Dan Cottam, 33, grew up in the East Bay, mostly in a swimming pool. As a member of the Concord Terrapins starting in elementary school he developed his skills to the point of earning a swim scholarship to UC Santa Barbara, specializing in long distance freestyle events.
In 2006, with his college career over, he started the Danville Sharks competitive swim club with boyhood friend Ethan Hall. They began with just eight swimmers, but the success they enjoyed created positive word of mouth in the Danville area to the point that today they have 60 swimmers on the squad.
“Year-round swimming is not for the faint of heart,” Cottam said. He described a routine involving reporting to the pool before dawn, swimming in the cold and the rain, going to school, and them swimming more in the afternoon.
Working with such dedicated athletes can have its rewards. This summer the Sharks won the Western Long Course Championship for the first time, ironically at the pool in Concord that Cottam and Hall called home as boys.
“It was especially meaningful winning back where we grew up,” Cottam said.
Cottam says that the Sharks try and provide the team’s swimmers (who range in age from 9-18) with a comfortable environment where they can strive to reach their goals. For one swimmer, 16-year-old Madison White, that included making the 2010-2011 U.S. National Team.
“Madison will be going to Dubai in December to compete in the 100 and 200 backstroke,” Cottam said. “We are very proud of her.”
The Sharks are achieving all this despite a handicap with their facilities at the Crow Canyon Country Club, where Cottam serves as Aquatics Director. “We compete at a yard pool, most top programs compete in a meter pool,” Cottam explained. “We would also love to have two more lanes.” In the summer, Cottam continued, the Sharks have to work around free swims and other events because they are using a country club pool. “Don’t get me wrong, the country club has been wonderful to us, it is more that we could use additional community support. We have reached out to Monte Vista and to San Ramon Valley High Schools, figuring that they might want to help Danville’s only year-round competitive swim club.” So far, Cottam said, that outreach has been fruitless.
What is new with the Sharks is that Cottam has a new coaching partner. Josh Scott replaced Hall on September 27. “Ethan and I are still best friends. He just decided he wanted a break. I’m sure if I needed anything or the Sharks needed anything he would help out. He is just no longer an active coach.” Hall is married to Olympic Champion Natalie Coughlin who occasionally helps Sharks swimmers with stroke techniques.
Cottam would like to see the Sharks grow from 60 swimmers to 100. Both boys and girls are welcome. Those interested can contact Cottam at
cottamdan@yahoo.com.