Coach Helps Students
Dive Toward Success
Melissa Soileau brings passion to lessons at the pool and in
the classroom.
Melissa Soileau joined Frisco ISD
six years ago with a goal of helping stu-
dents maximize their potential in diving.
But knowing she would be coaching ath-
letes from all of the District’s high schools,
Soileau decided something else would be
just as important.
“They’re all from different high schools,
from different backgrounds and from ev-
erywhere around Frisco ISD,” she said. “I
wanted all these kids to come together
and become a family.”
The coach, who is also a seventh-grade
science teacher at Fowler Middle School,
has succeeded with both of her goals.
During her first five seasons as FISD’s
only diving coach, Soileau helped produce
17 University Interscholastic League (UIL)
state qualifiers and was twice named
32 | FOCUS
Diving Coach of the Year by the Texas
Interscholastic Swimming Coaches
Association (TISCA).
Soileau deflects credit for that success
to the divers, who she said are amazing
athletes who know how to “take it to the
next level.” But the coach has created a
supportive, family environment that helps
the high school divers strive for the next
level when they practice together at the
Bruce Eubanks Natatorium.
“She is so much more than just a div-
ing coach,” said Reedy High School senior
Jameson Crandell, who was a state qual-
ifier last year. “I think she really takes the
time to get invested in your life.”
“It’s her compassion,” added Centennial
High School junior Harrison Kaster, anoth-
er 2017 state qualifier. “She just under-
stands how you’re feeling, whether you’re
worried about a dive or something else.”
Soileau, who was a diver for the
University of North Texas, taught elemen-
tary school in Lewisville ISD before jump-
ing at the opportunity to coach and teach
in FISD. She and her husband, Shawn,
have a 6-year-old daughter (Kendall) and
a 2-year-old son (Conner).
“I have a lot of support from my hus-
band and my kids,” Soileau said. “They
come and watch the diving meets and
they cheer me on and cheer on the divers.
We make it a family affair.”
Each weekday practice lasts about two
hours and includes extensive stretching
to increase flexibility, which is critical to
success in the sport. Divers do drills on
the deck and on the boards, and before
attempting a new dive, they learn it over
a trampoline. The divers are secured in
a spotting belt to ensure their safety,
but learning any new skill requires some
encouragement, and Soileau is there to
provide it.
She enjoys watching students learn,
whether they are at the natatorium work-
ing on a dive or at Fowler absorbing a les-
son about science. In both cases, Soileau
nurtures a growth mindset to help the stu-
dents expand their knowledge and skills.
“I’ve always loved science because you
can explore and you can find things out
and it’s okay to be wrong,” Soileau said,
“because even when you’re wrong, you
learn something.” n
Melissa Soileau, a seventh-grade
science teacher and Frisco ISD’s only
diving coach, instructs athletes at the
Bruce Eubanks Natatorium.