By Gia Gu ’26 and Genevieve Zahner ’26
Staff Writer | Sports Editor
After a three-year career coaching swimming at Elms College, Kevin Walker has joined the Mount Holyoke College athletic community as the assistant coach to the varsity swimming and diving team. A former member of Springfield College’s swim team, which competes with Mount Holyoke in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference — also known as NEWMAC — Walker brings his experience as both a coach and an athlete to the Lyons.
Beginning as a junior coach for his club team at just 14 years old, his passion for coaching swimming only grew after realizing the impact his own coaches had on him as an athlete. “That kind of lasting impact was eye opening to what the sport of swimming could do for others,” Walker said.
Following his graduation from Springfield, Walker began coaching at Elms after he was recommended by a parent of a swimmer he coached. “One of the swim parents actually saw a job opening at Elms College, and knew some people in the athletics department and suggested my name as someone that they should reach out to,” he said. He also commented on the small size of the program when he started out. “There [were] only two swimmers at the time when I first started, and we didn't have a pool. So in those three years, we grew the team to 16. We broke four school records, and we came in 5th out of our conferences last year.”
After three years of successful coaching experience, Walker set his sights on greater goals. “I always knew that I wanted something a little bit more,” he said. “A career goal of mine has always been to be a coach within the NEWMAC conference.”
His former swim coach, who had served as his mentor, heard about the full-time coaching position at the College and immediately saw it as a good fit for Walker. “And here we are, four months later,” he said.
Walker’s addition to the coaching staff has been warmly received by the team. “I’ve never met a team that's so, for one, happy but also just welcoming,” he said. “They were so accepting and open right off the bat, which kind of catapulted my confidence on the team.” Being new to the College, Walker already feels at home. “They really made me feel like I have a solid place.”
Walker expressed his excitement about this new chapter in his career, noting the uniqueness of coaching at a gender-diverse women’s college. “It's really cool,” he said. “That's some[where] that I never really saw myself being, but this experience has kind of opened up my eyes to how awesome this place is. It’s a really special place, and I'm really happy.”
The training approach of the Mount Holyoke swimming and diving team differs from what Walker was previously accustomed to, but it’s one he has fully embraced. Instead of focusing on general fitness, which Walker now sees as a less effective strategy, at the College the emphasis is on building a strong foundation by focusing on small but crucial details early in the season.
“We’re focusing a lot on the little things, and a lot of drills and really, just making sure that our strokes are all set, so that we can put in the work later,” he explained. By refining the foundational techniques upfront, the team can avoid major corrections after going into the season.
The dynamic between Walker and the team members has been characterized by openness and a collaborative spirit. Walker noted the team eagerly listens and offers support when needed. “Everyone's been very open on listening to what I have to say,” he remarked. If he has a question about a drill, the team is quick to provide an explanation, since terminology can vary from coach to coach. “Then I'm kind of on the same page with them,” Walker said.
The sense of collaboration extends beyond training, creating a warm bond between team members. The team has cultivated an upbeat and happy energy, where hard work is balanced with fun. “For me, swimming is usually a little bit of a quieter sport, and I would say [has] that kind of whole family atmosphere,” Walker said.
Looking ahead to the season, Walker is optimistic about what the swimming and diving team can achieve. With the alum meet around the corner on Oct. 26, Walker is eager to witness the results of the team’s hard work and preparation. “I’m really excited to see what this team can do,” he said.