Pam Chamberlain Makes a Difference for Young Swami Team

Chamberlain Makes a Difference for Young Swami Team

Story by Stan J. Huberwicz Jr.
The Rose Park Herald Examiner

ROSE PARK --- This summer there was a fresh new face on the two pool decks (Glendale's Steiner West Pool and Northwest Recreation Center in Rose Park) that serve as home for the renowned west side-based swim club, Race Swami.

That fresh face's name? Pam Chamberlain. But in swimming circles, Pam was certainly no "fresh-faced rookie," and definitely no slouch--- having served up a wealth of coaching experience prowling pool decks in both Utah and Southern California for years, all the while developing some of the finest swimmers in the process.

After more than a year hiatus, Chamberlain returned to the Beehive State this past summer--not to coach, but to serve as the primary assistance to her daughter, who was due to give birth to her first child around the 4th of July. 

But in order to help pass the time in helping care for a new family member, Chamberlain decided she also wanted to volunteer her "free time" by lending her extraordinary swim coaching knowledge to an organization in need. Enter fledging outreach swim club, Race Swami, a program that likely needed every warm body they could get as evidenced by their growing numbers week by week since their inception back in January 2011. As team president Leslie Motley noted, the demand for affordable competitive swimming in the city's west side neighborhoods was "off the charts!"

It turned out to be the perfect match.

"When Pam offered her services to us, of course I couldn't pass it up," Race Swami head coach and Executive Director Matt Finnigan recalled after he received the iniitial email from Pam back in the early spring. "Whether we needed another coach or not, we were going to get Pam on deck -- to help out our young staff, to help our kids grow... and to help build our program. It was a tremendous opportunity for us, to say the least."

 

Swami coach Pam Chamberlain shares a laugh during a practice with a Steiner West Rising Swami 2 group.

Chamberlain's last coaching gig was with the storied Mission Viejo Nadadores, an organization steeped in swimming lore in the warm climes of Orange County. She served as an age group coach for 14 & unders, many of whom were nationally ranked athletes. However, when Chamberlain's husband received a promotion that resulted in a move to Germany last fall, Pam was forced to put her coaching talents on hold.

That is, until Summer 2013, when Chamberlain returned to Utah to be with her daughter and her family. By mid June, Pam joined the Swami staff, just in time for the start of long course season.

From the start, Chamberlain was not bashful in helping Swami design, modify and implement proven and successful strategies to help kids with limited experience grasp the sport more proficiently. Whether the strategies come to fruition remains to be seen, but the blueprint is there, and Finnigan feels certain the club is on the right track. Besides, as Finnigan noted, Chamberlain's coaching track record speaks for itself, having developed several formidable swimmers everywhere she's been.

"What impressed me most about Pam was how quickly she bonded with our kids," team president Leslie Motley said. "I mean, she had known these kids for all of two or three practices and she just seemed to click immediately with them. She cared about them. It was touching to watch."

Added Mary Chris Finnigan, who serves on the Race Swami board. "Pam is a real pro and loves to coach. It's evident when you watch her work with kids. She helped us develop a lot of great programs that we're integrating into the groups, especially Rising Swami I and Rising Swami II. Our coaches are excited to get going in the fall."

As for Pam Chamberlain, she left Utah at the conclusion of the long course season, having felt grateful for the chance to coach again, if even for a few weeks. "It was a great opportunity to work with Swami this summer," she said. "I enjoyed meeting and working with all of the coaches and kids. The kids were so much fun to work with and really great."