Readers' Choice: The Face of Coaching in RSM

When Patch launched its coaches poll, it wasn't looking for a "best" coach, or a "greatest" coach, but it went looking for someone who embodied the best elements of coaching.

It went looking for someone who did things right, and had an impact on the young athletes who were touched by the relationship.

Rich Blanc and his brother Ron Blanc are, by readers' choice, the collective face of coaching in Rancho Santa Margarita. They are co-head coaches of the aquatics program at Santa Margarita Catholic.

Their swimming program has more than 140 athletes in it. They run a no-cut program, which means every athlete who tries out for the team makes the team. And, it should be pointed out, they win.

A lot.

According to the school, the boys' and girls' teams had a combined dual meet record of 196-64-2 coming into this season and have won 60 of 72 possible team league titles. They have coached 33 All-Americans, and 190 who received All-Southern Section honors. The girls' program has won 12 straight league titles, and last season the boys' team went undefeated for the first time.

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The Blancs, both of them Ladera Ranch residents, have guided the Santa Margarita program for 15 years. As reader Laura Cook wrote, "They not only teach swimming, but also teach and model how to be a better person with responsibility, honesty and intergrity. SM swimmers never exit the pool until the last swimmer in their heat has finished. SM swimmers pick up trash at the end of a meet whether at our pool or as guests of another school. SM swimmers congratulate their opponent for a good race regardless of who won."

Another reader, Heather Davis Fecarotta, said, "These student athletes are taught respect, ethics, great sportsmanship and integrity."

What's impressive among the comments about Rich, who teaches economics, and Ron, who is the admissions director, is that few focused on the actual swimming but instead focused on the overall development of each athlete's full potential as a person.

The Brothers Blanc received 41 percent of , significantly outdistancing runner-up Richard Schaaf, who is the athletic director at Santa Margarita but who previously coached the girls' basketball team for 11 years. He garnered 24 percent of the votes.

Schaaf said the Blancs deserved the award: "They're great guys."

Mike Gibson, the swim/water polo coach at Tesoro, claimed 12 percent, and Santa Magarita ice hockey coach Craig Johnson had seven percent.