ASCA/Fitter & Faster Top 50 Age Group Coaches of the Year
Despite their immense contributions, coaches don’t always receive the recognition they deserve. It’s easy to take their unwavering commitment for granted, focusing on the athletes’ accomplishments without acknowledging the mentors who helped pave the way. There are thousands of coaches out there who deserve to be recognized for their contributions to the swimming world… and in the lives of individual swimmers.
Coaches play a profound and pivotal role in shaping the lives and futures of young swimmers with dedication and passion. Often the unsung heroes, they work behind the scenes, pouring their expertise, energy, and heart into every practice, race, and swimmer. Coaches are the ones who believe in their athletes’ potential even when the athletes themselves may have doubts. They provide the guidance, encouragement, and discipline needed to transform dreams into reality, celebrating every milestone and overcoming every setback alongside their swimmers.
Today we are proud to recognize ASCA/ Fitter & Faster’s Top 50 Age Group Coaches of the Year. The results were compiled using the USA Swimming Power Points of the top ranked 11-14 year-old swimmers for the 2023 Long Course season and 2023-24 Short Course season. Each athlete was limited to a maximum of 4 swims contributing to their coach’s total. The top 10 finalists will be announced in 2 weeks!
This evening, as you stop by the pool, take a moment to stop and appreciate your coach. A simple thank you can go a long way to let them know that their efforts are seen, valued, and appreciated. Thank you coaches!
Congratulations to the following outstanding coaches (in alphabetical order):
| Name | Club Name – LSC |
| Tara Bolivar | Suburban Seahawks Club – MA |
| Brooke Brisson | Waterloo Swimming – ST |
| Bruce Brockschmidt | Jersey Wahoos – MA |
| Danny Colvin | Tide Swimming – VA |
| Dave Crocker | Rockville Montgomery Swim Club – PV |
| Nikita Denisyako | Santa Clara Swim Club – PC |
| Jake Des Roches | Sandpipers Of Nevada – CA |
| Andrew Eckhart | Sarasota Sharks – FL |
| Hakan Eskioglu | Badger Swim Club,Inc. – MR |
| Justin Fernandez | Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club – IL |
| Carle Fierro | Westchester Aquatic Club – MR |
| Joe Finke | Saint Petersburg Aquatics – FL |
| Kristen Foley | Southwest Stars Swim Club – FL |
| Leah Foreman-Keiser | Aquajets Swim Team – MN |
| Don Garman | La Mirada Armada – CA |
| Kyle Goodrich | Central Ohio Aquatics – OH |
| Nick Graves | Lakeside Swim Team – KY |
| Tim Hable | Blazing Barracudas – LE |
| Rod Hansen | Irvine Novaquatics – CA |
| Hailey Hewitt | Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics – MR |
| Laurel Hill | Scottsdale Aquatic Club – AZ |
| Tom Himes | North Baltimore Aquatic Club – MD |
| Kyle Johnson | Carmel Swim Club – IN |
| Mike Julian | NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc – VA |
| Russ Kasl | SwimMAC Carolina – NC |
| Colin Kennedy | Cypress Fairbanks Swim Club – GU |
| Ira Klein | Sarasota Tsunami Swim Team – FL |
| Michael Lennon | Long Island Aquatic Club – MR |
| Ken Maczuga | Phoenix Swim Club – AZ |
| Dave Nehls | Phoenix Aquatic Club USA LLC – MR |
| Luke Nelson | NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc – VA |
| Rob Norman | TAC Titans – NC |
| Peter O’Donnell | Long Island Aquatic Club – MR |
| Brian Pajer | Aquazot Swim Club – CA |
| Thomas Pearson | Crow Canyon Sharks – PC |
| Alan Pfau | TAC Titans – NC |
| Luba Pohilenco | Santa Clara Swim Club – PC |
| Dale Porter | Bolles School Sharks – FL |
| Nicholas Rice | Bluefish Swim Club – NE |
| Peter Robinson | Nitro Swimming – ST |
| Nolan Rogers | DART Swimming – SN |
| Chris Schlegel | All Star Aquatics – PV |
| Katie Schmidt | Mason Manta Rays – OH |
| Jim Skirboll | Racer X Aquatics – AM |
| Jason Swaim | Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA – VA |
| David Tambuwun | Pleasanton Seahawks – PC |
| Mark Walleshauser | Chattahoochee Gold Swim Club – GA |
| Sherwood Watts | North Carolina Aquatic Club – NC |
| Joshua Wood | Club Wolverine – MI |
| Connie Wu | Stamford Sailfish Aquatic Club – CT |
