Coach Larry Simonov, a former Olympic coach for the Soviet Union and current American citizen, has been hired by Hargrave Military Academy to head and further develop the Academy’s extensive aquatics programs. Hargrave currently operates a number of Cadet and community based programs at its 50m indoor Onishi-Davenport Aquatic Center.
Coach Simonov is arriving to Chatham from the very successful Raleigh Swimming Association (RSA) in Raleigh, North Carolina. RSA is a USA Swimming club program that is recognized nationally for the quality of its athletes and the effectiveness of its program. Simonov served with RSA for the past four years as a senior coach. He helped many of their athletes achieve national prominence.
Prior to joining RSA, Simonov was living in Thousand Oaks, California where he owned Oaks Aquatics Academy, a USA Swimming club program, and was the Aquatics Director and head swimming coach for Oaks Christian High School.
Further, he has coach American USA Swimming senior qualifiers, Olympic qualifiers and World Championship trial qualifiers since coming to America. Some top American athletes that he has coached include Blair Cross, Stephanie Glover and Julian Smith.
Coach Simonov has coached multiple national age group USA Swimming Top 16 swimmers. USA Swimming’s Top 16 program has a specific cuts and age groups for each event. The top 16 fastest swimmers to earn the cut within their age group earn national Top 16 recognition. These are extremely difficult achievements for most 18 and Under swimmers. He has done very well in the most competitive swimming nation on the planet, the United States.
Prior to some great coaching in the States, Coach Simonov was the head coach and administrator for the Soviet Union’s national swimming program based at the Red Army Olympic Swimming Center in Kiev, Ukraine. Simonov directed a program that included over 3,000 athletes and support personnel. All levels, from beginner to Olympic athlete, were represented in his program.
He coached for 11 years during this period. He trained Soviet athletes that medaled in both the Seoul and Barcelona Olympic games. He developed over fifteen swimmers who were among the top ten swimmers in the world. His athletes earned a total of sixteen Olympic medals and one World Record Holder.
Coach Simonov is excited by Hargrave’s potential in aquatics, not only in the realm of competitive swimming but also in the programming that can be brought to the community. He is interested in promoting all levels of swimming and athletic ability.
Within the world of competitive swimming, he supports organic development of his swimmers, teaching, instructing and training athletes to reach their goals and achieve personal excellence. Basically, he believes in hard work and commitment to reach excellence.
“The hiring of Coach Simonov presents a unique opportunity for both Cadet and community competitive swimmers,” said Col. Wheeler L. Baker, president of Hargrave. “Undoubtedly, he’ll be a boon to our varsity and USA Swimming programs.”
Coach Simonov is married and has a 12 year old daughter. He replaces outgoing Ted Hartenstein.
Simonov will be on campus starting June 1, 2007.
