By Sharon Robb
PEMBROKE PINES, July 18, 2022—When asked about his passion for swimming, Kyle Cormier gave two great examples.
“Just ask my wife about what my passion is,” he said. “Our wedding was in May because I’m too busy with swimming to try and do it in the fall.
“Our honeymoon was in an Olympic year and it had to be shorter than we wanted it to be since I had to get back for some boys who were graduating from our club and were making Olympic Trials.”
And yes, Cormier and his wife Alexis are still happily married and expecting a baby girl in January.
Cormier, 36, hopes to bring that passion to his new job as lead age group coach for South Florida Aquatic Club and volunteer assistant at Florida International University. His first day at SOFLO is August 15.
Cormier is currently head coach and CEO for the City of Mobile (Ala.) Swim Association. He is finishing up with his team that is competing in the Southeastern LSC Championship in Huntsville, Ala.
“I am really looking forward to getting down there and get going,” Cormier said. “The team itself seems like it’s incredibly well put together and well-resourced. I feel incredibly lucky that I had this opportunity handed to me.”
Cormier will work with SOFLO’s 11 and 12-year-olds.
“I am really excited about that, ” he said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve coached that age group. I have been coaching senior and college kids for the last ten years.
“I am looking forward to getting back to that age group and to having some kids that still have the twinkle in their eye, getting to practice as much as they can and just wanting to get out there and race and be at practice with their friends.”
The Pensacola native is a 2004 graduate of Gulf Breeze High School where he earned a swimming scholarship to University of South Carolina. He was an NCAA All-American, SEC Academic Honor Roll member, former school record holder in the 100 and 200 freestyle and 200 IM and team captain. He went on to earn his Master of Science and Administrative Studies in Sports Management at Missouri State.
Cormier competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008 (while in college) and 2012 (as a post-grad pro athlete).
Before he was hired by the City of Mobile Swim Association in August 2017, he was lead sprint coach at Missouri State (2014-2016). He also took a job as a business development executive with the Atlanta Hawks pro basketball team from 2016-2017 to be closer to his family in Pensacola and Atlanta.
“When I left Missouri State I wanted to see what I could do outside of swimming,” Cormier said. “Being in sports but not in a coaching realm was something I wanted to try. From 4 years old to 30 I hadn’t done anything besides swimming. I really loved that job. It was a great time and fun to go to work for sure. But I had the opportunity in Mobile to get back into coaching which is something that I knew I ultimately wanted to do.”
Cormier said he hopes to bring “good synergy” to SOFLO.
“I have been a head coach. I know that part of your job of being a good assistant is to be able to assist what the head coach is trying to establish for when the kids matriculate through the development chain.
“I understand the importance that I have working with 11 and 12-year-olds about making sure that technique, body position and the groundwork for the choices as far as time management and discipline, going up the ladder to get the most success out of their swimming as possible for when they are swimming for Chris or the head senior coach. I’m doing my part in the development chain.
“I have a good understanding of that from being on both sides of it. I think my experience level as far as things I have been fortunate enough to be exposed to as an athlete as well as a coach can help with perspective of where to spend your energy and where not to get so worked up about it.”
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com
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