How Patriot Swim School Reduced Admin Time by 75%

‍

Meet Russ Eidman: A Lifelong Coach & Relentless Builder

Russ Eidman’s coaching career spans over three decades and multiple states—from the Northwest to Southern California, Georgia, and now North Central Texas. Across all those years and geographies, one thing remained consistent: Russ’s love for building something from the ground up.

Russ has seen nearly every model of swim team operations. From YMCA-based teams and city-run programs to large club systems and coach-owned startups, his experience spans the entire spectrum. But his heart has always been with small-town swim teams. Why? Because that’s where the need is greatest and the opportunity most meaningful.

“I’ve coached at just about every kind of team: board-run, coach-owned, rec-based, facility-based, from 25 kids to hundreds. Every version of the sport teaches you something new.”

While Russ has produced Junior Nationals qualifiers, #1-ranked age-groupers, and even masters swimmers who broke world records, his true passion lies in developing character through coaching.

“I’ve coached kids from age 10 all the way through 18. That kind of long-term coaching relationship is rare—and incredibly fulfilling.”

Russ’s purpose has always been bigger than podiums. He sees coaching as an opportunity to positively shape the next generation and build strong communities, especially in small towns where programs are often fragile or nonexistent.

Russ has made a career of starting programs from scratch or reviving ones on the brink of collapse. In towns where swimming had all but disappeared, he’s brought it back and made it thrive. He credits his success not just to experience, but to adaptability:

“When you don’t have a steady stream of elite swimmers coming through the door, you have to get creative. You have to innovate. That’s where the best coaching happens.”

After navigating the challenges of board-run teams and inconsistent administrative support, Russ became a strong advocate for coach-owned models. He believes that giving coaches ownership, both literally and operationally, is the key to sustainable, impactful swim programs.

“Too many great coaches leave the sport because they can’t make it work financially. Coach-owned programs, paired with tools like Captyn, can change that.”

‍

🇺🇸 From Base to Backyard: The Evolution of Patriot Swim School

The story of Patriot Swim School begins not in Texas, but in the desert of Las Vegas, Nevada at Nellis Air Force Base, where Russ Eidman first launched the original Patriot Swim Team and Swim School.

A proud U.S. Army veteran, Russ drew inspiration for the name “Patriot” from his service background and his deep appreciation for the country. Starting a program on a military base made the name feel especially fitting.

“We’re a patriotic family, and launching a program on an Air Force base just made the name ‘Patriot’ the obvious choice.”

At Nellis, the program served both dependents and active duty families, navigating logistical hurdles like background checks and limited access to base facilities. Despite those constraints, Russ built a competitive and community-driven program that left a lasting impact.

Eventually, Russ and his wife felt the pull to return to their roots.

“We wanted to raise our daughter the way we grew up—on land, in a small town, with a lifestyle that’s grounded in community, self-reliance, and connection.”

They moved to Springtown, Texas, a rural town about 40 minutes outside of Fort Worth, and purchased a piece of property to finally put down permanent roots.

At first, Russ returned to coaching for other organizations. But after sensing instability in the team he was working with, he listened to his gut and started drawing up plans to bring Patriot back.

This time, not on a military base… but in his own front yard.

Between June 2021 and April 2022, Russ dug and built a 25-yard pool, constructed a bathhouse, and launched a full swim school program—all with less than $50,000 in upfront costs. Today, that home-built school generates over $200,000/year in revenue, and serves hundreds of young swimmers each season.

🛠️ Want to see how Russ built an entire swim school in his front yard for under $50,000?

👉 Download the Slide Deck from ASCA World Clinic 2025 (PDF)

‍

Business Built with Intention

Patriot Swim School is structured for sustainability:

• Classes are 30 minutes, 2x per week, billed at $200/month
  
  
• Up to 40 classes per week during peak summer months
  
  
• Max class size is 4 swimmers
  
  
• The 2023 and 2024 seasons each produced six-figure gross revenues, with high reinvestment into facility upgrades (decking, insulation, signage, etc.)
  
  

Russ’s commitment to excellence shows in the details—hand-built tot docks, custom-finished facilities, and a deeply personalized approach to coaching and instruction.

‍

Captyn: Fueling the Operational Backbone

As Russ scaled his program, Captyn became the essential tool that helped it run smoothly. Before Captyn, managing a growing swim school was overwhelming. “With TeamUnify, I spent more time behind a screen than on deck. Captyn flipped that,” Russ says.

Key benefits of using Captyn for Patriot Swim School:

• Reduced admin overhead: Scheduling, billing, and communication are fully automated
  
  
• Improved student/parent experience: Easier registration and updates
  
  
• Time reclaimed: More energy devoted to teaching and coaching, less to spreadsheets and systems
  
  

“Now I spend my time coaching, not chasing down invoices or fixing spreadsheets.”

‍

Advice for Coaches: Think Small to Grow Big

Russ is now an advocate for small-team coaches reclaiming their independence. Through his ASCA talks, he’s encouraged others to build “minimum viable pools” (MVPs) and embrace an entrepreneurial path in aquatics.

“If you can be successful in a town where people vacation, why wouldn’t you do it? You don’t need a $30 million facility to change lives. You need one lane, a purpose, and the right system.”

Since implementing Captyn, Patriot Swim School has seen transformative results across every area of operations. Russ estimates a 75% reduction in administrative workload, allowing him to spend significantly more time coaching and growing the program rather than managing backend tasks. This operational efficiency has supported substantial growth—from $174,000 in revenue in 2023 to over $208,000 in 2024. Captyn also made seasonal schedule adjustments seamless, enabling Russ to easily transition between school-year and summer formats without disruption. Most importantly, the platform empowered him to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality swim instruction and scaling a mission-driven business—not getting buried in spreadsheets.

‍

Conclusion

Captyn hasn’t just been a tool for Russ, it’s been a turning point. By reducing friction in his day-to-day operations and giving him back control of his time, it’s allowed him to build something meaningful, sustainable, and scalable without sacrificing his values or quality of life. When asked to sum up his experience with the platform, Russ didn’t hesitate:

“Captain makes my life easier. That's what I like about it.”

For coaches looking to reclaim their time, grow their programs, and serve their communities with purpose, Russ Eidman and Patriot Swim School are proof that it’s not only possible, it’s happening. And with Captyn, it can happen for you, too.

‍