Todd Schmitz – How to Build a Gold Medal Club without Your Own Pool 

Coach Todd Schmitz shared his journey from a YMCA swimmer to coaching the fastest 200-meter freestyler in the world. He emphasized the importance of adaptability, citing his experience with altitude training and creative scheduling, such as long Sunday workouts. Schmitz highlighted the need for coaches to understand business operations, including financial management and staff retention. He stressed the significance of group and coach autonomy, effective communication, and athlete development beyond swimming. Schmitz also discussed the importance of nutrition, sleep, and overall well-being for athletes, advocating for a balanced approach to coaching and athlete management. Speaker 2 emphasizes the importance of living in the moment, drawing from personal experiences such as attending funerals and coaching various sports. They highlight the value of reading body language, whether in bartending or coaching, and stress the importance of utilizing available resources like USA Swimming and local high school associations. They share a unique Thanksgiving workout called "turkey bowling" and a challenging set of 6x50s on varying intervals. Speaker 2 also mentions their nonprofit status and the structure of their board of directors, encouraging collaboration and continuous learning among coaches.