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Ben Sheppard
Inner City SwimmingSeptember 11, 2008 In 1998 Ben became the director of the Oakland Community Pool Project. He also founded the only inner city swim teams in Oakland and is the head coach of that team, the Oakland Undercurrents. Ben swam under legendary coaches like Gregg Troy, Randy Reese, Nort Thornton, Mike Bottom, and the late Paul Blair. With coaches like those it's no big surprise he wound up on a pool deck.
About Ben Sheppard | Organization: | Oakland Undercurrents | | College: | University of California Berkley | | High School: | The Bolles School | | Bio: | Ben is a devoted lifetime swimmer and co-founder of the Oakland Undercurrent. He graduated from the Bolles School, the world’s premier swimming prep school and was a high school all-american. Ben attended… + See More +Ben is a devoted lifetime swimmer and co-founder of the Oakland Undercurrent. He graduated from the Bolles School, the world’s premier swimming prep school and was a high school all-american. Ben attended… + See More - See Less -Ben is a devoted lifetime swimmer and co-founder of the Oakland Undercurrent. He graduated from the Bolles School, the world’s premier swimming prep school and was a high school all-american. Ben attended the University of Florida and swam for the Gators before transferring to U.C. Berkeley joining the Cal Bears. He had the privilege to be mentored by legendary coaches Nort Thornton and Mike Bottom. He has experience coaching at every level including the Oakland parks and rec leagues, a local high school team, adult masters swimming, and U.C. Berkeley. He has lead clinics and camps in Croatia, the Bahamas, New Orleans, Detroit, Colorado Springs. He has a passion for sharing the sport and spreading his love for swimming. Ben enjoys swimming himself, as well as being in nature, listening to good new music, yoga, and meeting new people that offer different perspectives on the world.
*Bio from www.oaklandswimming.org |
Coverages Ben Sheppard is part of (1):
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Pull out that box of a million goggles, swim equipment, and swimsuits and bring them down to your closest pool in need.
Then try volunteer coaching.
Who has not felt like they wanted to give back to the sport that gave us so much?
Do it - you won't regret it.
I sure wish I had met you at ASCA.
I'm from the Bay Area and I know what you are doing in Oakland is no joke... and finally just now, beginning to be appreciated.
I would love to have some of the charitable type events that we run with Masters Swimming, fund programs like our inner city swim teams who need help.
Talking about your great coaching staff, do you not have the great Ash Jones from Alameda coaching at Oakland Undercurrents? He has been raving about what you are doing in Oakland for almost 2 years!
Next time I am up north, I am coming to check your team out!
Keep up the amazing work building swimmers and future swim coaches.
You HAVE to get out there and document this program and this young coach's efforts. USA Swim has a diversity initiative and this guy's program is an example of it. I had goosebumps listening to his wish of turning his swimmers into coaches.