Rick Shipherd Head Coach / Owner
Email: [email protected]


    Coach Shipherd has been active as a leader in USA Swimming and Southern California Swimming for over forty years. Coach Shipherd is a past member of the American Swim Coaches Association board of directors and a current board member of Southern California Swimming. Coach Shipherd has been the past chairman of USA Swimming's Club Development Committee and a past member of USA Swimming's Senior Development committee. USA Open Water committee and Olympic International Committee.  He has been a guest speaker at two ASCA World Clinics.

     Coach Shipherd has coached two Olympians, Kirk Stackle and Tami Bruce, and has placed twelve swimmers on US National Teams: Kirk Stackle, Becky Shelton, Kevin Clements, Morgan Hentzen, Whitney Hentzen, Kirstie Chen, Samantha Shellem, Ryan Kao, Cory Mayfield, Taylor Ault, Kevin Vargas and Kayla Han. Coach Shipherd’s teams have won two Junior National Team titles with Swim San Diego, 1985 and 1986, and four Sectional Team Titles with the La Mirada Armada.

     Coach Shipherd has been on the staff of four US National Teams, including the Head Men's Coach of the 2009 National Junior Team and the Head Coach of the 2003 US National Distance team.  He has also served as a USA assistant coach at the World Junior Championships and the Pan American Games.

     Born and raised in Southern California, coach Shipherd attended Temple City High School, Cal State LA and the University of Southern California where he pursued a degree in Business Administration. Coach Shipherd is married to Karen Shipherd and is the proud father of three daughters: Chelsea, Hadleigh and Madison.

 

Don Garman Head Age Group Coach / Owner
Email: [email protected]

     Don is in his 50th year of coaching and has been a leader in southern California swimming throughout that time. Don has been with the Armada since its inception in 2006 when the team moved from Industry Hills. Over the years Don has had the opportunity to work with some of the finest young swimmers in the country. To date, several of Don's swimmers have set Southern California Swimming records and even national records and have continually excelled at the
local level.

     Over the period of his career, Don has coached more top 16 nationally ranked swimmers than any other active coach in Southern California.  Don was formerly the Head Age Group Coach of Industry Hills Aquatics and the El Monte Aquatics Club. Prior to that Don was the Head Coach of the Hacienda Heights Aquatics Club. Olympic Gold medalist, Jill Sterkel got her start in the sport under the guidance of Don Garman as her coach. Throughout the eighties and nineties, Don's teams at El Monte and Industry Hills were annually in the hunt for the SCS JO Championship.  Don was recently named as an ASCA (American Swim Coaches Association) "Top 10 National Age-Group Coach of the Year" for 2021 and for Metro Committee "Coach of the Year" for 2010 & 2013.

     Don grew up in southern California, attending Los Altos High School, and now resides in Brea, California. Don has recently retired from teaching after a 39-year career. He has a special passion for aviation, photography and computer science. Don has been and continues to be an extraordinary teacher and role model for kids everywhere.

 

Mike Gautreau, Associate National Group Coach

Email: [email protected]

 

Mike Gautreau currently is the Associate National coach for the La Mirada Armada. Prior to this, he served for 34 years as head coach at the Club, High School, and College level. Over his career, Mike’s swimmers have achieved the following: 

  • 27 Southern California Records 
  • Over 300 National Top 10/Top 16 Rankings 
  • 27 National #1 Rankings 
  • Over 200 Junior National Finals (scoring) Swims 
  • 7 Junior National Records 
  • 3 United States Olympic Trials Final/Semi-Final Swims 

 

As a Head Coach, Mike’s teams have achieved the following: 

  • 2-time Junior National Team Champion 
  • 6-time Junior National 2nd Place Team 
  • 3-time Junior National 3rd Place Team 
  • California State Team Champion 
  • 2-time California/Nevada Sectional Team Champion 
  • Southern California Junior Olympic Team Champion 

 

Academically, Mike Gautreau attained his college Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, his master’s degree in educational administration, has a K-12 Administrative Credential, as well as teaching credentials in Biology/Physiology, Life Science, Health and Nutrition, and Physical Education. Professionally, Mike taught Adult Fitness classes at the Community College Level, taught Middle School and High School, and served as both High School Principal and Assistant Principal for 10 years. He also was a School Board Member for 12 years, winning 3 elections. Away from the pool and classroom, Mike was a high school and college Football Official for 40 years, serving as the Instructional Chairman for the state of California. Personally, Mike has two daughters, both former club, high school, and Division 1 college swimmers. Both currently have advanced college degrees and are medical/health professionals. 

 

Cody Davidson National Group Assistant

Armada Media Director 

Email: [email protected]

 

 

Kathy Hall Bronze Age Group Coach

Email: [email protected]

      Kathy Hall has been instrumental in the development of the beginning level Armada swimmers over the past few years. As a coach on the Armada staff since the team’s creation, Kathy has worked with the team's younger age group swimmers. Kathy previously coached at the Industry Hills Aquatic Club and the Whittier Wahoos. Kathy has been instrumental in the success of our introductory programs and our summer, recreational swim team. Many of the Industry Hills swimmers that went on to college scholarships can trace their beginnings to Kathy.

     Kathy was an Olympic Trial finalist as a swimmer, a professional tri-athlete and a masters swimmer. Kathy attended San Diego State University and then Arizona State University as a scholarship athlete. Kathy was born and raised in Whittier, California and attended Whittier High School where she was a CIF Champion and CIF record holder in the 100 free. Kathy was also the US Junior National Champion and record holder in the 100 m free.

Kathy is an educator by profession and is currently the department head for the St Marks Lutheran School's Physical Education department. Kathy is also a full-time mother with three daughters.

Michael Green  Senior 2 Coach

Email: [email protected]