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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Dear Athletes and Brookings Swim Club Families,
As I write this letter there are tears streaming down my face. It
is with great sadness that I have decided to step down as the Head
Coach of the Brookings Swim Club. I have had 4 WONDERFUL years with
the club and have truly enjoyed my tenure. The athletes of this
club are the cream of the crop. We have the most amazing
well-rounded children. Each and every day they make me laugh,
smile, and provide me with great challenge. The athletes on this
club were and remain the best part of my job…and the BEST
part of my day.
I have made the decision to step down for a few reasons. First and
foremost is so I can spend more time with my husband Peter and my
family up north in Brainerd. I am looking forward to my
sister’s senior year in college and helping my parents with
some marketing for our family business. I will also be a dedicated
Sioux Valley Cossack football fan.
Another factor that aided in my decision was that it is and was too
difficult for me to continue to maintain two-full time jobs.
Coaching the Brookings Swim Club is without a doubt full time job.
I made this choice so I can focus more time and energy on my
5th graders at Camelot…and so someone else can
put in the full time and effort that the athletes deserve. I was
being pulled in too many different directions to do justice to
anything in my life.
The Brookings Swim Club board has been nothing but supportive over
the past few weeks as I came to this decision…and I am truly
thankful for the kind and caring support from the parents and board
members on this club. I have made dear friends on the team. I have
felt true support from parents. This team made me fall in love with
the community of Brookings…and made me SO happy that my
husband got a job in South Dakota FOUR YEARS AGO!
The GOOD NEWS is that I am still living in Brookings and planning
on staying involved coaching one night per week. I am also going to
be around to support the swimming careers of many of our upcoming
athletes. I plan to come to a few meets and be a face that can help
in a pinch with the club. I am the Brookings Swim Club #1 supporter
and #1 fan! I will be her to help in the transition to the new
coach.
Many tears have been shed, many phone calls have been made, and
hours upon hours of thought have been put into my decision. It is
not something that has come lightly and it wasn’t an easy
choice.
I will be around at the home meet this weekend and for the tenure
of the season…so please feel free to stop and chat if you
want! I will be working for the club through August to help the new
coach transition into the role and help them to make it their own.
I can’t wait to watch the club continue to grow and shine. We
have come so far…and I know that the new coach will take us
to even the next level. I will be there cheering along the
way.
Again, thank you, thank you, and thank you for the wonderful
opportunity to be the head coach of the Brookings Swim Club. I look
back with the fondest of memories and know there are many more
memories for these athletes to come.
Sincerely and ALL MY BEST,
Keli L. Books
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