In the fall of 2002, Sean Hutchison came to KING Aquatics as head coach and CEO with a mission in mind. “I envision developing a model for other clubs to mimic – both in terms of performance and administration,â€� he declared, aiming to develop the Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan club into a powerhouse not only in the area but nation-wide. Hutchison has not only reached his goal, but surpassed it.

Hutchison at KING Aquatics

“I envision a prototype program that builds success through results and feeds on it, thereby showing our athletes how to become successful people.�

Joining KING Aquatics in 2002, Hutchison arrived with the intentions of developing the program into something that would be not only recognized in the pacific northeast, but in the nation. One of the youngest club head coaches to take on such a lofty goal, he quickly delivered.

Under his leadership, the team has won 13 consecutive pacific-northwest swimming championships. USA Swimming labeled the program a gold medal team in the national excellence club since 2005, and the team was part of their club recognition program in both 2008 and 2009 as a level one team.

In 2004, KING Aquatics became the American Short Course Champions. Later in 2008, Hutchison led the women to their first USA Swimming short course national championship title.

With the success the program achieved at the national level, Hutchison was awarded the USA Swimming George Haines Award in 2004 and 2005. The award recognizes the “coach of the meet� at the USA Swimming summer nationals and is chosen by the coaching community at the same meet-further exemplifying the respect he receives from his peers.

At the 2008 Olympic Trials, Hutchison and KING Aquatics had a swimmer break the world record in the 200m backstroke.

Coaching the Nation’s Best

Hutchison has been selected to coach a U.S. team in international competition every year since 2005.

At the 2005 World University Games in Turkey, Hutchison had his first taste as assistant coach. The following year, he was named an assistant coach for the 2006 U.S. Pan Pacific Games team for the meet held in Canada. 2007 followed with another assistant coach appointment to the U.S. World Championship team which he successfully guided one of his KING Aquatics swimmer’s to compete at.

All of his previous experience was trumped when in 2008, USA Swimming selected Hutchison to join the Olympic coaching staff in Beijing. At the games, he was able to coach two of his own KING Aquatic swimmers, who earned a total of three silver and one bronze medals.

With 2009 competition in full gear for the USA, Hutchison traveled to Rome, Italy as the head coach of the U.S. women’s team at the World Championship. Under his leadership, the squad captured two gold, three silver, and four bronze medals and lowered three world records. One of the world records and gold medals came from Hutchison’s own KING Aquatics Club swimmer.  To cap off his stint in Rome, the women’s medal count contributed to Team USA’s overall dominance that resulted in receiving the FINA trophy as the top national team of the championships.

On the Forefront of Innovation

Hutchison is known in the swimming community for his detailed analysis and particular detail to the scientific innovation in order to develop world-class swimmers.

Working with top scientists to relate the world of fluid dynamics to optimal stroke technique and body positioning, he became a published scientist himself in 2008 on his research.

Due to his enhanced developments in the sport, he sits on the USA Swimming Steering Committee, the Olympic International Operations Committee, and the Pacific Northwest Swimming Board. His approach to stroke mechanics makes him one of the most sought-out experts in the area.