Recruitment letter from Baylor University to Mark Rauterkus

Ideal situation at Baylor, letter from Dr. Richard Couey

Letter on OU Bobcat letterhead from Mark Rauterkus to Swimming World

Bob Ingram, Editor
Swimming World and Junior Swimmer
PO Box 45497
Los Angeles, California 90045

Dear Mr. Ingram,

Run. "No thanks coach. I like the water. It protects me when I trip."

A socialized water wizard thrives chlorinate stench, broad shoulders and the arrival of the latest time standard. These youngsters seem to be bred for water with gills, fins and bleach-blond hair. And, gold-medal-swimming attitudes make swimmers believe that the best and only way to supplement a swim program is with more swimming -- not running.

Beginning an enthusiastic running program takes trickery, security, challenges and a multi-million-dollar contingency contract. 

Coaches fail to realize this and do not prepare for the dry-land sessions. Many coaches have started their teams with running but have quit because it does not come naturally. Vital originality and spunk is needed to keep a fish out of the water. 

In an article on my program, I can explain a three season plan. It has the coach's reasoning, methods and results. Swimmers response and black-and-white photos are possible. The well incorporated scheme gets the most out of a running swim team.

I have coached with the Ohio University men, Athens Swim Club Otters, Bernal's Gator Swim Club, Greater Pittsburgh Swim Club and some summer clubs. 

Does this idea interest you? I will be looking for your reaction. 

Sincerely,

Mark Rauterkus
345 West State
Athens, Ohio 45701
614- (athletics)

614- (pool)

Looking at UNC for grad school -- letters 1 and 2

From December 1981.

Then the second is from January, 1982.

I'd go to Baylor University instead.

UNC had some nice majors to consider.

Old school paper from a coaching course, vintage 1981 or 1982

My Goals as a Coach

By Mark Rauterkus, from 1982 Coach Course at Ohio University

I have strong feelings that coaching, like all of athletics, is influenced by luck. The luck involved in coaching is related to finding the proper coaching setting that best suits the coaching style, philosophy and needs.

Most of my coaching goals revolve around the perfect coaching situation. It is somewhat of a challenge to be hired by a special team who will welcome the coach with open arms, open checkbooks and with no strings attached.

When I find that great job, I’d be able to be established for the long-term project of developing the team and the athletes. My teams are driven hard toward success. Success needs identification, and my teams have personal and team goals.

One of my goals is to be the best in my state, association or conference. Some coaches I know have higher goals. They want to be a contender on the national level. They drive their swimmers to international goals. I feel this is like hitting your head against a wall. A coach can not make the best swimmers in the world. A coach can make the best swimmers in the state.

Most people, given a great coach and years of work, can contribute to a team effort at the state level of competition.

My last goal, once I get established in the ideal position which is breeding winner after winner, is to enjoy it. I want to have fun coaching. I wonder about coaching burn-out and boredom. I realize that doing the right job at coaching is a hard task that never quits.

To help me cope, I’ll need to have a good source of recovery and recreation at the end of the season and at the end of each day. Coaching is so intense that I will have to blow-off steam in other areas.

Another reason for better mental health and satisfying recreation is to save the ego from poolside failures . A coach can not win all the time. Sometimes a coach is so tied to the team that a loss is damaging to the individual. Other reinforcers to help bolster the identity and ego are important for long-term happiness in the coaching profession.

At this time I am too young to know where these other satisfactions will be derived from. I have always been one to have a few projects developing on the sidelines.

For the not so distant future, I would like to work on a full-time basis in a productive program. It is time for me to live off of my coaching income. I have developed my coaching skills and lived like a slave all my life. Now I am in the process of marketing my skills in an attempt to garner a regular paycheck. I am not interested in any further employment for the sake of "experience" rather than fInancial support.

Some of the most attractive jobs for the next few years are at the university level. In a campus setting I could coach most of the time and still be around the books in case I should feel the urge to read.

Who knows what the future holds? 

Like I said at the top of the paper, Luck is important. 

The harder I work,the luckier I get.