Our Coaches
Our professional coaching staff is dedicated to providing high quality coaching and technique instruction to give each swimmer the best opportunity to achieve their goals. Our coaches bring years of experience coaching at the collegiate and international levels, including the Olympics. Our swimmers routinely qualify for the National Championships, World Championships and Olympic Trials.

Meet our Coaching Staff 

  • Mike Chasson - Executive Director 
  • Steve Mancuso - Head Coach
  • Sam Iida - Head Coach Senior 1 and Blue
  • Andrew Schneller - Head Coach Senior 2 and Senior 3
  • Liz Spears - Head Coach Age Group 1
  • Kristine Nelson - Assistant Coach
  • Jarod Arrayo - Assistant Coach
  • Caroline Chasson - Assistant Coach

Michael Chasson - Executive Director 

Personal Mission Statement: Age group swimming should promote technique, sportsmanship, and academic excellence. A successful program should help swimmers develop a passion for the sport and encourage them to compete through high school and college, depending on their academic interests and school choice.


Achievements: Mike Chasson has been involved in competitive swimming for over 45 years and has coached at every level of swimming.  He began his career as an age group coach at Los Altos Aquatic Club in 1971.  Since then, he has coached at Santa Barbara Swim Club, Stanford University, Harvard University, Mass Bay Marlins, Arizona State University, and Sun Devil Aquatics.  He has coached Olympic Gold Medal winners, USA Swimming National Champions and Junior National Champions, NCAA Champions, and many NCAA and High School All Americans.


Mike coached swimmers at every Olympic Games from 1984 through 2008.  He has been a USA National Team Coach for many international trips, including Head Men’s Coach at the 1997 World University Games and an assistant coach at the Olympic Games in 1988 and Pan Pacific Championships in 1993.  He has had teams place in the top five at every major swimming competition in the United States.  He has been a speaker at the American Swim Coaches Association Convention as well a number of regional clinics.


While at Stanford, Mike coached five different NCAA Champions, and helped coach the team to the NCAA Championship in 1989.  While at Harvard, he won six Ivy League Championships and helped Harvard achieve an 11th place finish at the men’s NCAA’s in 1998, which is the highest finish ever for a non-scholarship school.  While at Arizona State, the men’s team finished in the top 20 nine times, and the women’s team did so six times.  This included three top ten finishes.  Mike coached 52 All Americans and helped swimmers to 58 school records.  His swimmers also achieved seven Pac-10 Championships and earned 165 Pac-10 All Academic honors.


Currently, Mike is the Head Coach of the Gold Medal Swim Club. His background in club swimming for 18 years before going into college swimming gave him great preparation for guiding Sun Devil Aquatics, which he started in 1998.  He previously started two club programs and one masters program from scratch.  


Personal Achievements: Mike is proud of the fact that he has remained in contact with swimmers he coached in the 70s, 80s, 90s and the 2000s. These swimmers went on to successful academic and professional careers.  Mike has always encouraged his staff to have this same type of connection and interest in their athletes. Mike will continue to build a positive environment that encourages future athletic, academic and personal growth.

 

Steven Mancuso - Head Coach
 

Steve Mancuso is a lifelong swimmer and coach with more than two decades of experience developing athletes in Arizona. A standout swimmer at Northern Arizona University, Steve competed for four years with the Lumberjacks, serving as team captain and earning numerous academic and athletic honors during his collegiate career.

After graduation, Steve became the Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Varsity Swimming at Mountain Pointe High School, a role he held from 1998 to 2015. Under his leadership, Mountain Pointe athletes achieved success at both the regional and state levels, and his impact was recognized with multiple Region Swimming Coach of the Year awards. He was also named NISCA State Swimming Coach of the Year twice, in 2000–01 and 2009–10.

In addition to his high school coaching, Steve has contributed to the growth of club swimming through his work with Mesa Aquatics Club and now as an Assistant Coach at Gold Medal Swim Club, where he continues to share his passion and knowledge of the sport with the next generation of swimmers.

Steve has also spent 30 years in education as a social studies teacher, assistant principal, and guidance counselor.

 

When he’s not on deck, Steve loves spending his time with his wife, Jill, and their four children, Leo, Harlow, Winnie, and Rocco, who are also members of the Gold Medal swimming family. 

 

 


Sam Iida – Head Coach and Senior 1 and Blue
 

Sam Iida is a seasoned competitive swimmer and dedicated coach whose experience at the highest levels of the sport enriches every athlete he mentors. As a standout member of the University of Arizona Wildcats men’s swim team, Sam specialized in individual medley and breaststroke events. He holds two top-10 all-time school performances: 7th-fastest in both the 200 breaststroke and the 400 IM in Arizona’s history.

During his time in Tucson, Sam posted notable performances, including NCAA B-cut times in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and both the 200 and 400 IM in the 2018–19 season. He recorded multiple top-three finishes at collegiate meets and was recognized as an All-American honorable mention for both the 200 breaststroke and the 400 medley relay.

His athletic foundation was equally impressive in high school: Sam was a three-time state champion, capturing titles in the 500-yard freestyle (2015, 2017) and the 200-yard IM (2017), setting a state record in the process.

Transitioning into coaching, Sam currently serves as a valued member of the Gold Medal Swim Club staff, working with swimmers across multiple age groups including AG1 and Senior 1. His reputation for leadership—rooted in a decade of high-performance training and mentorship—is a testament to his commitment to athlete development and team culture

Sam’s coaching philosophy centers on cultivating both technical excellence and personal growth. He is passionate about empowering swimmers to harness discipline, confidence, and resilience—qualities he himself exemplified as a NCAA athlete and state champion.

 

Andrew Schneller – Head Coach Senior 1 and Senior 2
 
 
Andrew Schneller brings a unique combination of competitive experience, academic achievement, and coaching passion to Gold Medal Swim Club. A former Division I swimmer at Arizona State University, Andrew competed at the highest collegiate level, developing both technical skill and a deep understanding of the sport.

After his time in the pool at ASU, Andrew went on to coach at DTAC and later earned an MBA from Grand Canyon University, further strengthening his leadership, management, and organizational expertise—qualities he now applies to his coaching career.

As a DTAC swim coach, Andrew is dedicated to guiding athletes through advanced training, refining stroke technique, and fostering a culture of hard work, resilience, and teamwork. His coaching philosophy emphasizes helping swimmers achieve both in the water and in life, equipping them with skills that extend beyond competition.

Outside of coaching, Andrew enjoys staying active with his wife and two daughters, continuing to study athletic performance, and mentoring young athletes as they pursue their goals in and out of the pool.

 

Liz Spears - Head Coach Age Group 1
 
 
Coach Elizabeth “Liz” Spears joins our staff with a distinguished background as both a high-level athlete and dedicated mentor. A graduate of Arizona State University and former Division I swimmer, Liz competed under the guidance of U.S. Olympic Coach Bob Bowman, gaining first-hand experience in one of the nation’s most competitive training environments. Specializing in the individual medley events, Liz was a multiple-time Pac-12 conference finalist and a Scholar All-American.
 
Throughout her athletic career, Liz achieved numerous accomplishments, including 10-time All-American, 4-time Michigan high school state champion, state record holder, and team captain, 4 year NCAA competitor and multiple-time Pac-12 finalist, CSCAA Scholar All-American for excellence in both academics and athletics and IRONMAN triathlete exemplifying resilience and grit. 
 
Liz earned her degree in Sports Business at Arizona State University, where she developed expertise in leadership, program development, and athlete management. She is a former NCAA Division I swimmer and current IRONMAN triathlete - experiences that have shaped her understanding of discipline, resilience, and long-term athlete development. She has further strengthened her coaching through certifications and continued education in stroke technique, dryland strength training, and athlete development, allowing her to bring a well-rounded approach to coaching.
 
As a coach, Liz prioritizes technical excellence, athlete enjoyment, and longevity within the sport. She is committed to fostering an environment where swimmers are eager to come to practice, challenged to grow, and supported in building a foundation that extends beyond competition. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes authenticity, resilience, and the development of well-rounded athletes who carry the confidence, discipline, and life skills gained in the pool into their everyday lives.
 
Drawing on her competitive success and leadership experience, Liz connects with swimmers in a way that inspires both performance and personal growth. She believes in creating a positive, motivating atmosphere that not only equips athletes with the tools to succeed in the water, but also instills a lifelong appreciation for the sport.
 
 
 
Kristine Nelson – Assistant Coach
 
 
Kristine Nelson brings a unique blend of elite athletic experience, academic excellence, and decades of teaching and coaching expertise to the Gold Medal Swim Club staff. As the Assistant Age Group Coach, she is deeply committed to fostering the technical development, confidence, and competitive spirit of our swimmers.

Kristine’s career in the sport began as a decorated age group and high school swimmer in Wyoming, where she earned multiple state championship titles and records. Her achievements and dedication to the sport led her to Northern Arizona University, where she was a standout competitor specializing in the backstroke and individual medley events. While at NAU, Kristine balanced the demands of NCAA Division I athletics with her academics, earning the prestigious Golden Eagle Outstanding Student-Athlete Award in recognition of her leadership, academic success, and athletic performance.

After her collegiate career, Kristine transitioned into education, dedicating over 20 years as a teacher in the Chandler Unified School District. Her ability to inspire and mentor young people extended naturally into coaching, where she made a profound impact on the Arizona College Prep Swim & Dive program. When she took over, the program was small and largely unrecognized. Through her leadership, vision, and commitment, ACP’s swim and dive teams grew into state powerhouses, capturing Arizona Division III State Championships for both boys and girls in back to back years. This success fulfilled a six-year plan she designed to transform the team into one of the premier high school programs in the state.

Kristine’s coaching philosophy emphasizes not only technical proficiency in the water but also personal growth and character development. She has a strong belief that swimming teaches life lessons—discipline, perseverance, resilience, and teamwork—that extend far beyond the pool. She is passionate about identifying swimmers with drive and determination, regardless of their starting point, and helping them reach their fullest potential.

At Gold Medal Swim Club, Kristine continues to channel her vast experience as an athlete, educator, and coach into developing the next generation of swimmers. Her proven track record of building successful teams, combined with her enthusiasm for athlete development, makes her an invaluable member of our coaching staff.

 

Jarod Arroyo – Assistant Coach
 
 
Coach Jarod’s exceptional background as an Olympic athlete and accomplished collegiate swimmer brings unmatched experience and inspiration to our program.

Jarod represented Puerto Rico in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, competing in the 400 Individual Medley—one of swimming’s most demanding events. His journey to the Olympics is a testament to years of dedication, discipline, and elite-level training, and he continues to serve as a role model for athletes aspiring to reach the highest levels of competition.

At the collegiate level, Jared first competed for Arizona State University under U.S. Olympic Coach Bob Bowman, training in one of the nation’s most competitive environments. He later continued his career at Oklahoma Christian University (OCU), where he quickly established himself as one of the program’s premier athletes. During his time at OCU, he set multiple program and pool records, earned All-Conference honors in several events, and specialized in the individual medley and mid-distance freestyle, showcasing both technical excellence and versatility. As a team leader, he was known for his strong work ethic, focus, and ability to inspire his teammates.

Coach Arroyo’s unique combination of international experience, Division I and Division II collegiate success, and passion for teaching makes him an invaluable addition to our staff. His presence not only elevates the competitive training environment but also serves as an inspiring example of what dedication, perseverance, and belief in oneself can achieve.

 

Caroline Chasson – Assistant Coach

Coach Caroline Chasson brings both competitive swimming experience and academic achievement to her role at Gold Medal Swim Club. A former backstroke and distance freestyle swimmer, Caroline competed at a high level throughout her youth and high school career, where she developed a deep understanding of the technical and mental aspects of the sport. She also earned her degree in Child Development from San Diego State University, further strengthening her knowledge of athlete development and performance. 

At Gold Medal, Coach Caroline works with swimmers across multiple age groups, focusing on technical progression, conditioning, and fostering a positive and disciplined training environment. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes growth in and out of the pool—helping athletes not only improve their swimming but also build the resilience, confidence, and teamwork skills that last a lifetime.

Caroline is passionate about inspiring the next generation of swimmers by combining her competitive background, educational expertise, and enthusiasm for the sport. She is excited to continue contributing to the success of Gold Medal Swim Club and the long-term development of its athletes.