As the winter sports season winds down, one winter head coach has been nominated for an award. Head boys and girls varsity swimming coach Doug Krecklow has been nominated to be the National Swimming Coach of the Year.

This award is given annually by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

“The goal of this program is to promote high school athletics [and] provide professional services to member coaches while providing opportunities for all high school coaches,” Krecklow said.

The program strives to promote teamwork, sportsmanship and a healthy environment for not only the athletes but the coaches as well.

Krecklow said nominations for the award are anonymous, but he believes he was nominated for this award due to his involvement with the National Federation Rules Committee.

Krecklow has been coaching for a total of 45 years. During those 45 years he has coached a number of different programs and teams. These programs and teams include a club team in Ames, Iowa, Wayne State College, Penn State University, Happy Hollow Country Club in Omaha, Swim Omaha, and then finally, Westside. Krecklow has coached Westside to a total of 20 state championships — eleven boys and nine girls — with the most recent state championship coming from the girls team in 2012 when it won the state title in addition to having individual winners in the 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and 200-yard freestyle relay.

Last year there was a question as to whether Krecklow would return this year, as he decided to retire as the aquatics director at Westside. After further discussion among the Westside administration, he was allowed back as head coach.

“I came to the conclusion that my love for Westside and the history we are all a part of was just too important to leave,” Krecklow said. “I truly believe I was destined to coach at Westside. I just couldn’t imagine coaching anywhere else.”