Badger Faison
Head Coach
Badger Faison
Married, wife is Linda Jo from Chicago. Coaching, teaching, involved in Aquatics for 30+ years. Came to Chicago, IL, after being in Rochester, Minnesota as Head Coach of Med City Aquatics. Before that position I was in E'Town, Kentucky for 5 years; and the 10 years before that were spent in Seattle, Washington.
As Med City Aquatics Head Coach I stabilized the numbers and started the team growing again. I was responsible for implementing a new structure, discipline and competitive program. Once we had that in place, we had good improvement across the board with all swimmers in both times and attitude. At the 2010 Short Course Senior State Championships our …
13 & 14 Girls win 5 State Titles
200Fr 1:52 • 400IM 4:33 • 200IM 2:05 • 50Fr :23 • 200Bk 2:04
3 Swims are Nationally Ranked: 12th, 18th, and 19th
400IM 4:30 • 50Fr :23 • 200Bk 2:03
in USA Top 20 swims in the Nation.
A parent said about the program … “without question Badger provided the best coaching our girls have ever had as evidenced by the incredible time improvements they have made just in the time that he took over the coaching responsibilities. However, more importantly Badger has been an example to our girls on how to conduct themselves, how to work hard, have discipline and respect.” Dan Ericson [MCA Parent]
Before MN ... In Kentucky I was the Head Coach for the E-Town Kentucky Dolphins, and four local high schools:
Elizabethtown, Central Hardin, John Hardin, North Hardin … the Quad Squad. When I came there we had 27 club swimmers, very few state qualifiers and similar numbers on the HS Teams. What we accomplished, we did in a community of 30k with one indoor facility, no summer clubs and the majority of swimmers coming from our swim lesson program. When I left there we were 100+ with another 70+ high school swimmers and 3 coaches. In 2009 as in the past years, we doubled the numbers qualifying and making finals at the annual State Championships while bringing home a couple of invitational team trophies and several swimmers received college swimming scholarships. Also I was selected by Region 3 High School Coaches as the “Coach of the year” for the third year.
2007, 2008, and 2009 “Coach of the Year.”
Before KY ... I was in Seattle, WA as Head Coach of the Snohomish StingRays Swim Club. We began as a team of 35 swimmers keeping high school swimmers in shape in their off season; after 4 years we were a competitive club of 155 swimmers, 5 coaches. With not much water time, we came from having a minimal presence [one swimmer] at our annual benchmark meet, the 2000 Short Course Regional Championships; to 4 years later at the 2003 Short Course Sectional Championships, where with 48 qualifying swimmers, we finished 6th out of 132 teams from 6 states. We finished the season with several swimmers Nationally Ranked and several college swimming scholarships. My girl swimmers also won 2 WA State 4A High School Championships during my time there, and the year after I left the boys did the same thing. In the USA's 2003 ] 2004 Virtual National Rankings ] Snohomish StingRays ] were ranked in the top 200 teams in the country in both Short Course and Long Course ...
Team Nationally Ranked: 142nd in Long Course and 183rd in Short Course.
Before WA ... I was Head Coach of the Greenville Gators. There I also had the position as YMCA Aquatic Director, enabling me to build the swim team program through the summer clubs and a swim lesson program. We built the team from less than 50 swimmers to over 250+ swimmers, 7 coaches; winning several state championships, with several swimmers Nationally and World Ranked; and several swimmers earned college scholarships.
Swimmers Nationally Ranked, 2 Swimmers World Ranked
There were several years between coaching the Snohomish “Stingrays” and the Greenville “Gators” that were spent in the corporate world, as a bank “Marketing Consultant.”
COACHING APPROACH: My coaching begins with a focus on all the members of the team. My swimmers learn early that I care about all my swimmers, that they are measured against their yardstick, not someone else’s. I want them to know that every swimmer can and will be a 'Champion' in their own right if the commitment is made.
I focus on the swimmer's activity by keeping the numbers in front of the swimmers; tracking, monitoring, motivating through the numbers ] attendance, best times, quality of times, test sets, patterns, progressions, indexing, etc..
I use books, clinics, DVDs and other coaches for stroke, starts, turns, drills and practice ideas. My program involves stretching, dryland and for those who are ready [past puberty], Vasa and lightweights.
Developing, nurturing, focusing on what develops self awareness, builds and reinforces a positive self esteem, a strong work ethic, along with the mastery of fundamentals while developing a well conditioned athlete that takes responsibility, is accountable, and willing to build lifetime success habits – these individuals become my champions. Their success stories in and out of the swimming pool are the accomplishments I am most proud of.
These are the goals of my programs now and in the past.
BACKGROUND: Swimming competitively at the age of 5, at 10, training with the University of Cincinnati swim team coach “Tiny Phiefer”, coach of several Olympians and NCAA record holders at the time. As a competitive swimmer, lettered, team captain, some national recognition, in high school and college set some records, helped win some championships. Swam 200 IM, 100 Fly in high school; college, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 200 & 400 IM’s.
Also lettered in football, cross country – college scholarships offered in swimming and football.
My first team as a Head Coach was Clovernook Country Club in Cincinnati, after that I became an Age Group Coach for the nationally ranked Cincinnati Marlins.
In aquatics I have been a WSI Instructor, Instructor Trainer, certified YMCA Aquatic Director, YMCA Regional Director; participated at a national level on various committees; taught, trained, pre]school to lifeguards, administered instructional programs at all levels [largest program ] 4 pool YMCA complex where 1500 learned how to swim each week]. As my programs succeeded, I found myself putting on weekend clinics, in 11 states for a dozen years for the YMCA. As a YMCA Director I was promoted and transferred from Ohio to Florida to South Carolina, each time, a more challenging facility and program.
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS: I have all my certifications current, and have passed the required background screening and high school FBI checks as well.
I work well with swimmers and parents. I'm seasoned, knowledgeable; a successful Head Coach; eager for the new challenge. I'm looking forward to Coaching Dundee Dolphins.
Folks, let's get to know each other and have some fun ... ...
there is nothing like being a “Champion.”
