Courtesy of Trevor Ziegler
This time around, we venture down to sunny Florida to speak with Head Coach Ed Brennan of the University of Tampa. Coach Brennan has been at the University of Tampa for an incredible 35 years and his successes as a head coach reaffirm his longevity with the Division II powerhouse. Brennan’s career has been highlighted by conference championships, numerous NCAA top-10 finishes, and NCAA Coach of the Year honors. Under Coach Brennan’s leadership, his athletes have gone on to become All-Americans, Conference Champions and NCAA Champions. Tampa has risen to become a premier Division II program, and show no signs of slowing down momentum anytime soon.
A native of Brooklyn, Coach Brennan stayed within the New York metropolitan area and graduated from the University of Long Island. His coaching career began at Columbia Prep School before moving on to Fordham University where he led the Rams to their only undefeated season in the school’s 50 year history.
Check out what Coach Ed Brennan had to offer us in this edition of Swim Coach Confidential:
What has been your most memorable swimming moment as a head coach?
The ladies 800 F.R. win at NCAA’s in 2013. Their development over four years at UT was remarkable. It was really a credit to our whole staff.
What is your favorite set to give your swimmers?
Anything that starts with a dive and is straight out in the lane. Racing’s the fun part.
Most embarrassing coaching moment?
That’s got to be at least a 4 or 5 way tie.
What has been the most valuable piece of information you’ve learned from coaching?
That people change. Every swimmer is a work in progress as an athlete and a person.
Describe your relationship with swimming growing up:
Swimming was the only sport I was moderately successful in. I loved it and quite frankly, swimming was the reason I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. The NYC police department didn’t have a team!
When did you first realize you wanted to be a coach?
Within my four years of college, I had three different coaches. The last of who was a diver on the team during my freshman year. I had to do a lot of coaching myself and I just didn’t want to stop after graduation.
Favorite/most useful drill you have your swimmers do?
We generally pick the drill to teach a particular style or technique. There are lots of ways to swim fast. I can think of three for just breaststroke.
Describe your coaching philosophy in 3 words:
Make it FUN !
As a spectator (or coach), who has been your favorite swimmer to watch (any level)?
Easy! My granddaughter Morgan Tankersley!
Are there any individuals who have directly-influenced your coaching style?
Bob Alexander of NJSA and Knickerbocker SC was my club coach. He was Salo, before Salo
Where would you be if you hadn’t become a coach?
Most likely retired from the NYC police department.
What are you commonly doing when you are not fulfilling your coaching duties?
Riding my bike or walking with my wife or reading a book.
What has been the hardest you have ever laughed as a coach?
Another 4 or 5 way tie…
First dual meet opponent as a head coach?
Horace Mann School in 1969 as a prep coach; Syracuse as a college coach.
What was your major in college?
Health and Physical Education
What was the last book you read?
Sycamore Row John Grisham
What would you consider to be the key to becoming a successful student-athlete?
Prioritizing. There are so many distractions in college it’s sometimes hard to put the academic, athletic and social life in the correct order.
Favorite dryland activity?
Kayaking. We have a river right behind the pool.
What would you consider a “fun” practice?
We do a station workout on Fridays that involves just about every toy we have, the river, and the diving well. Its really not fun to coach because you’re stuck at one station for two hours. I’m the senior guy so I get the river and its always fun to watch them race in kayaks.
Do you follow any sports other than swimming?
Some pro football but I won’t stay inside in front of a TV on a Sunny afternoon. I live in Tampa!
Favorite facility to compete?
Indianapolis
Do you go into a season knowing the type of team atmosphere you want to cultivate, or do you take a more adaptive approach in creating team culture?
We always know what we want but it’s pretty difficult to create. If you have the right leaders it’s a snap. If you don’t, then you’re going to have to do it the hard way. That means discipline and you better be ready to lose some talent.
What has been your favorite “toy” to use with your swimmers during practice (useful or dud)?
Isn’t the favorite toy always the newest toy? Mine is the drag sock but I like anything that offers a removable resistance. Swim with resistance, remove resistance, then race! It’s kind of like hitting yourself on the head with a hammer because it feels good when you stop.
Favorite inspirational quote?
“Eighty percent of success is showing up.“ Woody Allen (he’s also been quoted at 90% but I think it’s probably closer to 80)
Trevor Ziegler is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst where he also swam for the Minutemen. In addition to being well-immersed in the swimming world, Trevor is also a self-proclaimed pop culture aficionado. He spends most of his time brainstorming how he can write about both his favorite bands/tv shows and swimming in one coherent article.
Ed is the master of Hardware coaching. He would go to a store and pick up weighted washer and glue them to paddles or stretch tubing across lanes to make you streamline farther. My favorite was Bucked’s a bucket attached to rope and a belt. Great fun! Love ya, Ed