Kim Garcia​

As a Colorado native, I was in a pool before I could walk. As a youth swimmer, I participated in YMCA, Rocky Mountain Swim League and Mountain High Swim League. I started swimming competitively at age 7 for Denver University Swim Team. At the age of 13, I joined ACES--Where I called home for the rest of my swimming career. As a Senior-Elite swimmer, I qualified for​ ​Sectionals, Jr Nationals, and achieved U.S. Open cuts. I also served as the nominated CSI-(​Colorado Swimming Incorporated) ​Student-Athlete Representative from 2001-2003.

I attended Cherry Creek High School and swam for ​The-Great​, Eric Craven all four years (1999-2003.) During my time at Creek, I was a member of the CHSSA state championship-winning team in both 2000 and 2003. I was also nominated team captain my senior year,( 2003) and earned NISCA-Automatic All-American status in the 200 fr, the 500 fr, and the 400 fr relay (2003.)

I earned a full-tuition scholarship to division I NCAA-Boston College, where I swam all four years on full tuition. athletic scholarship. Some of my college swimming achievements include ECAC ​(Eastern Athletic Coast Conference)​ 1,650 freestyle women’s champion (2004), Eastern Athletic Coast Conference- team champions (2003-2004), 2-time Big East qualifier, 2-time ACC qualifier, ACC finalist,​ All-Time-Team Fastest-Time:​ 1,650. I also received the ​Harold M. Groden-​ ​Swimmer of the Year Award, ​(2004-2005) the Mary J. Pollack Coach’s Award​ (2006-2007,) and the Boston College Athletics-​Most Outstanding Senior Award.​ (2006-2007)

At BC, I continued my involvement with partnered leadership programs by serving as the SAAC ​(Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) ​team-representative for​ ​women’s swimming. I was also nominated team captain my senior year (2007) and received the ​Team Leadership Award​ for Women’s Swimming (2005-2006.) I also spent some time in the library in college and earned​ Coaches Athletic Academic Honors​ all four years. (2003-2007)

Experience as a Coach:

After college, I returned home to Denver, where I discovered my love for coaching. Since 2007, I have coached in a variety of different experiences that include:​.ACES Swim Club​ Age-Group Swim Coach​, AquaKicksSwimSchool-(S​ r.SwimLessonInstructor),​RockyMountainSwimLeague​: WillowCreek Wahoos, (Assistant/Head Coach) and Cherry Creek Vista (Head Coach,) ​Cherry Creek High School​-(JV1 and JVII), ​SwimLabs-Boulder-(Instructor/Coach.)

Now, I couldn't be happier to be back at ​ACES. ​It’s an honor to coach with some of the same coaches who served and my coaches and mentors. So much of who I am today,( and certainly my core values as a coach,) come from the positive, encouraging and “athlete-first” atmosphere I experienced as an ACES swimmer. As a coach, I hope to contribute to this supportive and dynamic culture.

Kim’s Coaching Outlook:

As a Coach, I Always Strive To Be:

  • ●  A knowledgeable role model within the sport of swimming who understands how to engage critical thinking, personal investment in goals/outcomes, increased understanding of what/why.

  • ●  A mentor who inspires positive attitudes healthy training decisions, better practice habits.

    My Coaching Goals for Quacks/Jacks:

  • ●  Maintain effective and progressive training that leads to progressive results and sustainable improvement.

  • ●  Develop personalized & individual goals for each swimmer that lead to recognizable success

  • ●  Reinforce a sense of fun, teamwork, team-pride, sportsmanship, and positive attitudes.

  • ●  Teach proper swimming form/correct technique​:*ALWAYS FIRST PRIORITY

  • ●  Create opportunities for a noticeable improvement in meets: ​improved times, less DQ’s, better

    technique, strategy improvements, better racing habits

    Personal Philosophy/Plan: ​Technical, Physical, Mental PROGRESS=PROGRESSION:​ Day to Day and Long-Term:

  • ●  Awareness, accountability, organization, and planning

  • ●  Encouragement of self-motivation/ advocacy, discipline, and healthy choices

  • ●  Effective/gradual physical endurance and mental toughness training

  • ●  Constance education, feedback, communication, and encouragement

    What Tim and I will Provide as Leaders/Coaches:

    Unified/cohesive knowledge of:

  • ●  Drills-​how they work, when they work, who they work for

  • ●  Direction-​ know where we are, where we are going, and how we get there

  • ●  Updated Knowledge--What's New/Trending: ​New Training dynamics, strategy, methods,

    techniques

  • ●  Continual Communication- ​with each-other, kids, aces parents, opposing teams

  • ●  Positive Engagement:​ appropriate/effective encouragement, guidance and support