Courtesy: Central Iowa Aquatics
After an extensive national search, Central Iowa Aquatics (CIA) hired Andy Pym from Seattle, Washington as the club’s new head coach in September.
Pym is an ASCA Level 5 coach and has over 28 years of experience successfully coaching swimmers of all ages. He has coached a number of Summer Junior National Champions, multiple Olympic Trials qualifiers, Senior Sectional Champions, and National Junior team members. He has been selected as a National Junior team coach and has received multiple LSC coaching awards and distinctions. Upon his hire, he said, “I am very excited for this new chapter in my life as I get to live in and explore a part of the country I have never resided in. Most importantly, I get the chance to work with amazing coaches, be supported by wonderful parents, and help develop some awesome swimmers.”
Pym has a “swimmers first” philosophy. He focuses on developing technique, growth mindset, leadership, and team. He said, “We are a Team! The deck environment will be positive and supportive for both the coaches and the swimmers.”
He strongly supports academic success and balance for swimmers. He is the coach of record for a phenomenal number of college swimmers ranging from the most elite Division I public universities to prestigious Ivy League schools, and beyond.
Pym was the head coach / senior coach with the Bellevue Club Swim Team in Seattle for 13 of his 28 years of coaching.
He wants the swimmers to set lofty goals and understand that there are no shortcuts to success. It takes commitment, swimming smart, and hard work to reach one’s potential. In a partnership between coaches and swimmers he says they will work together and hold each other accountable.
CIA’s board President, Steve Nadel said, “Our search committee had very high expectations that were quickly met and surpassed upon Andy’s arrival and a coach of this caliber will not only sustain the team’s success but will take it to new levels.”
Pym said, “CIA has a long history of success, so I know that the bar is set high for me upon arrival. With that in mind, I plan to work with the staff and members and see if we can take this team to even higher levels of success.”
Central Iowa Aquatics (CIA) is a Bronze Medal club with Level 3 USA Swimming club recognition. The club was founded in 1995 and is a year-round competitive swim team designed to improve the level of competitive swimming in the Central Iowa area. Families and swimmers are from the greater Des Moines area and surrounding communities. The club provides structured development, professional training, and competition for swimmers of all ages and abilities.
Who is CIA?
A year-round competitive swim team designed to improve the level of competitive swimming in the central Iowa area. Families and swimmers are from the greater Des Moines area and surrounding communities. The club provides structured development, professional training, and competition for swimmers of all ages and abilities. CIA was founded in 1995 by a group of parent volunteers and is a private organization.
Located in the Des Moines, Iowa metro area, Central Iowa Aquatics (CIA) is a Bronze Medal club with Level 3 USA Swimming club recognition. CIA has produced several Senior National qualifiers and finalists, Junior National qualifiers and finalists. Each year we send a large team to Futures, Sectionals, and Zones. This past season there were many top ten nationally ranked swimmers.