Coach Dusty Mattison is the highly-regarded head coach of the University of Wisconsin’s Lightweight Rowing program. We met at the Porter Boathouse, where she described

1. Lessons she learned from her background in swimming;

2. Teaching “the basics;”

3. The importance of everyday steadiness;

4. Some of her key organizational strategies;

5. Her “practice binder” – and the down-to-the-minute practice plans that she develops;

6. Why she utilizes email instead of apps for team communication;

7. Her use of a “daily focus” for each practice session;

8. Why she pumps music during early morning practice sessions;

9. How organization at home affects her coaching;

10. Developing a balance between coaching and family life;

11. Finding the balance between technology and old-school work in training;

12. Encouraging athletes to develop life skills;

13. Weekly check-ins with individual athletes.

Lauren Araiza, ‘To March for Others: The United Farm Workers and the Black Freedom Movement’ (U. of Pennsylvania Press, 2014)