Rose takes the reins for Moorpark swim teams
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

After struggling the past few years, Moorpark High is hoping that recently hired aquatics coach Garrett Rose can lead the Musketeers in the right direction.

Besides coaching the past two years for Conejo Simi Aquatics (CSA), Rose has previously coached as an assistant for the University of Minnesota, where he also swam before graduating in 1991.

During his sophomore, junior and senior years as a Gopher, Rose was a state finalist. Now he's hoping he can teach that same kind of success to the kids at Moorpark.

Rose will bring along his fellow coach from CSA, Peter Fulks, to work with the staff at Moorpark. Although the swim season doesn't start until Feb.19, Rose couldn't be happier about his new position.

"Peter and I are really excited about this opportunity," Rose said. "It will be a good challenge for us, but I know we will do a good job."

Rose replaces Peter Daland Jr., who had held the MHS job since 1999. Rose found out about the position two months ago following a chance meeting with one of the parents in the CSAYL.

"I was coaching the Conejo Simi team, and one of the parents came up to me and mentioned that Moorpark High School just had a position open up," Rose said. "She said she thought I would be good for the job and should check it out.

"The next day I went over to Moorpark and Rob Dearborn's office. I had never met him before, but he must have been impressed because I got the job a few days later."

Although Rose has a good history in swimming, he's spent the past few years out of the coaching business, working in the funeral industry. Rose has a Bachelor of Arts degree in mortuary science.

While working in a San Diego funeral home, Rose met his wife, Alma. The married couple has two kids, 10 Aislin and 8 Jaelin.

Rose believes the lessons he learned from his coach at Minnesota, Dan Schneider, have never gone away and will help him be a good coach at Moorpark.

"He taught me dedication and how to be a successful Division I swimmer," Rose said. "Not only was he a good coach, but he is also a good friend. He knew how to turn the 'coach-friend' switch on and off very well.

"He also taught me the values of athletic vs. academic. If you can't do both and be successful, you won't swim. I know that athletics is very big, but I will encourage all the kids to get very good grades."

Rose said he's very excited about working with the kids, who he met for the first time at a parents' meeting this week.

"The main thing I want to teach the kids is consistency," Rose said. "I expect them to come to practice every day and not only be there physically, but mentally as well.

"There may be a couple years of transition with the kids having to get used to the system. I do want to raise the status of Moorpark as one of the best teams in the league, and I think it's something that will happen eventually."