PC's Dan Diaz steps down after 24 years by the pool

PORT CLINTON — For Dan Diaz, it was just time. After 24 seasons leading Port Clinton's swim program, Diaz officially coached his last day Friday at the state swim meet in Canton. "I was always told that you'll know as a coach when it's time to step away, and that's kind of how I feel," Diaz said. "There's never really a good time, because there's always gonna be that next kid up." Diaz, a health and physical education teacher at PC, will continue teaching. But there'll be a new leader poolside next winter. "He's basically like our second dad," senior Kami Periat said. "I'm happy he decided to wait until we all left until he retired." Diaz's tenure in Port Clinton wound up feeling a bit like fate. He was born and grew up in Miami, Florida. Diaz wound up in Ohio originally as a swimmer recruited by Mount Union. Diaz's wife, Becky, grew up on Put-In-Bay, and they met at Mount Union. After graduation, Diaz returned home to Florida with Becky. After two seasons coaching back in Florida, Diaz knew it was time to return with his wife to her home state again. So he applied for whatever openings he could find. At Port Clinton, Ken Gipe had stepped down after three decades, just before Diaz started to look. And a quarter-century later, here Diaz is, retiring as one of the most successful coaches in school history. Diaz coached seven SBC championship teams and two district championship teams; won three coaches of the year honors in the district; and sent at least one swimmer to the state meet each of the last 22 seasons. "Everything just kind of fell into place," Diaz said. "The stars just kind of aligned. We applied basically from Port Clinton east. That's Rocky River, all the Cleveland schools, and we had an opportunity here. A lot of things could've changed." Diaz coached two girls state champions at Port Clinton. Mackenzie Stewart won the 200 IM crown in 2010, and Periat won the 100 backstroke as a junior in 2023. Periat, who swam to six finishes of third place or better in four years of qualifying for state, doesn't plan on letting Diaz avoid her even as she heads off to swim at the University of Minnesota. "I'm gonna make sure he comes to all my college swim meets no matter where they are," Periat said. "I'm gonna send him tickets. I'm holding back my tears until our banquet. That'll be the sad one." Diaz coached the youth program in Port Clinton for many years, part of what made the entire enterprise so successful. His last eight-and-under group included this year's seniors, such as Periat and Alexa Taylor. "This seemed clear cut for me, because this was the last group I coached in their eight-and-under summer league," Diaz said. "I knew when they made it to high school, it'd be a really special run." Diaz's signature look — khaki shorts, shiny bald head, sneakers and a smile — made him a welcome site at any pool for swimmers, officials, fans and journalists alike. At a recent practice, PC's swimmers dressed like Diaz as one of their ways of showing their appreciation. "He has meant everything to us," Taylor said. "He's like a second dad to me... His lessons during swim impact us during life. Teaching us to be gritty, be true to yourself, trust the process. He's just taught us a lot of life lessons and obviously trained us up pretty good in the pool." Port Clinton, now with a well-established pipeline of swimmers, will have a strong roster for a new coach to inherit. Diaz plans to help without overstepping, knowing that he can provide institutional knowledge but also wanting to allow whoever is next to leave his or her own mark. After all, Diaz still remembers well what it was like to be a new coach in Port Clinton. And it worked out pretty darn great for him. "It's been amazing," Diaz said. "It's been really fun. Just the relationship I've been able to build with (the swimmers), I feel like we've gotten closer over the years. We talk about school and colleges and movies we watch and foods we like."