New Head Coach of the Ontario Swimming Academy

Swim Ontario, along with partners Swimming Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario are pleased to announce the hiring of Don Burton as the new Head Coach of the Ontario Swimming Academy.

Swim Ontario is especially pleased to welcome this long time Ontario coach, with an impressive resume to the team to take the helm of the OSA program for the 2016-2017 season.

 “The Ontario Swimming Academy, under the direction of Canadian coach Don Burton, will provide world class training opportunities for Ontario athletes. OTP looks forward to working with all the partners in order to ensure the continued success of this program”, said Graham Barton, High Performance advisor for Own the Podium.

Don is a Level 3 certified coach and has been a staple in the Ontario coaching community for many years.  He has been the Head Coach of the University of Guelph varsity swim team since 2007, with swimmers on the past two Olympic Teams (Evan van Moerkerke in 2016 and Andrew Ford in 2012), as well as having swimmers qualify for recent World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games, and FISU Games.  He has also worked with both Swim Ontario and Swimming Canada on several different teams and initiatives to continue his professional development.

“The partnership that has been created with all the stakeholders for the OSA is very appealing and I’m excited about what can be created, with home grown excellence, right here in Ontario,” said Don. “This opportunity allows us, the coaches, swimmers, and IST, to work together on a regular basis to help this program be successful and I’m very much looking forward at the prospect of this environment.”

Don’s clear philosophy and values drive him as a person and as a coach, and he believes that the sky is the limit. He is excited about the opportunity he has to be an integral part of improving the results of Ontario Swimming and its athletes on an international stage.

Having a home grown Ontario coach heading up this program will be a great strength for the development of Ontario athletes. This part of development pathway is extremely important for the future success at the World level for the Canadian National Swimming team. The OSA plays a key role in developing the next generation international athletes and I look forward to working with Don in this important role”, says Swimming Canada’s High Performance Director John Atkinson. 

Coach Burton is expected to bring in his rich and vast coaching experience and expertise to enrich the OSA program and to improve its performance, so that the program, and swimmers, can meet and exceed its goals.

Swim Ontario Interim Executive Director Darin Muma added, “Swim Ontario is excited for the opportunities that Don will bring to the Ontario swimming community in his new role. His diverse set of skills will not only benefit the entire membership through program visitations, but will also give the Ontario Swimming Academy swimmers the best environment in which to achieve their aspirations.”

Coach Burton is expected to commence his duties in the very near future and will have athletic development, program implementation and coaching of all facets of the Swim Ontario OSA program.

The Ontario Swimming Academy is funded by Swim Ontario, the NextGen Program of Own the Podium, Swimming Canada, and the OHPSI program of the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.