Garrett McCaffrey catches up with 2x defending NCAA and Pac-12 Coach of the Year, Dave Durden. Dave recently hired Yuri Suguiyama to replace Greg Meehan who took the women’s head coaching position at Stanford in late August. Suguiyama comes from Nation’s Capital Swim Team, where he spent 6 years and has coached swimmers who’ve set 19 Potomac Valley records, including 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist and American Record Holder in the 800 Freestyle, Katie Ledecky. In this interview Dave talks about what he was looking for, what he found in Yuri, and his opinion on assistant coaches leaving for other jobs. Check out some of the interviews from Yuri and Katie:
Garrett interviews Yuri Suguiyama, pt. 1.
Garrett interviews Yuri Suguiyama, pt. 2.
Garrett interviews Katie Ledecky.
Great interview, as always, Garrett. I really like Dave’s focus on “professional development” across the board: it’s great seeing a coach developing a reputation as not just a coach of great swimmers, but a coach of great coaches.
Thanks to this interview, I now know what to get Dave for Christmas… a lamp for his office. 🙂
LOL
This probably isn’t exactly the right place, but on the subject of Cal what ever happened to the Harrison Jones transfer story that came up during the US diving trials? Did it just not work out?
Reid – that’s my understanding. They just couldn’t get things put together.
I enjoy seeing the dry erase boards with 2013/2014 in the background.
The one that said 2011 was the one that really stuck out to me.
“It’s an exciting time for Cal.” Right, indeed, Garrett! I used to say that every day during taper-time in 2008, Dave’s first year as head coach 🙂
you always do the best interviews–informative, knowledgeable, and comprehensive! thanks garrett!