Markham Aquatic Club (MAC) is pleased to announce that Robert Novak will be joining MAC as Head Coach effective September 1, 2012. An eleven-year coaching veteran, Robert has a long track record of success in Canadian swimming, most recently as Head Age Group Coach and Junior National Coach at The Etobicoke Swim Club where he worked under Head Coach Kevin Thorburn, a prominent Canadian Olympic swim coach. A former competitive swimmer himself, Robert swam for several Manitoba swim clubs and the University of Manitoba, competing at the national, youth and junior national levels and twice competing in the Canada Games (1997 and 2001). Robert’s best events were the 200 Free and 100 Back.
Among many accomplishments, Robert’s swimmers have achieved numerous National Age Group Records and Provincial Records (Ontario), 2 Age Group National Titles, 10 Jr. Provincial Titles and an Eastern and Western Canadian Title. He has coached 100+ Provincial Champion swimmers and 16 Single Age National Champions and with this achieving CSCA Award for Domestic Excellence in six consecutive seasons.
Robert has coached many swimmers in the ESWIM delivery system as an Age Group coach that have reached many Provincial Teams, NACC Teams, and Junior National Development Teams. His accomplishments have been recognized by SNC which has selected Robert for NACC staff twice and for many Provincial SNC Tri Teams, and by Swim Ontario as 13-14 Male Coach of the Year in 2009.
“Robert brings strong leadership and organizational skills to the table in addition to his technical knowledge”, notes Kevin Walker, MAC President. “Robert’s style and coaching ability is a perfect complement to the existing coaching staff. In combination with the three new pools opening in Markham in the next three years including the Pan-Am 50 metre pool Markham is poised to become a hot-spot for competitive swimming.”
Currently pursuing his NCI Level 4 certification, Robert has an appreciation for the development of a strong, progressive program that builds the technical, physical and mental base for performance excellence in the pool while providing a positive overall swim and life experience for swimmers. Motivation and growth of the swimmers, steering them past obstacles is a core strength of his. He also brings the continuous learning and development philosophy to the coaching staff, himself included.
Robert is looking forward to working with MAC’s coaching staff and board of directors for the upcoming season and beyond to guide MAC as it grows and transitions to the next level. More importantly he is looking forward to getting to know and work with the Markham Aquatic Club swimmers.