Coaches and Board of Directors
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2013
What is your swimming background?
I started swimming when I was 10 at Bethel Park. I continued and swam in Westminster College, becoming a 16-time all-American at college. I loved swimming the sprints.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
Coaching swimming is fulfilling for a variety of reasons, including the opportunity to help athletes succeed, witness their growth, build meaningful relationships, and share a passion for the sport. The overall satisfaction comes from making a positive impact on my swimmers' lives.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
My love for swimming and coaching swimmers likely stems from a combination of personal passion, the joy of helping others succeed, the sense of accomplishment in seeing progress, and the fulfillment that comes from building relationships and making a positive impact on the lives of my swimmers. These factors make coaching swimmers an incredibly rewarding part of my job.
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2021
What is your swimming background?
A late entry into the sport, I started swimming at age 11 as part of the Whitehall Waves summer team because my neighbors wanted somebody else in the carpool. I solely was a seasonal swimmer as my high school at the time did not have a team, but that experience hooked me. I started coaching while in college and over the years have become more and more involved in the sport, especially on the dry side of things.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
It’s a perfect excuse to justify always wearing Crocs.
What I most enjoy about coaching swimming is the always seeing output of such constant dedication. This is one of – if not the most – brutally physical, mental, and emotional sports, and there’s seemingly hurdles to navigate. But when it all comes together and a swimmers has that breakthrough race, that is what is most enjoyable to me… seeing the fruition of that success.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
Take everything with perspective, and trust the process.
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2019
What is your swimming background?
I started swimming when I was 7 in Bethel Park. I swam on the University of Pittsburgh women's swim team, where I was also a team co-captain. I was a WPIAL Champion in 1994 in the 100 yard breaststroke and a Junior National Qualifier.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
Making a difference, seeing that aha moment in a swimmer when something really clicks. Seeing a smile on a swimmer's face when they accomplish a new technique or achieve a goal.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
All the hard work and dedication to the sport are qualities that will always be with you and that you can carry into your professional careers. The sport will always give back and is something that you can continually give back to as well.
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2012
What is your swimming background?
I started in 1975 and swam through my collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh. My favorite events are 25 breast, the 100 IM, the 200 Breast, 200 Fly, and the 400 IM.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
Helping kids achieve their goals and being safe in and around the water!
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
A sense of accomplishment, happiness that they set goals and worked hard to try and achieve them, and some friends they keep forever!
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2012
What is your swimming background?
I started swimming in 6th grade. I swam at Bethel Park and was on the high school team and I swam in college at West Virginia University.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
The interaction with the kids.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
That in everything, “if it's going to be, it’s up to me!”
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2008
What is your swimming background?
I began swimming at age nine for Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club for head coach Tom Burchill, working my way up through the program from Minnows (as the Piranha group was known in those days) through every group to Sharks. I was a member of two undefeated Jefferson Middle School Swim teams, before joining the Mt. Lebanon High School Swim Team, achieving all-state in the 100 butterfly in 2003.
As a collegiate swimmer, I was a member of four NCAA Division III National Championship winning teams at Kenyon College under Coach Jim Steen (two as swimmer, two as manager). Former pool record in the 200 yard butterfly in the Steen Aquatic Center.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
I most enjoy the process of coaching swimmers: being able to share in the journey that each swimmer takes, guiding them, listening to them, challenging them, helping them to realize that they have more to offer than they think they do—and through that process, seeing progression, from moment to moment, day to day, season to season, and eventually over the course of an entire swimming career.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
Lebo Swimming has given me so much over the years—first and foremost, it’s given me unforgettable, enduring friendships and innumerable great memories of being part of an incredible team. It’s taught me all sorts of great life lessons: confidence, courage, discipline, resilience, to name but a few. It’s given me a belief in the sport of swimming as a means to self-discovery. I coach in the hope that I can pay forward some of this to current and future Lebo Swimmers, so that they might get out of the program what I did.
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2016
What is your swimming background?
I started summer swim league when I was six. I continued on and was a member of the swim team at Indiana University-Bloomington, where I was a state champion in the 100 and 200 Breaststroke in 1975 and 1976. I was also a University of Evansville AAU swimmer of the year.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
I love to see smiling faces. Watching the development of technique in a swimmer over the years is a joy to watch.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
I hope kids can look back and remember all the fun and successes they had during their swim career at MLAC.
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2019
What is your swimming background?
I swam for the Moon Area middle school and high school team all 4 years. In addition I swam club at West Allegheny my freshman and junior years and Mount Lebanon my junior and senior years. In 2020 I attended Westminster College, where we won our fourth consecutive PAC championship.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
I love having an impact on the younger generation and being able to still be involved with the sport that has given me so much.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
I want our swimmers to take self confidence away and the understanding that true hard work pays off.
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2021
What is your swimming background?
I grew up swimming and coaching in the DC area before moving to Pittsburgh. My favorite events are distance freestyle. I swam at the Army Navy Country Club, the Sea Devils as well as the Clark Swim Clubs, and Langley High School, where I was team captain and 4-year letter winner. I swam in college with Villanova Club Swimming, where I was a college club swimming nationals qualifier.
I have coached with Sea Devils Swimming, the Army Navy Country Club, prior to coaching with MLAC.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
My favorite part of coaching is providing a space where kids can continue to get better and accomplish goals that they set for themselves. Especially in coaching the younger swimmers, I love watching the transformation that each kid goes through from the start of the season to the end, both in their swimming ability and as people.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
Swimming is an incredible place to learn how to be a good teammate and a good competitor, so everyday you should come to practice ready to try your best, be respectful to yourself and others, and have fun!
When did you start coaching with MLAC? Around 2010
What is your swimming background?
I was not a swimmer, but in working with swimmers for so long, I have come to appreciate the amount of work and sacrifice that goes into the sport.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
I really like working with all types of athletes and people but I think I really enjoy swimming because I feel really supported by the athletes and coaches. We all spend a lot of time together and it feels like a home away from home.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
From a weight room perspective my goal is that they can leave MLAC and walk into any gym and not feel intimidated. I also love hearing from our kids who go on to swim in college and feel like they already are a step above their peers who didn’t offer what we do.
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2013
What is your swimming background?
I began swimming at age 9 and swam high school, college (Penn State Swimming & water polo), and have continued since then and swim Masters now.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
I love giving back by helping and supporting swimmers to improve, achieve their goals, and have fun.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
Having fun and feeling proud of their achievements in the water. The benefits of swimming with MLAC don't just end in the pool. Swimming helps us to grow as individuals, work through challenges, learn to support others, and appreciate what hard work will give us in return!
Former Bethel Park girls swimming coach Bill
Kennedy, one of the most successful WPIAL coaches in any sport, retired at the end of his
36th as coach of the Black Hawks. Kennedy coached one of the
WPIAL’s great dynasties in the Bethel Park girls swimming
team. The Black Hawks won 15 WPIAL
championships under Kennedy including four in a row to start his
coaching career from 1979-1982.
Kennedy preceded the two classifications system in the WPIAL that did not begin until 1993. He won eight
WPIAL championships when there was only
one classification and after the formation of a Class AA and Class
AAA, Kennedy guided Bethel Park to three
consecutive WPIAL titles from 1998-2000
and four consecutive from 2005-2008.
Coaching Experience:
1991 – 2014
- Head Coach – Bethel Park High School Girls Swim Tem
- Head Coach – United States Swimming – Bethel Park
Recreation Swim Team
1986 – 1991 - Assistant Coach – Bethel Park High School Girls Swim Team
- Assistant Coach – USS Age Group
Coach, Bethel Park Recreation
1978 – 1986 - Assistant Coach – Bethel Park High School Girls Swim Team
- Assistant Coach – USS Age Group Coach, Bethel Park Recreation
- Head Coach – USS 8 and Under
Coach, Bethel Park Recreation
Career Highlights - Elected to the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame – 2012
- Won Two Pennsylvania AAA State Championships (1999, 2000) and Two Runner-ups (2006, 2007) as Head Coach
- Won 2 State Championships (1981, 1987) and Two Runner-ups (19982, 1986) as Assistant Coach
- District 7 Championships (WPIALS)
- 1st place – Seven Times
- 2nd place – Four time
- Section Titles – 14
- Coaching Record: 270-43
- Longest Dual Meet Winning Streak – 73 consecutive wins, six year
- 1999 and 2007 – Ranked number one in the United States-Girls High School Swim Team – NISCA dual meet rankings in our division.
- Fall 2007 Selected as one of three coaches to accompany Allegheny Mountain Swimming All-Star Swimmers to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado
- 2000 Coached an Olympic Trial swimmer in the 100 and 200 Breaststroke
- 2008 Coached an Olympic Trial Swimmer in the 50 Freestyle
- 2012 Coached Olympic Trial Qualifier – Great Britain
- Have coached numerous All-American Swimmers
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2014
What is your swimming background?
I was a PIAA runner up for Seneca Valley in 2001, and took 3rd place at PIAA in the 200 Freestyle in 2001. I was an 8-time all-American in high school. I swam at West Virginia University from 2001-2005 and was a multiple-time all-Big East team member with multiple medals.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
I love seeing kids reach their goals.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
That what it takes to achieve in swimming will help them achieve in life.
When did you start coaching with MLAC? 2015
What is your swimming background?
I started swimming at the age of 10 at the Butler YMCA. I swam in high school at Butler and started swimming club with Coach Donati at Seneca in 10th grade. I swam in college at West Virginia University and qualified for Big East. I started teaching Learn-to-Swim in 8th grade and began coaching as soon as I finished college.
What do you enjoy most about coaching swimming?
Getting to watch people grow and do things they didn't think they could do.
What's one thing you want your swimmers to take away from their experience swimming with MLAC?
Enjoy what you do. Life is too short not to.
