Alex Dawson Joins KSC as Performance Coach (Fall 2026)
The 2026-2027 season will mark a new era for the Killarney Swim Club. Under Head Coach Brad Mori’s vision, the team will introduce a new coaching structure designed to elevate performance and athlete development. A dedicated Performance Coach will lead Killarney’s top swimmers onto the international stage.
Coach Mori explains the advantages for both swimmers and the club:
“The Performance Coach will prioritize athlete development and pure coaching. This role allows for renewed energy, creative practice planning, and a highly engaging coaching style. The Performance Coach will build a strong athlete–coach partnership through shared competitive and training experiences, both domestically and internationally. These experiences will then be shared with the Head Coach and staff, allowing Killarney to continuously evolve.”
Traditionally, a club’s top coach also serves as Head Coach, a role that comes with significant administrative and boardroom responsibilities. This new structure allows the Performance Coach to focus exclusively on high-performance sport, free from those demands.
While the Performance Coach and athletes travel internationally in pursuit of medals and excellence, the Head Coach will remain close to home. This ensures that KSC continues to operate at a high level, with all members benefiting from Coach Mori’s leadership, experience, and presence.
Drum Roll...
The Killarney Swim Club is proud to announce Alex Dawson as KSC's Performance Coach!
Dawson brings over a decade of high-performance coaching experience, most recently serving as Head Coach of the Grand Prairie Piranhas (GPP). During his tenure, Alex established a culture of excellence built on vision, planning, commitment, loyalty, passion, and an exceptional work ethic—values that strongly align with KSC.
A standout feature of Dawson’s coaching journey has been the unique father/son and coach/athlete partnership with his son, Oliver Dawson. Together, they have achieved remarkable success on the international stage. Last summer, both represented Canada at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where Oliver (17), a breaststroke specialist, contributed to a bronze medal in the Mixed Medley Relay. The duo also attended the World Aquatics Junior Championships in Budapest.
At the Canadian Swimming Trials, Oliver delivered a historic performance, sweeping the breaststroke events while breaking both Provincial and National Records.
Their success has been widely recognized:
• Alex Dawson was named Swimming Canada Male Junior Coach of the Year
• Oliver Dawson earned Junior Male Swimmer of the Year and Breakout Swimmer of the Year
Additional career highlights for Alex Dawson include:
• Head Coach, Grand Prairie Piranhas (10+ years)
• Coach, Canadian Junior National Team (multiple seasons)
• Developed multiple Provincial and National Record holders
• Coached athletes to international podium finishes
• Proven track record in long-term athlete development
• Recognized leader in high-performance program building
• Mentor to emerging coaches within the Canadian swimming system
• Extensive experience in international competition environments
Coach Mori shared his excitement: “I am so thrilled to welcome Alex to the Killarney family. Teaming up with Alex is going to be a lot of fun. I’m excited to see what our shared mindset, passion, and values can achieve. Go KSC Go!”