Global swimming icon to lead exclusive Coaching Certification in Kenya

Kenya’s swimming community is buzzing with excitement following the announcement that one of the world’s most respected swim coaches and top educator with the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA), Coach Chad Onken, will be visiting the country from 11-16 for a swimming coaching clinic and ASCA certification course.

Organized in collaboration with Private and International Preps Schools Sports Association (PIPSSA) Kenya, this high-level training aims to uplift and modernize Kenya’s swimming coaching landscape, aligning it with global standards.

This marks a major milestone, especially after years of stagnation caused by international bans on local swimming governance.

Onken, who has led ASCA training programs across over 15 countries, including South Africa, Dubai, Singapore, China, and the Philippines, brings with him decades of elite coaching experience.

His influence is globally acknowledged, having mentored hundreds of top-level coaches and athletes through science-driven, performance-based methodologies.

Last year, over 35 Kenyan coaches made their way to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to attend Onken’s session.

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One of them, Eng. Peter Mwangangi, Head Coach at Seahorses Aquatics, described it as transformational saying: “I am among the coaches who attended last year’s ASCA in Dar es Salaam, and I can attest I gained tremendous insights into competitive swimming coaching.

“After joining ASCA, I now have access to rich training materials through their continuous education program. This year, Seahorses will sponsor six of our coaches because we believe in growing our athletes by empowering our coaches.”

According to Mark Gaya, PIPSSA Kenya Coordinator, the response has been overwhelming.

“We’ve been in consultation with Onken, and despite his tight schedule, he has prioritized Kenya.

We’ve already signed a formal agreement with ASCA, and this training will be listed on the official ASCA website,” Gaya revealed.

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Coaches from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, and Malawi have already confirmed their attendance, with only 50 slots still available.

“Swimming is evolving. It’s now about biomechanics, physiology, and tailored training. We can’t expect to produce Olympians if we rely on traditional methods,” Omar Omari, Technical Director at Kenya Aquatics and Head Coach Crawford International School said.

“This ASCA course is crucial. I urge schools, clubs, and counties to invest in their coaches. In the end, our athletes stand to benefit the most.”

Onken is an elite educator and a swimming visionary coach.

He has worked with Olympic-level athletes, contributed to global swim curricula, and remains one of ASCA’s most in-demand instructors.

His expertise spans stroke development, athlete periodization, team building and coaching psychology. He’s also served as a mentor in countries such as the United States, Australia, Japan, and the UAE, consistently raising coaching standards across continents.