This isn’t a summer job to bridge the time between school years. This is his new life.
Flower Mound’s renowned swimming coach built a legacy with his program. For six of his seven seasons, there were at least three teams or swimmers representing the school at the Class 5A state meet and about 20 swimmers went to Division I, II or III college programs.
Kiplinger, 30, wanted more. He turned in his key when the school year ended on June 5 and began working for the Dallas Police Department. By this time next year, he should be close to being ready to work as a police officer.
Instead of making the difference in the lives of young people, he’s working his way toward making a difference in the lives of many people.
"If I didn’t coach or teach, I probably would have been doing this," Kiplinger said. "But I was getting to a point where if I didn’t make the move, I was going to regret it."
Everything pointed to Kiplinger making the career change. His best friend while growing up in California is now an undercover narcotics agent. Several parents of swimmers were in other kinds of law enforcement, including an old swimming club president who was an IRS criminal investigator.
Kiplinger initially thought about going the federal route. But he learned he was an underqualified candidate because he didn’t have a college degree in law enforcement. His is in education. He also didn’t have any law enforcement work on his resume.
So he began the process with the Dallas Police Department in January, when he filled out an online application. Between that, the background checks, the mental and physical tests and the interviews, Kiplinger and his wife Tracey kept talking about this becoming reality.
"All she wanted was for me to be happy," Kiplinger said. "She was totally supportive in this. But until I was accepted in mid-May, I also had to keep checking myself to make sure this is what I really wanted. It always came back to yes."
Few knew this change was coming. Kiplinger had to keep it silent. He first told his captains and then told the rest of the team three weeks before the school year ended. A mixture of shock, sorrow and support greeted the news.
Think of it from the kids’ perspective. They had been with Kiplinger ever since they were in elementary school, when he was coaching for the Lakeside Aquatics Club. Now, they are losing a coach and a close friend.
Leaving school and coaching is the easy part. There could be a place for Kiplinger to return if he ever decides police work isn’t for him. For now, he doesn’t see that.
Leaving the relationships is the difficult part. From time to time, he will see his swimmers, but it won’t be the same.
Kiplinger’s road starts in the police department doing clerical work. He will then move on to the academy in south Dallas for 32 weeks beginning July 9. Kiplinger will spend another 24 weeks in the field, training with a senior field officer.
Should everything go well, he will be protecting and serving the citizens of Dallas. And he’ll eventually return to the University of North Texas to finish working on his master’s degree in criminal justice.
If there was any last-minute hesitation about doing this, it fizzled when he went on his June 7 ride along. He witnessed his patrol unit deal with a three-car accident, aid a homeless person and attempt to calm a couple of domestic disputes.
"It was blast," Kiplinger said. "It was everything I hoped it would be. I just know this is what I want to do."
What more can anyone ask?