New Hartford Aquatics - Swim Team Coaching Staff
Scott Wanner
Scott was named the Head Coach of New Hartford Aquatics in September of 2016. Having coached for NHA since 2012, Scott is also the day-to-day coach for our Senior Group. Scott is a graduate of New Hartford High School and an alumni of New Hartford Aquatics. He has been a Water Safety Instructor with the Town of New Hartford for 10 years, and most recently was the Pool Director for the Town of New Hartford Parks and Recreation Department. After graduating from Utica College with a Bachelors in History, Adolescent Education, and Special Education, he was hired as the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Utica College Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Team under Head Coach Erin Knight. After the completion of his Masters Degree in Inclusive Education, Scott began his teaching career as a Special Education Teacher at Sherburne-Earlville High School in the Fall of 2015. Scott is currently a Special Education Teacher at Holland Patent Middle School as well as the Assistant Swim Coach of the New Hartford Girls and Boys Varsity Swim Teams.
Jeremy Rose
Jeremy has been a coach for New Hartford Aquatics since 2014, and was named the Assistant Coach in September of 2017. A graduate of New Hartford, and an alumni of New Hartford Aquatics, Jeremy swam for the Potsdam Bears, graduating from SUNY Potsdam in 2014 with a Bachelors in Computer Science. While in Potsdam, Jeremy was a learn-to-swim instructor and a coach for the Northern Tribs Swim Club. After moving back to the Mohawk Valley, he joined the coaching staff at New Hartford Aquatics. Jeremy is currently the day-to-day coach of Red Group as well as the Head Coach for the New Hartford Modified Girls & Boys Swimming Teams. Jeremy is currently a software developer at New York Central Mutual.
Erin Knight
Erin is currently the co-coach of Junior Group as well as our club registrar. After 10 years away from age-group swimming, Erin rejoined the staff in the Fall of 2019. Erin brings with her over 20 years of coaching experience at the varsity, age-group and collegiate levels. A graduate of New Hartford and former Spartan swimmer, Erin swam for the Hamilton College Continentals, graduating in 2003. Erin began coaching for New Hartford Aquatics in 2002, and served as the head coach from 2006 to 2009.
Braylin Sheppard
Braylin is our 12&under Coordinator, as well as one of our Red Group and Little Hammerheads coaches. Braylin was a WSI certified Instructor for the Town of New Hartford, and has been coaching for New Hartford Aquatics since 2016. A former Spartan swimmer and New Hartford Aquatics alumni, Braylin graduated from Clarkson University in 2018 with a Bachelors in Electrial Engineering. While at Clarkson University, Braylin coached for the Northern Tribs Swim Club. Before returning to the area in 2021, Braylin coached for the Southern Saratoga YMCA Barracudas. Braylin is currently a Substation Engineer for Blue Ridge Power.
Mark McFarland
Mark rejoined the coaching staff in the Fall of 2025 as one of our coaches for Blue Group. As head coach of the New Hartford Boys (2010-2016, 2019 to present) and Girls (2022 to present) Varsity Swim Teams, Mark has led the New Hartford Spartans to ten Section III Championship titles. A graduate of Utica University, and a former Utica Pioneer Swimmer, Mark is currently a mathematics teacher at New Hartford High School.
Kimberly MacDonald
Kimmy is one of our coaches for Blue Group. She joined the staff at NHA as a lesson instructor in 2019, and as a coach in the summer of 2024. A former New Hartford swimmer and NHA almuni, Kimmy graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 2023 with a BS in Sociomedical Science. A four-year swimmer for the Geneseo Blue Wave, Kimmy was a Division 3 NCAA qualifier in the Women's 200, 500 and 1650 yard Freestyle. In 2022 and 2023, Kimmy was named second team All-American in the 1650 yard Freestyle. Kimmy is currently a nurse in the local area.
Lara McNamara
Lara joined our coaching staff in the summer of 2024. Lara is currently one of our White Group coaches as well as our lesson director for Levels 1-3. Originally of Yonkers, NY, Lara is a 2019 graduate of Utica University. A four-year swimmer for the Pioneers, before attending Utica University Lara swam for the Condors Swim Team in Westchester County. Lara brings with her years of experience as a swimmer, coach, and swim lesson instructor. Lara completed her MSW at Utica University in 2024, and is currently a Social Worker for the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill School District.
Aimee Oswald
Aimee joined our coaching staff in 2023. Aimee is one of our White Group coaches, as well as a Learn-to-Swim Water Safety instructor for Levels 4-5. Originally from Reading, PA, Aimee swam for the Reading YMCA Team and the Utica University Pioneers. Aimee is currently majoring in Psychology-Child Life at Utica University.
We are here to support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact Head Coach Scott Wanner at [email protected].
