Katy Aquatics coach builds pool of talent

by Megan Mattingly-Arthur | December 13, 2012 12:01 am

Troy Emmons has served as head coach at the Katy Aquatics swim club since 2009. He is pictured here with swimmer Cameron McHugh.

Troy Emmons has been coaching swimmers for more than 20 years. He’s coached all across the country, from Oregon to North Carolina, and has worked as head coach of a swim club in the Seattle area for more than 10 years before moving to Katy in 2009 to accept the position of head coach for Katy Aquatics.

“I had been coaching in the Seattle area for about 13 years, and I was looking for a change and more opportunity,” Emmons said. “Katy presented itself as an area that had a lot of potential.”

Founded in 1986, Katy Aquatics is a not-for-profit swim club with approximately 1,200 swimmers divided between instructional and competitive programs. In his role as head coach, Emmons works with the club’s top 25 athletes.

“The kids that I coach, by and large, have been swimming for eight, nine or even 10 years in one form or another,” he said. “They’re all at the sectional or regional level.”

Under his direction, Katy Aquatics has improved its national ranking, and some of its swimmers have reached the national level. Emmons has some advice for swimmers hoping to make it to the top of the Katy Aquatics program.

“To get to the top level, it’s really quite simple: It just takes a lot of commitment,” he said. “Stay in the program for a number of years, add to the commitment level as you make it through the program, set goals and reach those goals, and eventually, you can get up to the top level.”

Emmons’ favorite part of his job isn’t the roar of the crowds; it’s the wonderful student athletes he gets to work with.

“It’s really an honor to coach the quality of people that these swimmers are,” he said. “They’re all in AP classes (and are) honor students. They really are some of the best people, not just some of the best athletes.”

For more information on Coach Troy Emmons or Katy Aquatics’ swimming programs, call 281-391-7200 or visit www.katyaquatics.org. You can also connect with Katy Aquatics on Facebook.

ABOUT TROY EMMONS
AGE: 50
OCCUPATION: Head swim coach for Katy Aquatics
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Katy resident
FAST FACT: Emmons holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and mathematics education from Eastern Washington University