By Carter Meagher

Blake Proffitt. Photo credit: SwimRVA.

While SwimRVA’s Pre-Senior group struggles through a vertical kick set, Coach Blake Proffitt stands on the side of the pool at Collegiate School Aquatic Center. Although it’s clear to him that his swimmers are working hard because of their heavy breathing and bright red faces, he doesn’t stop the set. Instead, he leans out over the pool and says, “Hey guys, let’s do a cheer while we kick!” Despite their fatigue, every member of the team grins up at Proffitt, and the group begins to shout a team cheer.

Starting a cheer during a hard set is the essence of new SwimRVA coach Blake Proffitt. I’ve left every conversation with him feeling encouraged and uplifted. Before one of the most significant races of my season this year, Proffitt stopped me behind the blocks. “Swim fast,” he said simply. “You worked hard for this. Swim fast, and go get some Chipotle after.” His advice was so simple, yet it was exactly what I needed in my few moments of anxiety before I stepped up to swim. 

Proffitt, 27, has been swimming since he was nine years old. He grew up in Lynchburg and swam at Oakwood Country Club and the Lynchburg YMCA while in high school. Proffitt then committed to the College of Charleston. However, Proffitt only swam at Charleston for less than a year before the program was cut. Proffitt chose not to graduate from Charleston and instead go straight into coaching full-time.

Proffitt never thought he’d coach professionally. “When I was a kid, I would not have believed you if you’d told me I’d be a coach.” He started coaching summer league swimming “just for fun,” and he decided to coach at the YMCA because of a friend. “I ended up falling in love with it,” he said. Proffitt joined the SwimRVA coaching staff as a full-time coach last year, moving from his hometown of Lynchburg to Richmond.

Jack Clippenger, a member of the Pre-Senior group, appreciates what Proffitt has brought to the team since his arrival. “He’s really encouraging.” Clippenger shared. “He can always get me in the mindset to race.” Clippenger also reflected on Proffitt during practice: “He gives specific tips on what to do better.” 

When Proffitt was a swimmer, he was “very time and goal-oriented,” as well as “results focused.” He tries to help his swimmers see swimming in a different light as a coach. “I’ve definitely changed my outlook on the most important things in swimming and about swimming.” He wants to teach his swimmers about “discipline, self-understanding, and commitment to themselves.” He doesn’t want anyone to just focus on their times. “It’s so much deeper than how fast you go.” 

SwimRVA pool. Photo credit: Carter Meagher.

At SwimRVA, Proffitt has enjoyed getting to know “a wide range of young people that come from different backgrounds and different cities and different high schools and different clubs.” He appreciates each swimmer’s story and cherishes the relationships he’s made with the kids. “It keeps me super young and super motivated to try to be the best person I can be, so I can be as good of a role model as I can and inspire young people to make a difference in their lives and in their swimming,” he shared.

Trinity Episcopal School junior Marcy Mortimer, a member of SwimRVA’s Senior Group, values the connection she’s made with Proffitt because of his “insight and wisdom about swimming, but also life.” She appreciates his outlook on swimming and coaching. “He approaches every situation with an open mind and willingness to work with you, all while keeping a positive mindset and level head.” Mortimer continued. “He’s younger, which helps us high school athletes connect on a more personal level.”

Proffitt hasn’t just impacted the swimmers at SwimRVA. He is the newest member of an already efficient staff of coaches. Although they all coach different levels of swimmers, Proffitt shares that there is plenty of collaboration throughout the job. “Running a team and making sure the team is excited throughout a season, and getting the best training they can and making sure everyone is enjoying themselves, takes a lot of heads to be put together,” he said.

Head Coach of SwimRVA Jonathan Kaplan Photo credit: SwimRVA.

Head Coach of SwimRVA Jonathan Kaplan emphasizes Proffitt’s “passion and positive energy” as an asset to the team and the coaching staff. “He has done an excellent job of getting athletes to believe in themselves.”

Before Proffitt’s arrival, the Pre-Senior group had been coached by many different coaches and didn’t have a consistent leader. Kaplan respects Proffitt’s ability to not only be a leader of the group, but also the way he has created “a positive culture and identity” within the group. When Kaplan interviewed Proffitt for the job, he said it was obvious that “he was our guy.” Kaplan has enjoyed seeing Proffitt branch out into a new city. “He’s really grown individually a lot.” 

Proffitt has enjoyed moving to a new city. He lives in the Museum District, which he described as a “happening place… There’s always something going on.” He shared. “I love it here.” He intends to continue coaching for the foreseeable future. “I really enjoy coaching. I intend to continue coaching until I don’t enjoy it anymore, wherever that takes me.”

Despite his success on the team, Proffitt shared that sometimes “coaching is hard… You need help throughout different situations, because it can weigh pretty heavily on you.” He is grateful for the support of the SwimRVA team. 

Even at 5 a.m. on a weekday, Proffitt can be found getting everyone on deck excited to get into the pool. I credit him with much of my renewed motivation for the sport of swimming this year. Along with Clippenger and Mortimer, I and many other SwimRVA Rapids swimmers are grateful that he has joined the coaching staff.