On Monday, the YMCA of the USA and SwimOutlet.com announced Kirby Beierle as the 2017 YMCA National Coach of the Year. Beierle was nominated by one of her swimmers at the Missoula YMCA in Missoula, Montana.
Beierle has been a coach at the Missoula YMCA for 14 years and has spent 9 as the head coach. She is also currently serving as the coach representative for the state of Montana.
According to Meredith Griffin, the National Swimming and Diving Sports Coordinator for the YMCA of the USA, “This award recognizes a coach who emphasizes the YMCA’s focus on youth development through delivery of his/her local YMCA swim team program. It celebrates the coach’s use of competitive swimming to create a sense of belonging among athletes and families, promote achievement in and out of the pool and foster supportive relationships within his/her program.”
According to Brendan Campbell, one of Beierle’s swimmers that nominated her, “Kirby taught me how ‘swimming is a metaphor for life’ by making it apparent that there is more to swimming than competition.” Beierle’s belief that the YMCA core values can be achieved while competing at a high level are what has inspired her swimmers and led to this national honor.
I have been swimming with Kirby since first grade! She is an amazing coach! She has taught me how to work hard, and still have fun.
I swim for the club team in Missoula and have only good things to say about her. Totally deserves it.
An absolutely life-changing and deserving human and coach. Congrats Kirby!