BOUNTIFUL -- At the Region 1 Championship swim meet two weeks ago, Viewmont High School celebrated a double victory, as both boys and girls teams stormed to solid wins. Their wins on Jan. 29 at South Davis Recreation Center were a parting gift for a longtime coach, Scott Balling, who is stepping back after 10 years of coaching.
Balling has coached the swim team at Viewmont for 10 years, eight of which he served as head coach. In that time he's coached hundreds of swimmers to success in the pool.
"We owe all of this to Scott," said now head coach Steve Doman, who was brought into the Viewmont coaching job by Balling. Doman started out by assisting Balling part-time and then two years ago moved to the head coach position while Balling assisted. "He started this. He's the guy we look to. We've made progress by leaps and bounds. Now we are not only thinking about region, we're thinking about state and region."
Balling began his coaching career when his son, Ted Balling, who still owns three school swim records, began swimming at Viewmont in 2000 and Viewmont didn't have a coach.
"I tried calling several coaches all over the state and was unsuccessful," said Balling. "I just asked if I could do it as a paraprofessional."
From there he coached three more of his six children and hundreds of other swimmers. This year, his youngest, Kristie, is graduating, and he said it's time to concentrate on his engineering business.
"My kids have moved on, and my baby girl is graduating, so I thought I would graduate with her," said Balling.
"I think it's a little sad for him," said Kristie, a captain of the team and region champion in the 500 freestyle, of her dad's retirement. "It's what he's done for so many years. He got into it for his kids, and I'm his last kid, so it's good for him to end it with that."
"He sacrifices a lot for the swim team," she said.
Coach Balling said that he has enjoyed coaching and will continue to help as needed.
"I just like to see the difference it makes in the kids' lives. I just think that it prepares them for the future. It's certainly done that for my kids and I hope it does that for others," he said.
Mindy Meyers, who's son Josh was fourth in the 200 individual medley at region, presides over the swim Booster Club and said they were grateful for Balling.
"The thing that impresses me most about Scott is that he has the individual welfare of each child first and foremost," said Mindy. "He is so concerned about each child and what they can accomplish and gain from the program. For Scott, it's not all about wining, but, 'What can each kid do?' and 'What can they achieve?' and 'How can they excel?' "
His legacy was immortalized on the swim team's T-shirts this year. The front reads, "Chase the dream, not the competition," a quote the team said they felt encapsulated Balling's philosophy. The back of the shirt reads, "Coach Scott Balling, 10 years our coach. Forever our friend."
The Vikings will suit up for their last meet with Balling on Friday at BYU for the state championship.
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