Mark Onstott has been extremely successful at every stop along his coaching career, but maybe none so successful as his two decades at one of the most storied public high school swimming legacies in the nation at Winnetka's (IL) New Trier High School.
In Part 1 of our visit with Mark, we hear of his start in the sport and his swimmer's journey from a young Red Cross lessons swimmer, to high school, to college, and then to his start in coaching, and all of the twists and turns a young coach could possibly encounter before winding up in charge of a boys program that ultimately won TWO Swimming World "mythical" National Championships. Quite a tale, and no one better to share it.
Part 2 will be launched shortly as Episode 49, just as soon as we deal with Hurricane Beryl, since Bob and Dana both live in the direct Texas path of the storm!
Email Swim Talk at swimtalk@outlook.com
Episode 48 timeline:
00:01 – Disclaimer & banter
01:44 – Endless Pools plug
02:30 – Introducing Mark Onstott
02:55 – Road to the UNI Panther HOF
09:35 – Breaking into high school coaching
12:45 – Working the Jack Nelson camp
13:45 – Cypress, Texas calling!
16:10 – Brian Seifert “taper”
18:13 – Escape from CFHS
22:04 – New Trier hiring process
28:06 – Dynamite?
29:20 – Dave Robertson era
31:38 – Evanston rivalry
36:40 – Texas vs. Illinois high school rules
41:30 – Onstott Part II Preview