Get to Know Our Coaches: Scott Caron

With more than 20 years of coaching experience in Central Florida, Coach Scott Caron brings an impressive combination of competitive swimming knowledge, program leadership, and a genuine passion for helping young athletes grow, both in and out of the water, to the Winter Park Blue Dolfins.

Growing Up a Strong Competitor

Scott grew up in Largo, Florida, swimming for West Florida Lightning Aquatics. A consistent state-level competitor, he qualified for the Florida High School State Championships all four years of high school as well as Junior Nationals. He was also a member of the 15–16 boys 200 medley relay that set a Florida state record that stood for many years.

Scott’s Coaching Career

Scott attended the University of Florida, earning a degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. Although he chose not to compete collegiately, Gainesville is where his coaching career began. After first getting a taste of coaching with the summer league program of his childhood club, Scott served as an assistant with two Gainesville-area club teams before becoming head coach of the North Central Florida YMCA swim team.

That launched a coaching career that has now spanned more than two decades and virtually every level of competitive swimming.

Scott spent 12 years with Patriot Aquatics as Head Age Group Coach, where his teams consistently finished among the Top 10 at the Florida Age Group Championships. During his tenure, Patriot swimmers set individual and relay state records and earned national rankings.

He later served for six years as Head Coach and Aquatics Director for Silver Hawk Aquatics and Lake Howell High School. There, Scott oversaw not only competitive swimming but the entire aquatics program, including swim lessons, summer camps, and outside group usage. Under his leadership, Silver Hawk Aquatics grew to more than 100 swimmers and produced numerous FLAGS, Senior Championship, Sectional, and High School State qualifiers.

Most recently, Scott served as the high school and head club coach at Trinity Preparatory School before joining the Winter Park Blue Dolfins.

Swim Coach Successes

Throughout his career, Scott has coached athletes to success at YMCA National Championships, Junior Nationals, and the U.S. Olympic Trials. His swimmers have earned High School All-American honors, set YMCA national records, been named Florida Swimmer of the Year, and continued their swimming careers at the collegiate level.

Scott is an American Swimming Coaches Association Level 4 certified coach and serves on the Florida Swimming Board of Directors as Age Group Chairman. He is also a past president of the Florida Swim Coaches Association. His additional honors and appointments include serving as an assistant coach at the 2001 USA Swimming Select Distance Camp, coaching Florida Zone teams in 1999 and 2005, receiving the ASCA Award of Excellence in 2002, and speaking at the Eastern Coaches Clinic in 2003.

Scott’s Philosophy

Despite having coached athletes from beginners all the way to the Olympic Trials, Scott has discovered that some of his most meaningful work happens much earlier in a swimmer's journey. He says, “I have truly found a passion for coaching younger kids and helping them through their middle school years.”

As Head Coach of the Blue Dolfins Junior Group, Scott focuses on creating a competitive and positive training environment while maintaining a keen eye on stroke technique and long-term development. He will also work alongside the Blue Dolfins coaching staff across other training groups, develop a summer league program for Winter Park swimmers, and lead the Blue Dolfins lesson programs.

His philosophy for his swimmers—and himself—is refreshingly simple: “Always do your best, be honest with yourself, and enjoy the experience.”

For Scott, coaching is about much more than times on a scoreboard. He loves watching young people improve, gain confidence, navigate challenges, and discover what they are capable of doing.

Most of all, he values the relationships built along the way.

Scott is the proud father of two children, Grace and Hunter.