Head coach of the Warriors swimming program, Jeff Slater has announced he will be leaving after leading the program for the past 10 years.  Slater has accepted a new position with the Barracuda Swim Club in the Bahamas. 

Slater was named the head coach in 2007 after serving as the head coach of the Guelph Gryphons swim program for four years.  He returned to his alma mater, after competing for the swim program from 1985-89, followed by coaching stints with the men's water polo team and swim teams from 1989-90.

"I am forever grateful to the University of Waterloo and the Department of Athletics for every opportunity I have been given the past 10 years and beyond," said Slater.  "This is a very bitter sweet moment for me as I close this incredible chapter of my life.  I will miss a lot about the University but mostly the highly committed student-athletes I have had the pleasure of coaching over the past 10 seasons.  Seeing the athletes succeed not only in the pool but also in the classroom was always rewarding to me and I am proud to have contributed to their future success."

Slater has had the opportunity to coach some standout student-athletes and has seen many new records fall in the pool and says this is what will be missed the most; his athletes getting a little bit better, a little bit faster each season. 

The highlight of Slater's career came following the 2016 OUA Championship after watching one of his swimmers, Jonathan Ramkissoon (Trinidad) break an OUA record in the 100m breast stroke, and was named the coach of the year, the first time in his career. 

In addition to Slater's role as head coach of the swimming program, he was the lead organizer for all Warriors Camps. 

"We would like to thank Jeff for his extremely hard work ethic and dedication to the Warriors," said director of athletics and recreation, Roly Webster.  "Jeff has always earned the upmost respect from his student-athletes and has set them up to be successful not only in the pool but in their careers as they graduate from Waterloo.  We will miss Jeff's easy going personality around the office and wish him all the best in sunny Bahamas."

Slater will wrap up his duties in the next couple of weeks before making the move to Bahamas with his wife Marissa.  The process of searching for a new coach begins immediately. 

 

Sad to say that this handsome devil will be leaving us after 10 years of coaching the swim program! . . . He is off to the Bahamas! Thanks for everything @jaslater37! ????Swipe ??to see more glamour shots! tbt goblackgogold #warrior4life

A post shared by Waterloo Warriors (@wloowarriors) on Aug 3, 2017 at 10:12am PDT