Olympic gold medal winning coach Mel Marshall sealed a hat-trick of Coach of the Year titles at the 2016 British Swimming Coaches Association’s annual awards.
Marshall, who coaches Olympic Champion Adam Peaty and heads up the City of Derby club programme, was recognised for her contribution to Peaty’s successful 2016.
Peaty is just one of a few British swimmers to complete the career grand slam, achieving Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European titles in still a relatively young international career. For her part in his success Mel was the first female winner of the coveted award in 2014 and retains the title for a third year in 2016.8 Years of Hard Work, Dedication, Loyalty, Challenges, Success, Failure, Learning, Belief ~ Thanks Mel! ❤️🙌🏼 #Tokyo pic.twitter.com/gV5W5X3bvV
— Adam Peaty (@adam_peaty) September 2, 2016
National Centre Bath Head Coach Dave McNulty was the recipient of the Coaching Award of Excellence. He coached Britain’s other Rio Olympic individual medallists including Jazz Carlin with silvers in the 400m and 800m freestyle. Other swimmers under McNulty’s guidance included Siobhan-Marie O’Connor who won individual silver and Chris Walker-Hebborn with a relay silver.
Glenn Smith, head coach of Nova Centurion, also retained his title as Para Coach of the Year after Ollie Hynd claimed double gold and a world record at the 2016 Paralympics.
Manchester-based Mark Rose, part of the ParalympicsGB coaching team, was awarded Para Coaching Award of Excellence as he coached S12 swimmer Hannah Russell to gold in both the 50m and a world record 100m freestyle.@BSCALtd Para Coaching Award of Excellence to @MNRCoach for @HRussell_96 2xGold in Rio inc WR in 💯 Back pic.twitter.com/nSSckttX4O
— BSCA Ltd (@BSCALtd) September 25, 2016
Head coach of Ellesmere College Titans, Alan Bircher, was awarded Youth Coach of the Year after his roster of swimmers claimed a multitude of both national and international titles on the junior stage. Bircher’s squad included two Junior European Champions in Tazmin Pugh in the 200 backstroke and Freya Anderson who took gold in the 100m freestyle.
The Alan Hime Memorial
Award, given to a coach with no previous international experience who has made
an impact at that level over the past year went to Warrington Warriors head
coach Darren Ashley for his work with rising star Kathleen Dawson.