno last week. In addition to giving numerous talks throughout the week, Behm also hosted 2 morning swim practices for any interested coaches attending the clinic. The practices were between 2-3k yards and highly attended. At the end of the practice, Behm spoke for a moment on starting your day with something like swimming, emphasizing that if you aren’t taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of others.

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Chas
8 months ago

He looks for opportunities, and takes advantage of them. Example: at Westmont PSS meet a couple of years ago, when he was assistant coach, he stayed at a hotel separately from the team, about a 30 minute walk from the pool and got exercise each day. I know because I had breakfast with him one morning, then saw him walking as I drove to pool.

randys mom
8 months ago

a lot easier to say when you’re making almost 300K per year. Most college coaches make less than 60.

oxyswim
Reply to  randys mom
8 months ago

There are some aspects that are undoubtedly easier for him now given his salary, but he definitely has more on his plate now as the head coach than he did as a primary coach for a single group. Also, should he not say it now that he makes a lot of money? His first 3 full seasons at ASU he made less than 60k and I’m sure he was still practicing this philosophy.

In the video he references how crazy it was to be at worlds and to still have the demands of ASU while also being full go with the US team and he still prioritizing taking care of himself. There are lessons anyone can take from that… Read more »

I_Said_It
Reply to  randys mom
8 months ago

Well, aren’t you just delightful. You’re a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

BLove
8 months ago

Herbie is the man! #inherbiewetrust

H2uhoh
8 months ago

Absolutely love this, and there needs to more of this. The wellness of our coaches is the last thing the NCAA and most athletic departments care about and will never invest in (especially for olympic sports).

Admin
Reply to  H2uhoh
8 months ago

What I love is that he walks the walk. He put together practices at ASCA for coaches.

He’s gonna become the dude of that next generation of coaches. A rock for the US to rely on for 30 years.

Sean Justice
Reply to  Braden Keith
8 months ago

Yeah Herbie brings some really good, and needed, vibes. I have known him for some time…maybe over ten years and he is the real deal. Anyways looking to get better, growth mindset.

MigBike
Reply to  Braden Keith
8 months ago

Herbie is a rare bird indeed; Kind, generous, empathetic and insightful. He is wise well beyond his years. He understands serenity trumps money or power. So happy for him and everyone with whom he comes in contact.

SwimOH
Reply to  H2uhoh
8 months ago

My husband is an age group coach and I am a teacher. We have the same, long, grueling and thankless hours and our share of crazy parents. We make it a priority to exercise, get good sleep, eat well and take time away so that our brains and bodies can decompress. It isn’t easy, but I encourage all coaches, especially head coaches to make an investment in their own health. There are far too many unhealthy coaches out there and we’ve had a number of amazing age group coaches die very young.

Last edited 8 months ago by SwimOH
Coach
Reply to  SwimOH
8 months ago

Eh, agree to disagree. As an age group coach, divorced father of two.
Age group club coaching “self care” would be a different video / discussion.

Family
Reply to  H2uhoh
8 months ago

Wait until he gets married and has kids; that is a another level. I would say the NCAA system is better for self love/exercise time than being a lead of an Age group team.

Suiii
Reply to  Family
8 months ago

He is married. And he is having a baby in the next couple of months

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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