Celebrating the Coaches Behind the Next Generation of Fast Swimmers
For the past 15 years, Fitter & Faster has proudly sponsored the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA), recognizing the critical role that swim coaches play in developing athletes, building character, and growing the sport. We’re thrilled to continue that tradition in 2025 by honoring the TOP 25 AGE GROUP COACHES OF THE YEAR—a celebration of exceptional coaching across small, medium, and large swim teams.
This year marks an exciting change: for the first time, three separate Fitter & Faster ASCA Age Group Coach of the Year awards will be presented—one for each team size category. This new structure allows for even more meaningful recognition of the impact coaches make, no matter the size of their program.
The top 25 coaches were selected using a comprehensive dataset provided by USA Swimming’s data scientists. The list includes coaches of swimmers ages 10–14 who achieved qualifying time standards during the 2024 Long Course and 2024–25 Short Course seasons. Coaches of record were identified for each of these high-performing athletes to create the 2025 rankings.
The winners will be revealed live on September 2, 2025, during the opening night of the ASCA World Clinic at the Peppermill Reno Resort. Fitter & Faster is proud to present the awards and celebrate the coaches who help young swimmers thrive.
To learn more about the ASCA World Clinic, visit www.ascaworldclinic.com.
Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees—we are inspired by your dedication to the sport and to the athletes you serve!
TOP 5 AGE GROUP COACHES OF 2025
Announced July 16, 2025
Large Teams (>401 Athletes)
Rod Hansen –Irvine Novaquatics – CA
Mike Julian – NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc – VA
Russ Kasl – SwimMAC Carolina – NC
Mike Mahroum – SwimAtlanta – GA
Peter O’Donnell – Long Island Aquatic Club – MR
Medium Teams (200-400 Athletes)
John Alaimo – Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics – MR
Tony Carroll – Club Wolverine – MI
Kristen Foley – Southwest Stars Swim Club – FL
Tom Himes – North Baltimore Aquatic Club – MD
Brian Pajer – Aquazot Swim Club – CA
Small Teams (<200 Athletes)
Chris Fay – Northern KY Clippers Swimming – KY
Don Heidary – Orinda Aquatics – PC
Jim Skirboll – Racer X Aquatics – AM
Ronson Webster – Supernova Swim Team – MI
Connie Wu – Stamford Sailfish Aquatic Club – CT
TOP 25 AGE GROUP COACHES OF 2025
Small Teams (less than 200 athletes)
| Coach | Team Name – LSC |
| Anna Abakumova | Clifton Boys & Girls Club -Seahawks – NJ |
| Will Barker | Champaign Cnty YMCA – IL |
| Dragos Coca | Twisters Swim Club – MR |
| Matt Cox | Germantown Academy Aquatic Club – MA |
| Chris Fay | Northern KY Clippers Swimming – KY |
| Long Gutierrez Feng | Crow Canyon Sharks – PC |
| Brennan Gravley | Hydro Swim Club – FL |
| Rick Guenther | Corvallis Aquatic Team – OR |
| Don Heidary | Orinda Aquatics – PC |
| Andrew Marsh | Surge Aquatics – ST |
| Alex Nowjack | King Aquatic Club – PN |
| Kevin Pan | Dragon Swim Team – PV |
| Nick Rice | Bluefish Swim Club – NE |
| Alex Roberts | Life Time Southeast – SE |
| Paul Root | Arizona Dolphins – AZ |
| Thomas Schwingen | Patriot Aquatic Club – IL |
| Jim Skirboll | Racer X Aquatics – AM |
| Gabriela Sofia | Highlands Ranch Aquatics – CO |
| Gwen Sorensen | Des Moines Swimming Federation – IA |
| Ronson Webster | Supernova Swim Team – MI |
| Patrick Wenzel | Allegheny North Swim Club – AM |
| Ryan Woodruff | Lynchburg YMCA Swim Team – VA |
| Connie Wu | Stamford Sailfish Aquatic Club – CT |
| Kevin Zakrzewski | Patriot Aquatic Club – IL |
| Jen Yingjuan Zhen | Whitewaters Swimming – NJ |
Medium Teams (201-400 athletes)
| Coach | Team Name |
| Brian Pajer | Aquazot Swim Club – CA |
| John Alaimo | Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics – MR |
| Dwight Anderson | Bellevue Club Swim Team – PN |
| Joshua Billotte | North Coast Aquatics – SI |
| JB Bruenning | Sarasota Sharks – FL |
| Tony Carroll | Club Wolverine – MI |
| Frank DeMaria | Blue Tide Aquatics – GU |
| Andrew Eckhart | Sarasota Sharks – FL |
| Justin Fernandez | Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club – IL |
| Carle Fierro | Westchester Aquatic Club – MR |
| Kristen Foley | Southwest Stars Swim Club – FL |
| Kyle Goodrich | Central Ohio Aquatics – OH |
| Tom Himes | North Baltimore Aquatic Club – MD |
| Ira Klein | Sarasota Tsunami Swim Team – FL |
| Emmanuel Lanzo | Ridgefield Aquatic Club – CT |
| Deryl Leubner | FMC Aquatic – IL |
| Joe Loftus | Pleasanton Seahawks – PC |
| Pedro Pereira | Bellevue Club Swim Team – PN |
| Kian Quigley | Parkway Swim Club – OZ |
| Franz Resseguie | Tualatin Hills Swim Club – OR |
| Andreas Roestenberg | New Jersey Race Club – NJ |
| Jason Swaim | Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA – VA |
| David Tambuwun | San Ramon Valley Aquatics – PC |
| Graham Thatcher | 757 Swim – VA |
| Joey Waldorf | NASA Wildcat Aquatics – IL |
Large Teams (greater than 400 athletes)
| Coach | Team Name |
| Mikaela Bagley | Minnetonka Swim Club – MN |
| Richard Barth | Alto Swim Club – PC |
| Allison Brol | Nitro Swimming – ST |
| Michael Casper | Lakeside Swim Team – KY |
| Joe Finke | Saint Petersburg Aquatics – FL |
| Dave Greene | Rockville Montgomery Swim Club – PV |
| Rod Hansen | Irvine Novaquatics – CA |
| David Jimenez | Rose Bowl Aquatics – CA |
| Kyle Johnson | Carmel Swim Club – IN |
| Mike Julian | NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc – VA |
| Russ Kasl | SwimMAC Carolina – NC |
| Nick Kulick | Occoquan Swimming – PV |
| Ken Maczuga | Phoenix Swim Club – AZ |
| Mike Mahroum | SwimAtlanta – GA |
| Luke Nelson | NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc – VA |
| Robert Norman | TAC Titans – NC |
| Peter O’Donnell | Long Island Aquatic Club – MR |
| Ricky Perez | Tide Swimming – VA |
| Christopher Pfaffenroth | North Carolina Aquatic Club – NC |
| Alan Pfau | TAC Titans – NC |
| Luba Pohilenco | Santa Clara Swim Club – PC |
| Dale Porter | Bolles School Sharks – FL |
| Trent Sandwisch | Texas Ford Aquatics – NT |
| Nathan Smith | Lakeside Swim Team – KY |
| Sherwood Watts | North Carolina Aquatic Club – NC |
