Coaches and Directors
Kelly started swimming with the Claresholm Piranhas, a summer club in Alberta. One of his teammates, Graham Welbourn, from Claresholm, eventually made the Olympic team for Canada in 1980, and swam as a Canadian Dolphin Swimmer in that season.
Kelly began his coaching career with the Pincher Creek Dolphins, (10 seasons), another summer club in Alberta. Pincher Creek won 9 Divisional titles and set over 30 provincial records throughout that time. He eventually went on to coach in Nanton Alberta, where another Olympian came from, Andrea Nugent (UCSC). During this time, he volunteer coached at the University of Alberta summer sessions under John Hogg.
Kelly earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Lethbridge. He then pursued a Bachelor of Physical Education with emphasis on coaching from the University of Alberta and was assistant coach and manager of the team. While there, he worked with Olympians, Megan Watson, Bruce Berger, World Record holder, Peter Szmidt and Olympic Bronze medallist, Cam Henning. At the same time, he started coaching with the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club under Dave Johnson.
After graduating from U of A, he started age group coaching with the University of Calgary swim club under Deryk Snelling and Pierre LaFountaine, both whom became Head Coaches of Canada. As well, he was in charge of a satellite group from Okotoks, which included a swimmer, the now Technical Director of Swim BC, Cory Beatt.
In 1989, Kelly applied for an assistant coaching position with the Canadian Dolphin Swim Club as the Head Age Group coach. At that time, CDSC had amalgamated with the Pacific Dolphin Swim Association under Tom Johnson. Kelly was in charge of developing the age group program of CDSC and he started with 3 provincial qualifiers, eventually coaching swimmers to numerous Provincial and National Age Group records.
CDSC eventually broke away from the PDSA and once again, Kelly had to start to develop swimmers to a higher level. This has taken over 13 years, but now CDSC is once again a club that produces swimmers to the highest level. Age group swimmers, coached by Kelly and coming through CDSC who eventually made the Olympics, were Tamee Ebert in 2000 and Hau-Li Fan in 2020.
Swimmers who have made (and many medalled) Canada Games, World Championships, Youth Olympic Festivals and Commonwealth games under Kelly are: Brent O’Connor, Ilya Brotzky, Desmond Strelzow, Zach Somjen, Taryn Lencoe, Maya Beaudry, Darrell Rudolf, Julia Strojnowska, Maria Saldana Riebeling, Nathalie Day.
I am excited about the opportunity to bring my passion for swimming excellence to the historic Canadian Dolphin Swim Club. I have prided myself on having swimmers achieve their personal excellence in and out of the pool for 42 years of coaching swimming. I focus on developing strong technical and tactical skills while building confidence and fostering team environment. I believe in a swimmer-centered approach where long-term athlete development, sportsmanship and enjoyment on swimming are key priorities. Whether on deck coaching workouts, mentoring staff, or supporting parents I am excited to bring the best helping Kelly and CDSC.
Career Highlights:
-42yrs as a professional swim coach
-Level 4 Certified Coach
-BC Coach of the year many times
-Coach of Canadian & BC Record holders
-Coach of Canadian National Champions
-Swimmers on Canadian Open Water & Pool teams
-Club teams have won BC Championships & top 5 at Canadian Championships
-Club coach of 2008 Canadian Olympic Team member Jake Tapp
-Founder/owner of Langley & Abbotsford Olympians Swim Club 1997-2022
Brian will be joining CDSC's coaching team in September.
Zach is an NCCP Level 3 certified coach and has been coaching in Canada for the past 10 years. His coaching philosophy emphasize heavily on coachability, hard work, self motivation, engagement, and effort, focusing primarily on conducting oneself in a disciplined fashion in pursuit of excellence.
Zach's swimmers have achieved various accomplishments including, but not limited to:
- multiple podium finishes,
- set multiple club and provincial records,
- admitted to various prestigous Canadian and International Universities, and
- earned various Provincial and National Team nominations over the years.
In 2020, Zach was part of the team that won the BC Winter Provincial Championships. In the same year, he was awarded Senior Coach of the Year by his peers at the BC Swim Coaches Association. He served as Assistant Head Coach of the Langley Olympians Swim Club and Head Coach of the Abbotsford Olympians Swim Club from 2017-2021. In the 2022-23 Season, Zach together with the CDSC Coaching Staff was awarded Development Staff of the Year by their peers at the BC Swim Coaches Association. As a coach, he has also been named Lead Coach for Swim BC Prospect Camps in multiple seasons.
Zach has been successful and continues to be committed in increasing swimmer participation in club activities and is known by former swimmers and parents as someone fostering an inclusive and fun training environment while improving performance, and tendering to the psychological, physiological, and social needs of his swimmers.
Zach is very excited to be a part of the success of the Canadian Dolphin Swim Club and hopes to work towards making a positive impact to his swimmers not only in swimming, but also in life.
Khosro has been coaching with the Canadian Dolphins since 2001 and is responsible for coaching our youngest developmental swimmers. He also spearheads our monthly developmental mini-meet program .
Khosro started swimming at age 13, and by age 17, he had broken the Iranian 100m Breaststroke LC record.
Prior to coming to Canada, Khosro coached the Iranian Youth Development Team in waterpolo and swimming, and coached at the Athletic University in Athens, Greece.
Since coming to Canada, he has taught thousands of children to swim in Vancouver and on the North Shore through their recreation systems. He was Assistant Head Coach at the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club for 8 years, and coached developmental swimmers in the North Vancouver Recreation system, as well as Masters swimmers with the North Shore Masters Swim Club.
Khosro’s talent and passion for coaching is undeniable and we are so fortunate to have him with us once again!
Iain has been a coach with the Canadian Dolphins since 2016, coaching swimmers over a variety of Age Groups.
Iain swam competitively for 10 years with the 1500m being his favorite event. He has recently graduated from UBC with a major in Chemistry, and attributes his academic success to the focus and discipline he developed as a competitive swimmer.
Iain is a certified NCCP Level 1 Coach and holds both his National Lifeguard and Red Cross Standard First Aid certifications.
Iain is passionate about the sport of swimming and hopes that his experience and knowledge of competitive swimming can guide all of his Dolphin swimmers to success.
Felipe was involved in competitive swimming for over 15 years in Toronto, Ontario.
He swam at the age group level and decided to continue his swimming career to the university level at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. Felipe graduated from Laurentian University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education.
Felipe has coached every level of swimming from young swimmers ages five and up, to Ontario Provincial and National-level swimmers. Felipe has two years of teaching and coaching experience, where he has learned how to make fun and engaging lessons for students and swimmers. Felipe has recently moved to Vancouver from the Toronto area and is super excited to be back with the Canadian Dolphin Swim Club for his 3rd season!
Karim has been coaching with the Canadian Dolphin Swim Club since 2021.
He swam competitively with CDSC for 10 years with backstroke being his favourite stroke. He is currently studying at SFU and has a deep passion for the sport and a commitment to nurturing young swimmers. He strives to create a supportive and motivating environment where every swimmer can reach their full potential.
Karim is a certified NCCP level 1 Coach and has his National Lifeguard and Red Cross Standard First Aid certification. Karim continues to inspire athletes to not only excel in the pool but to develop lifelong skills of discipline, teamwork, and confidence.
I’m a passionate swim coach with a deep love for developing young athletes in the sport of swimming.
I started my coaching career with Island Swimming's 12 & Under program. Now, I’m coaching at the Canadian Dolphin Swim Club, where I’m able to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with a new generation of swimmers.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria, which complements my years of experience in coaching. I’m especially excited to be coaching at my home swim club and pool, where I first learned to swim and now have the privilege of giving back to the community that helped shape my own athletic journey.
