Coach Don Watkinds of the Wave House San Diego Swim Team died of a heart attack during swim practice on July 27th.
Don Watkinds served as the head coach of Peninsula Aquatics San Diego from 1998-2009. In 2009 Peninsula Aquatics San Diego merged with the City of San Diego Swim to become the Wave House San Diego Swim Team, where Watkinds served as head coach until his passing. Throughout his career Watkinds was extremely involved in Disability swimming, coaching numerous Paralympians along the way.
In addition, Watkinds was the President of the San Diego Swim Coaches Association as well as the Disability Swimming Chairman for San Diego – Imperial Swimming. He was also a member of the USA Swimming National Disability Committee and San Diego – Imperial Swimming’s Board of Directors and Review Board.
Watkinds received numerous awards for his involvement in Disability Swimming. In 2008 he was presented with the Ikkos Award by the United States Olympic Committee for having a medalist in the Beijing Paralympic Games (Roy Perkins, who at one point held the S5 American Record in every event) . Further, one of his swimmers was named the USA Swimming Disability Swimmer of the Year in 2002 (Jennifer Johnson). In 1996 he won the prestigious Outstanding Service Award for Southern California Swimming and in 2005 he was the recipient of the USA Swimming National Disability Swimming Service Award.
Strange question- can someone msg me that is a friend of the family? I work at a hotel and I just opened a flash drive I found in a computer and there is a wonderful powerpoint memorial of Mr. Watkinds. I would love to get it into the owner’s hands.
I have know Don all my life, this is a sad time. He will be so missed not only with his beloved Swim team but all of his family and friends. He was a GREAT Friend, he was like my brother, we grew up together and stayed close all of these years. This is breaking my heart
Lou Ann, Thank you for your comments. Donnie has kept me updated on your comings and goings. Best to you.
Lynn Heinbokel (Colwell).
It was always a pleasure to see Don and his swimmers at the SDI meets, as he was always smiling and wanting the officials to judge his swimmers correctly. Would always have a story. The swim community just lost an great person and coach. So sorry to hear this news as I was so looking forward to seeing him at the next meet.
Don was my first swim coach decades ago when I was four years old. My first swim meet, I was terrified of the starting gun and the starting blocks. After offering to swim next to me, Don arranged for the starter to use a whistle and for me to start from the deck. That was just the kind of coach he was, always keeping his swimmers happy. He also coached my kids here in San Diego. He treated them with the same respect and kindness he showed me some 40 years earlier. Don was selfless. He adored the sport as well as his swimmers and their families. It isn’t easy to get get up to coach morning workouts, then volunteer,… Read more »
Don Watkinds coached up north with our team for years before San Diego. He was an amazing coach who made every workout both fun and instructional regardless of swimmers ages. He knew everyone’s swimming ability and had a rare insight into what motivated individual people so that you worked your hardest for him. He managed to both coach the workout and to see and provide instruction to individual swimmers throughout the workout, correcting weaknesses with humor, challenges, gentle encouragement, whatever worked best for each swimner. He gave all his swimmers the same opportunities to improve their swimming whether they competed or just enjoyed swimming, convincing us that learning to movie your body properly benefited you both in and out of… Read more »
Don Watkinds. Above all else Don cared for the kids. If you wanted to swim he would let you join the team.
My kids were not allowed to join two other swim clubs, they said your kids need more lessons.
My kids wanted to swim on a team and a very close friend of ours said come to practice with us.
Don asked the kids do you like swimming, they responded “YES”. OK your on our team, not my team or your team our team.
For Don it was all about swimming.
Both my kids continue to be in the top ten swimmers in their age groups in San Diego.
Both my kids also play water… Read more »
Don was an awesome coach. At first I was very skeptical about him. But he’s the reason I was able to qualify and compete in the Paralympic Trials twice. I went from being an ok sprinter to a good distance swimmer. I qualified for my first international meet in England and won a gold medal in the 50m freestyle and the silver in the 100m breaststroke. I would not have been able to do that if I hadn’t switch from the San Diego Bulleta to Peninsula Aquatics. We didn’t always agree on races, but I always trusted his judgement. I also swam in open water swims, which I never would have done. I will miss him.
He was a wonderful guy. Have known him since he was a little kid here in the Imperial Valley. One of the best coaches I have ever seen. He will be truly missed.