DON'S SWIM SCHOOL

Meet Coach Don

Don Hickling is a Bay Area native, born in Castro Valley with deep roots in this vibrant region. His childhood was spent in Hayward, where he graduated from Hayward High and later earned a degree in Kinesiology at Cal State Hayward (yes, it will always be Cal State Hayward to him). Don has a unique connection to the Bay Area — two sets of great-grandparents migrated here in the 1880s, settling in Oakland and San Francisco.

Over the years, Don developed a knack for connecting with people from all walks of life. His interests are vast: coaching swimming, baseball, and basketball, fitness and wellness training, education, current events, technology, philosophy, history, food, and wine — only to name a few. Whether it's coaching, skiing, cooking, or imitating cartoon characters, Don brings dedication and quality to everything he undertakes.

Don has served as a board member for a men's shelter and the Hayward Education Foundation. He's coached a swim team in San Leandro, been a ski instructor in Lake Tahoe, and has been a homeowner in the Lake Shore Area of Oakland for over 25 years. Calm, relatable, and solution-oriented — as Don would say, "What I do, I do well."

Available Schedule

Click a time slot to message Coach Don on Instagram to book

Monday – Friday  ·  3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Saturday & Sunday  ·  Morning