Leading with Purpose: Developing Champions in and out of the pool

 What?

As the Director of Operations for Virginia Tech Swim & Dive and a former Olympic swimmer, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about getting faster in the pool, it’s more than that. It’s about leading young adults to become the best versions of themselves, both in and out of the water. Research shows that leadership approaches built on support, reflection and relationships can lead to better performance and personal growth. In the article by Hebard, he found that when athletic administrators and coaches apply a social and emotional learning approach, leadership becomes more supportive, mentoring, and relational, which helps athletes be their best both on and off the field (Hebard et al., 2021). Another article by Crossan, Copeland, and Barnhart highlights that values-based leadership, where leaders guide athletes through their core values, creates a positive environment that helps athletes grow morally and ethically, as well as competitively (Crossan, Copeland & Barnhart, 2021). Turnnidge and Côté also discuss how transformational leadership behaviors (like individualized support, positive role modeling and motivation) are connected to better psychological outcomes and overall development for young athletes (Turnnidge & Côté, 2018). 

So what?

This matters right now because college athletics is going through a big change with the new NIL rules (Name, Image, and Likeness: athletes can now be paid in college). Today’s student-athletes are navigating the balance between being an athlete and a student, and they’re facing pressure to perform both on and off the field. The research highlights that leadership style is not just a “nice-to-have”, it directly influences motivation, resilience, and the overall well-being of student-athletes. When leaders focus on building trust, leading through values and supporting personal growth, athletes are more engaged and better prepared to face setbacks and change (Turnnidge & Côté, 2018; Crossan, Copeland & Barnhart, 2021). From my own experience in the pool and now in operations, I can say the coaches who made the biggest difference in my life weren’t simply excellent technically, they were leaders who made sure we grew as people, not just as swimmers focused on how fast we could go.

So now what?

At Virginia Tech Swim & Dive, it means leading with intention and purpose every day. We can build into our daily routine what the research suggests: coach with clear values, offer individualized support, build trust and relationships, and help our athletes grow as people, not just as swimmers or divers (Crossan, Copeland & Barnhart, 2021; Hebard et al., 2021). It doesn’t mean we have to give up on being competitive or successful in the pool. It means using these skills to create a culture where athletes feel inspired, supported and motivated to do well in the pool, in academics and in their personal lives. If we, coaches commit to leadership that values personal growth as much as athletic success, we won’t just build stronger swimmers and divers, we’ll develop resilient, confident people who are ready for what comes next.

 

References

Turnnidge, J., & Côté, J. (2018). Applying transformational leadership theory to coaching research in youth sport: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 16(3), 327–342. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2016.1189948

Crossan, W., Copeland, M. K., & Barnhart, C. (2021). The impact of values based leadership on sport coaching. Sport in Society, 26(2), 263–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2021.1996345

Hebard, S. P., Oakes, L. R., Davoren, A. K., Milroy, J. J., Redman, J., Ehrmann, J., & Wyrick, D. L. (2021). Transformational coaching and leadership: Athletic administrators’ novel application of social and emotional competencies in high school sports. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, 14(3), 345–364. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIT-01-2021-0006