COACHES

Kelly Steeves - Head Coach

Kelly has a background in Sport Administration and Coaching. He worked for 7 years as the Swim Ontario Technical Programs Coordinator and has coached swimming at the age group, university and Masters levels.

Interesting Fact: Kelly plays golf left-handed.

Coaching with LAC since 2015.


Donna Moskal - General Manager

Donna has coached from the Development level to the National level with LAC. She now supports the team as General Manager.

Interesting Fact: Donna has been coaching since 1976 and has only coached for two teams.

Coaching with LAC since 1984.


Liz Moskal - Assistant Head Coach & Program Coordinator

Liz is a proud LAC alumni, having represented the London Aquatic Club nationally. She joined our full time staff in 2010 and has been leading our age group program as the Head Age Group Coach since 2015.

...you could say she has swim coaching in her blood!

Interesting Fact: Liz was a figure skater for 14 years, most of these while she was a swimmer.

Coaching with LAC since 2005.


Meggin Moffatt - Head Development Coach & Intake Coordinator

Meggin swam for 7 years with LAC.

Interesting Fact: Meggin completed Teachers College in Scotland.

Coaching with LAC since 2001.


Andrew Craven - LAC Mentor Coach

Three-time recipient of Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Awards.8-time recipient of Ontario Swim Coaches Council awards. 2003 recipient of the Swimming Canada President's Award. National Coaching Institute Level IV Advanced Coaching Diploma (Nov 2012). Head coach at the 2000 Paralympics and the 2002 IPC World Championships. Staff coach at the1998 IPC World Championships and the 2008 Paralympics. 3-time Swim Ontario Coach of the Year. Coaching since 1986. Andrew was Head Coach of LAC from 2012 - 2022.

Interesting fact: Andrew believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup in his lifetime.

Coaching with LAC since 1992.


Cassie Ellis - Strength & Conditioning Coach

Cassie has an extensive background in kinesiology and nutrition. She swam with LAC when she was younger before switching her focus to ballet. Cassie teaches the dryland strength training program as well as yoga to Age Group Blue and above. Cassie received her PhD in Kinesiology with a focus on The Psychological Basis of Movement at Western University, and has worked with athletes from a variety of different sports, including professional athletes.

Interesting Fact: Cassie grew up with Liz!

Coaching with LAC since 2012.


Darda Sales - Para & Assistant Coach

Darda swam with LAC for 9 years. She represented Canada three times at the Paralympics in swimming bringing home two medals, and in 2016 represented Canada at the Rio Paralympics in wheelchair basketball. Darda has previous coaching experience in Orillia and Ingersoll, and re-joined the LAC coaching team in 2018 after 2 years in Alabama pursuing a Masters degree.

Interesting Fact: Darda loves peanut butter on toast.


David Hickey - Age Group Gold & Silver Lead Coach

David is an LAC alumni who is a graduate of Western University where he completed a degree in Kinesiology.

Fun Fact: Coach David can be found on the LAC Club Record Board!

Coaching with LAC since 2023

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Shannon Nell - Age Group Bronze Lead Coach

Shannon was a national level swimmer from 2003-2014, swimming for both LAC and Western University, and represented Canada twice as a junior swimmer at the North American Challenge Cup.

Interesting Fact: Shannon has worked on the sets of many popular shows and movies, including It, Murdoch Mysteries, Saving Hope, and Kim's Convenience.

Coaching with LAC since 2014.


Jonathan Korchuk - Senior Blue Lead Coach

Jonathan swam for LAC during high-school and continued swimming at University of Waterloo while completing an Honours Mathematics CO-OP degree. Jonathan has been a Masters swim coach (8+ years), a volunteer Senior Gold LAC coach (2014/15), and a competitive masters swimmer and triathlete with several top 3 finishes at Canadian Masters Swimming Championships. He has also completed Level 1 and 2 NCCP swim coach training and is Level 1 Certified.

Interesting Fact: Jonathan loves to do canoe trips on the French River and Algonquin Park.

Coaching with LAC since 2014.


Mel Rice - Age Group Blue Lead Coach

Mel was a national level swimmer for the Pointe Claire Swim Club, Swim Brock Niagara and Western University, and is now in her 6th year of Masters swimming with the London Silver Dolphins. She previously coached with LAC from 1997-2000, and now works full time at 3M as a Global Portfolio Manager. Mel has 3 children, 1 of whom graduated as an LAC alumi in 2023.

Interesting Fact: Mel has travelled to Europe, South America and Asia for work.

Coaching with LAC since 2017.

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Adam Purdy - Senior Blue Assistant Coach

Adam has been a part of the LAC family for over 30 years. First joining the club in the early 90’s as one LAC’s first para swimmers and working closely with Coach Donna Moskal and Coach Andrew Craven, Adam went on the compete in 6 sets of World championships and 3 paralympic games. Taking home double-gold medals at the Sydney 2000 Games was a highlight in his swimming career, but his favourite event was the 2015 Para Pan American Games in Toronto. He has held world records in the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke in the S6 para swimming category.

Adam is passionate about competitive swimming and believes that through hard work, dedication, and focus, anyone can achieve their goals!

 

Interesting Fact:

Adam obtained a master’s degree in Sport Leadership and Management from Western University and did it during the pandemic. He can also make amazing banana pancakes.

Coaching with LAC since 2023

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Emma Tarrataca - Age Group Orange Lead Coach

Emma swam with LAC for 6 years, and completed a Health Sciences degree at Western University.

Interesting Fact: Emma has dual citizenship for Canada & Portugal.

Coaching with LAC since 2013.


Hilary Bruce - Age Group White Lead Coach

Hilary swam with LAC for 7 years and with Western University for 4 years.

Coaching with LAC since 2020.


Paulina Bond - Senior Gold and Silver Assistant Coach

Paulina first joined LAC in 2015 while she was completing her degree at Western University. She represented Western as a Varsity Swimmer for 5 years at the CIS level, culminating her career as a 3-time National Champion. Paulina also represented LAC at the 2016 Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials. She has been proud to swim alongside many great athletes at LAC and Western, now channeling her passion for swimming into coaching.

Interesting Fact: Paulina has completed Teacher's College at Western University, and has been an assistant coach with Western since 2018.

Coaching with LAC since 2019.


Maxwell Burton - Assistant Coach

Max has completed his history degree from Western University. He swam for LAC for 6 years.

Coaching with LAC since 2021.

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Amy Leger - Development Lead & Assistant Coach

Amy was a competitive swimmer for 12 years up North in her hometown of Sudbury, ON. She has recently moved to London to complete her master’s degree in occupational therapy at Western University. She has been in a coaching role for 8 years, Amy has worked with a wide variety of swimmers from introduction, fitness, and age group swimmers.

Interesting Fact: Amy comes from a family of coaches/aquatics! You could say it’s in her blood…

Coaching with LAC since 2023


Alex Beckett - Assistant Coach

Alex is currently studying at Western University and is a proud LAC alumni. 

Coaching with LAC since 2022


Julia Forsey - Development Assistant Coach

Coaching with LAC since 2022
 
 

Jacob Seddon – Assistant Coach

Coaching with LAC since 2023


Slava Zagidulin - Assistant Coach

Slava currently studies at Western University in computer science and swims for the Mustangs. He has competed at both the provincial and junior national levels as a member of LAC and is hoping to qualify for the USport (national) Championships in 2022.

Coaching with LAC since 2021.


Leah Dawson - Senior Orange Coach
Leah was a competitive swimmer for 11 years in North Bay with the Titans, and also coached for four years during that time.  She continued swimming varsity at Laurentian University where she also coached for the Laurentian Swim Club while completing her undergraduate degree. Leah moved to London recently to start her Masters of Physical Therapy degree at Western.  This will be  Leah’s 8th year coaching, and has a lot of experience working with younger swimmers.  She is excited to start her new role with LAC coaching Senior Orange.  Leah has also completed Level 1 and 2 NCCP swim coach training and is Level 1 Certified.
 
Interesting Fact:  Leah loves going to the gym and cooking/baking, and is super interested in the physio and strength side of swim training.
 
Coaching with LAC since 2025.
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Leigh Shand - Senior Orange Coach
Leigh has been a life long competitive swimmer from the age of 8 starting with the Burlington Y Aquatic Club, continuing as a varsity swimmer at Brock University; and after graduating as a competitive Masters swimmer with Burlington, Victoria BC and most recently the London Silver Dolphins Masters teams since 2019 after moving to London.
Leigh has several years coaching younger 7-12 year old swimmers including 3 years while she swam with the Burlington Y club, 2 years with Oakville Dolphins, and then 6 years for the Olympia Sports Camp swim program adding 12-17 year old experience in her 20s.
Leigh  has completed her Level 1 NCCP swim coach training, and is in the process of becoming Level 1 Certified after originally taking her level 1 when she coached in high school and university.
 
Interesting Fact:   Leigh loves being a wellness coach and yoga instructor helping her clients live healthy and balanced lives since 2010.
 
Coaching with LAC since 2025.
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