BOLES TO BE SWIM ONTARIO'S NEW MENTOR COACH
July 27, 2009
WATERLOO, Ont. - After 22 years as head coach of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks swimming program, Dean Boles has announced he will be leaving his position to pursue a new opportunity with Swim Ontario, the provincial governing body for amateur swimming.
In September, Boles will be taking over as the provincial mentor coach, a position in which he'll be responsible for the implementation of Swim Ontario's provincial team development programs.
Dean's coaching career commenced in the early 1980s as age group coach for the ROW Swim Club in Waterloo. He became head coach of the Golden Hawk swimming program as well as ROW in 1987 and has been leading both teams since then.
In his time at Laurier, Boles was named the OUA coach of the year three times, and has also won the 3M coach of the year title.
"I have spent over two-thirds of my life here at Laurier and I have been proud to be a part of some outstanding sport history, whether it was in the pool or watching the Golden Hawks on the field, the ice, or the court, " said Boles. "I witnessed great coaching and outstanding leadership and support for Golden Hawk athletics."
Dean has experienced a wealth of success in his years of coaching. Aside from his work with the Hawks, he has represented Canada as part of over 20 Canadian national teams, including the 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic teams. Most recently, he coached Keith Beaver to a seventh place finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Boles departs at an important time for the Golden Hawk swimming program. In the summer of 2008, it was announced that the pool facility at Laurier required extensive repairs at an unattainable cost, and would consequently be closed. In response to this, the university acted to attempt to save the pool, and in April of 2009, news came that the facility would undergo renovations thanks to a partnership between Wilfrid Laurier University and the Kitchener-Waterloo community.
Another exciting announcement was made in late June, when the life of the pool was extended for another 15 to 20 years thanks to a combined contribution of $2 million from the federal and provincial governments. The pool is currently undergoing extensive renovations thanks to this financial aid, and is scheduled to reopen by the end of September.
Coach Boles was a strong supporter of saving the pool, and leaves his position feeling pleased that the swimming program will go on at Laurier. He especially commends the role of Peter Baxter, director of athletics and recreation, for his role in the situation.
"I have to say that through all of the challenges we endured with the pool, I am most grateful to Peter," said the now former head coach. "He will remain a good friend to swimming but to me he is a great mentor as well."
As he embarks on his new position, Boles is looking forward to watching Laurier swimming continue its tradition of great athleticism from the sidelines. The Golden Hawks wish him all the best.
Wilfrid Laurier University's Department of Athletics and Recreation is home to 22 varsity sports as well as numerous intramural, recreation and fitness programs. Laurier's varsity teams have brought home 55 provincial championships as well as 11 national championships in 97 years of competition.
Source: Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
In September, Boles will be taking over as the provincial mentor coach, a position in which he'll be responsible for the implementation of Swim Ontario's provincial team development programs.
Dean's coaching career commenced in the early 1980s as age group coach for the ROW Swim Club in Waterloo. He became head coach of the Golden Hawk swimming program as well as ROW in 1987 and has been leading both teams since then.
In his time at Laurier, Boles was named the OUA coach of the year three times, and has also won the 3M coach of the year title.
"I have spent over two-thirds of my life here at Laurier and I have been proud to be a part of some outstanding sport history, whether it was in the pool or watching the Golden Hawks on the field, the ice, or the court, " said Boles. "I witnessed great coaching and outstanding leadership and support for Golden Hawk athletics."
Dean has experienced a wealth of success in his years of coaching. Aside from his work with the Hawks, he has represented Canada as part of over 20 Canadian national teams, including the 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic teams. Most recently, he coached Keith Beaver to a seventh place finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Boles departs at an important time for the Golden Hawk swimming program. In the summer of 2008, it was announced that the pool facility at Laurier required extensive repairs at an unattainable cost, and would consequently be closed. In response to this, the university acted to attempt to save the pool, and in April of 2009, news came that the facility would undergo renovations thanks to a partnership between Wilfrid Laurier University and the Kitchener-Waterloo community.
Another exciting announcement was made in late June, when the life of the pool was extended for another 15 to 20 years thanks to a combined contribution of $2 million from the federal and provincial governments. The pool is currently undergoing extensive renovations thanks to this financial aid, and is scheduled to reopen by the end of September.
Coach Boles was a strong supporter of saving the pool, and leaves his position feeling pleased that the swimming program will go on at Laurier. He especially commends the role of Peter Baxter, director of athletics and recreation, for his role in the situation.
"I have to say that through all of the challenges we endured with the pool, I am most grateful to Peter," said the now former head coach. "He will remain a good friend to swimming but to me he is a great mentor as well."
As he embarks on his new position, Boles is looking forward to watching Laurier swimming continue its tradition of great athleticism from the sidelines. The Golden Hawks wish him all the best.
Wilfrid Laurier University's Department of Athletics and Recreation is home to 22 varsity sports as well as numerous intramural, recreation and fitness programs. Laurier's varsity teams have brought home 55 provincial championships as well as 11 national championships in 97 years of competition.
Source: Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks