Rod Hansen of Irvine Novaquatics Swimming has been named the 2018 ASCA/Fitter & Faster Age Group Coach of the Year. Hansen, whose title is associate head age group coach, works primarily with the team’s 9-14 year old swimmers.
Hansen was announced as the winner at the annual ASCA awards banquet on Friday evening during the 2018 ASCA World Clinic. He was chosen from among 10 finalists, which included his fellow Novaquatics head age group coach Andi Kawamoto-Klatt.
Novaquatics were the hosts of this summer’s Nationals and Junior Nationals in 2018, including winning the Junior Nationals title.
PREVIOUS ASCA AGE GROUP COACH OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS
- 2017: Robert Norman, TAC Titans, Cary, North Carolina
- 2016: Sherwood Watts, Sarasota YMCA Sharks, Sarasota, Florida
- 2015: Tom Himes, NBAC, Baltimore, Maryland
- 2014: Beth Winkowski, Dynamo Swim Club, Atlanta, Georgia
See an interview with Hansen below, where he talks about what made this year special, and shared the credit with the rest of the Novaquatics staff.