The Dalhousie Tigers - Dalhousie University

Making a difference. It is the goal of many aspiring coaches. The degree to which a coach makes a difference is measured by the success of the coach’s athletes. One can find no better example of someone who has made a difference than Dalhousie’s Nigel Kemp. His success through 27 years as a swimming coach at Dalhousie is exemplary.

A former international swimmer for Great Britain, Nigel arrived at Dalhousie in 1971 to take a post as lecturer in what was then the School of Physical Education. He also became Head Coach of the Dalhousie swim teams.  Nigel brought with him a coaching philosophy that has been the foundation of his long-term successes, “Success is improving, not necessarily winning.” One only has to look at the accomplishments of his swimmers, the international responsibilities and the recognition that Nigel has received during his time at Dalhousie to realize that this focus on improving has also resulted in a great deal of winning.

Under Nigel’s guidance the Dalhousie swim teams captured 27 AUAA championships.  In conference dual meets the men’s and women’s teams amassed 263 victories for a winning percentage of 73.2 percent over this period. This team success is a reflection of Nigel’s dedication to all of the athletes, not just the superstars. In the departmental year-end reviews, mention was always made of those swimmers who achieved personal best times that year, a true measure of success. In recognition of his exemplary coaching, Nigel was selected ten times as the AUAA Coach of the Year and three times awarded Dalhousie’s Coach of the Year. The Dalhousie A.J. “Sandy” Young Award for contribution to sport in Nova Scotia, is special award with great prestige and meaning, especially for those recipients who are members of the Dalhousie family.  Nigel was presented this award in 1998, and was fortunate to have been presented the award by Dr. A.J. “Sandy” Young himself.

During his tenure at Dalhousie, Nigel’s swimmers captured 63 CIAU medals, including 19 gold. The 1980 women’s swim team came closest to winning the national championship by finishing second, and close again in 1981, with a third-place finish.  On this national stage, Nigel was recognized as the CIAU Coach of the Year in both 1974 and 1980.  In 1975, Nigel was selected as the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year.

Nigel was appointed to the Canadian Coaching Staff at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, where he coached Dalhousian Nancy Garapick to two bronze medals. He was also named to the 1980 Olympic staff. He coached at the 1975 and ’78 World Championships and the 1978 Commonwealth Games. He also was appointed head women’s coach of Canada’s teams at the 1979 and 1983 FISU World University Games. At the 1979 games in Mexico City Nigel coached Dalhousian, Susan Mason (McLeod), to a bronze medal.

Recognizing the importance of development, Nigel also coached the Halifax Trojans Aquatic Club from 1971-80.  His development of young swimmers was recognized as he coached the 1975 Canadian age group team at a meet in East Germany, and the Canadian youth team in Sweden in April 1973.

Nigel was inducted as a builder in the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1989. Two of Nigel’s swimmers preceded him as inductees; Susan Mason (McLeod) in 1985 and Nancy Garapick in 1986. Another one of his swimmers Andrew Cole was also inducted in 1993.

In a 1989 interview, Nigel expressed, “I’m trying to be the catalyst to help individuals meet the goals they set for themselves.” Nigel has been much more than that.  He has been the catalyst for hundreds of swimmers and has made a profound and exemplary contribution to sport at Dalhousie. As an associate professor he continues to teach in what is now the School of Health and Human Performance, where appropriately his courses focus on coaching development. In November 2003, Nigel received the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association Coaching Contribution Award for his longstanding service in the field of coach education in Canada.