When describing a swim coach, many may use the words “motivated” or “dedicated.” In fact, many coaches are! However, one swim coach stands apart from the rest – Robert Trotman. Coach Trotman has made it his mission to help young boys and girls become champions, both as swimmers and in life. Coach Trotman has trained children from a variety of backgrounds and neighborhoods and in doing so has provided opportunities for children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to swim. Not only does Coach Trotman have the credentials, he also has a vested interest in building the next generation of achievers and the community around him by creating and reinforcing a positive environment. Coach Trotman has passion, persistence and impact both inside and outside of the swimming pool.
With a swimming history and portfolio spanning well over 50 years, Coach Trotman first fell in love with swimming as a young child, growing up in Harlem, NY. While on vacation one summer, Coach Trotman learned to swim. Upon returning home, he joined a swim team at St. Mary’s Recreation Center in the Bronx, NY. He continued swimming throughout childhood until he was able to join his high school swim team, where he became team captain. In early adulthood, Coach Trotman worked three jobs – one of which was a lieutenant lifeguard for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation at the St. John’s Recreation Center in Brooklyn, NY. Working as a lifeguard gave Coach Trotman access to area pools, where he provided swimming lessons and training for countless children throughout impoverished inner city neighborhoods. In addition, he took the children he trained to Department of Parks and Recreation swim meets. Coach Trotman instilled a strong work ethic, both academically and in the pool, into every person child that he was blessed to instruct.
With rigorous swim meet schedules, starting as early as 5AM, and swim practices 4-5 times a week, Coach Trotman knew that swimming would keep children temptation and negative influences, simply because the children’s time was consumed with academics and swimming. Robert Trotman founded the Nu-Finmen Swim Team in 1964 to further his commitment to instructing children for competitive swimming. Within a short time, the team grew by leaps and bounds beyond its Brooklyn starting point. The Nu-Fiinmen Swim Team expanded, moving further east to the suburbs of Nassau County.
Under Coach Trotman’s intensive training, the Nu-Finmen Swim Team has broken numerous swim records, and has received recognition by the elite divisions of county, regional and national conferences and organizations. Since inception, the Nu-Finmen Swim Team has been an elite member of USA Swimming, the national governing body of swimming. Some of the team’s most decorated recognitions are:
21 Nassau County Municipal Swim Conference Championships
All-County Swimmers
All-State Swimmers
National Level Swimmers
NCAA Swimmer Awards
Coach Trotman’s personal awards and recognitions are extensive as he as been recognized in numerous media publications including Ebony, Black Sport Magazine, Swimming World Magazine, the New York Times, Newsday and the New York Daily News. In addition, Coach Trotman received the 2014 USA Swimming and Diversity Inclusion Award and the Hofstra for Hempstead Award. Furthermore, he was the first minority coach to train swimmers at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO via the Outreach Program.
