Posted on: Tuesday, August 27, 2002

ISLE PROFILE
Swim coach handles with care

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Joe Lileikis, a former All-America swimmer at the University of Hawai'i, uses videotape to help masters swimmers Diane Stowell and Ernie Leskovitz. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Joe Lileikis coaches more than just swimmers.

He makes it a point to help anyone, from his students at Kalani High School to his wife who just gave birth to their first child last month. It's just in his nature.

"He cares deeply about everybody," said Sui-Lan Ellsworth, who trains under Lileikis with the University of Hawai'i Masters Swimming program. "And I think that's the mark of a good coach ... It's not just a job."

Lileikis, a former All-America swimmer at UH, has headed the adult swimming program at his alma mater for 15 years, working with thousands of swimmers of all age and skill levels, from cautious beginners to fierce competitors.

The program is designed to provide adult swimmers with a supportive but challenging environment in which they can develop and hone their skills. It also serves as a booster club for UH's swimming and diving program; members, who receive training from the UH coaching staff, help out with meets, hospitality and fund-raising.

More than 100 swimmers take part in the program each month, attending any of the three daily hour-long workouts geared to improving stroke efficiency and physical conditioning.

Lileikis has also taught social studies at Kalani for 11 years, finding creative ways to make history interesting to teenagers with short attention spans.

And, forever the coach, he even rallied his wife from the sidelines, as she gave birth to a 7-pound, 9-ounce girl in July.

"It's so important to have a good coach," he said of the labor process.

He's already noticed daughter Kiara's "long toes and good-sized feet."

And, he adds, "When she doesn't want something, she has this great breaststroke push."

Lileikis has put his decades of training, competitive swimming and coaching to use, running the adult swimming program at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

"Joe has done an absolutely fantastic job with the program," said UH swim coach Mike Anderson. "I call him the Pied Piper of masters swimming. He's one of the most positive, hardest working guys I've ever met."

Lileikis won't take credit for the program's success, pointing to the swimming community's support as the secret to the program's longevity.

"It's really not about me," he repeated, obviously embarrassed about the compliment. "It's an appreciation cycle. I help them, they help me."

The swimmers, however, see it a little differently.

Ellsworth wouldn't have competed in the U.S. Masters Swimming Short-Course National Championships at UH in May had it not been for Lileikis' encouragement. And she probably wouldn't have placed second in the 500 freestyle in her first competitive event at age 55.

"He takes the time to work on my stroke, no matter how long I've been (with the program)," said Ellsworth, a retired teacher from Manoa who has been with the program since its inception. "He's motivating and he's caring."

Rick Heltzel, one of Hawai'i's standout ocean swimmers, credits Lileikis for changing his attitude about swimming and competing.

"I benefit more from his attitude and philosophy of swimming," said Heltzel, 45, who has been with the program for 15 years. "Before I used to stress myself out too much and I choked a lot in the big meets. But under Joe, psychologically I've got it together. That's where he's been the biggest influence to me."

In his first Waikiki Roughwater Swim in 1984, Heltzel won the masters division. He has since competed in nearly every race, training under Lileikis 4-to-5 times a week.

"I like Joe's enthusiasm," he continued. "He's very high energy. He's the most positive friend and person I've ever met."

Lileikis grew up in Southern California, competing in his very first meet at age 10.

After high school he was recruited by top programs, such as UCLA and Arizona, but chose UH instead, a decision he has never regretted.

"My whole mindset was to go to school and get an experience that would contribute to my education," he said.

Freestyle has always been his speciality. He excelled during his four years at UH, earning All-America honors his senior year in 1985. He was ranked as high as 10th nationally and placed third in the 100 freestyle at the nationals. He fell short of making the national team at the Olympic Trials, but that has never bothered him.

"When you train and give your best and have that attitude through every day of the season, you'll go pretty far," said Lileikis, who earned a bachelor's in economics and a master's in educational psychology from UH. "I'm really happy with what I've accomplished."

A believer in visualization, Lileikis uses imagery in coaching. To lengthen his swimmers' strokes, he encourages them to pretend they're swimming down a river. To get more rotation on their stroke, he tells them to imagine body surfing in a tube.

"You have to personally enjoy the sport yourself," Lileikis said about being a coach. "I love the feeling of the water, to be able to use different muscle groups. It gives me the ability to be creative in many ways."

And as much as he pours into the program, he gets a lot out of it. That's what keeps him coming back.

"It's an oasis out of the day," Lileikis said. "It's a golden moment. People are happy, getting exercise, they feel good. It's something you don't want to give up. If I weren't coaching, I'd be swimming there."