What inspired you to be a coach?
My inspiration to be a coach began through my many positive experiences as a swimmer. Since an early age, I have always been a student of the sport and passionate about discovering strategies towards faster swimming. This passion was sparked even more when I first began coaching and found it equally as rewarding helping others discover and achieve their potential in the sport.

How long have you been coaching?
I have been coaching since 2010.

Can you share a bit of your background in the sport?
I was fortunate to grow up 5 minutes from a world class aquatic facility and that paved the way for me to begin swimming competitively at 4-years old. As I committed more to the sport, I found success as a youth swimmer that allowed me to swim collegiately for two nationally renowned programs. In college, I was a part of Auburn University’s 2007 National Championship team before transferring to the University of Michigan. While at Michigan, I was part of their Big-10 championship teams where I was an NCAA Division 1 All-American and team record holder. It was during my college years where I also qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials. Both programs exposed me to some of the most renowned coaches and athletes in the world.

After graduating from the University of Michigan with Bachelor of Science in Movement Science, I coached for two nationally prominent club programs (King Aquatic Club & Tualatin Hills Swim Club). While coaching at these programs, I coached athletes of all levels of the sport including Olympic Trials, National Age Group Record Holders, and many who were recruited to compete collegiately. During this time, I was selected to attend the National Select Camp as a Coach and was a nominee for ASCA Age Group Coach of the year.

What is your coaching philosophy?
My coaching philosophy prioritizes team unity and team goals while recognizing the individuality of each athlete’s progression. By working as a team, individuals can gain a more fulfilling experience through the sport and achieve much more than if they were training alone. Through their experiences as teammates, athletes can learn many life lessons that can assist them into adulthood and other aspect of their lives.

In terms of my philosophy towards training and performance, my favorite quote is “Whether you believe you can or cannot, you are right.” That belief in oneself is reinforced through smart hard work where practice is deliberate and challenging. In my practices, I strongly emphasize a focus on technique and individual awareness of one’s actions. Training and work should be directed in a way that is purposeful.

What is your role in a young person's life?
As a coach for youth swimmers, my role is to provide mentorship and guidance in an athletes’ life through the sport of swimming. This includes educating and teaching the athlete about how to improve within the sport and as a teammate. Likewise, my role is to hold the athletes accountable for their actions as they relate to their individual goals and team goals.  I also believe that as a coach, I have a unique opportunity to inspire the athletes by helping them evolve their strategies and reveal more of their potential.

Can you speak to a rewarding experience you have had in coaching?
My most rewarding coaching experiences relate to helping athletes overcome limitations and seeing them believe in their greater potential.

What does success mean to you?
Simply put, success means growth. I believe that success occurs when we learn from every experience in a way that makes us better. This can include time drops at meets, friendships, and lessons that can be applied to other aspects of our lives. Ultimately, I subscribe to the concept that every experience can yield positive results if we allow ourselves to learn and grow from our experiences.

What are your goals for the team?
My goal for our team is to establish a culture of commitment, excellence, and greatness that allows the sport of swimming to become a positive experience for every AC Swimmer regardless of their level performance. Moreover, I want a familial sense of pride for our club that grows with time through new achievements and expanding on our past achievements. These achievements include contributions to our community and the growth of the sport in our area. Furthermore, I want AC Swimmers to achieve successes within the sport that allow them to represent AC at local, state, national, and international levels.

What is your favorite Petaluma restaurant?
My favorite restaurant in Petaluma is Sol Food. I love the Cubano!