Coaches

The NKB Coaching Staff is full of people passionate about the sport of swimming and the development of our swimmers as both individuals and athletes.  Their collective experience as swimmers themselves, experience as coaches and professionals, as well as the certifications they hold and professional development they continue to pursue are at the core of what enables NKB to reach elite levels of success.

We are here to support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meeother swimming related needs, please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact the NKB office at [email protected].

Scott Faithfull
Head Coach, Performance Elite Coach

Email: [email protected]

Scott is returning as the head coach, has been with NKB since 2000 and brings over 30 years coaching experience to the pool, including successful stints as Head Coach of Perth Stingrays and at Oakville Aquatic club.  As a coach, he has received numerous awards and honours including CSCA’s Domestic Excellence Award multiple times, Age Group Coach of the Year, coaching Provincial, Canadian, and International teams such as Head Coach of Ontario’s Summer Games Team and Team Canada’s coach at World Juniors.  Most recently, he has been a Team Canada Coach at the Paris 2024 Olympics.  His extensive national and international coaching experience includes work with many of the faces you see, past and present, on the Olympic circuit, including recent Hall of Fame inductee and former Canadian record holder Mike Brown and current NKB Olympian Julie Brousseau. As a swimmer, he was a Canadian record holder himself, so the swimmers of NKB are sure to benefit from his talents and understanding of what it takes as a dedicated individual and hard working athlete to reach your goals.

 

 

Heather Page Fairley
Head Age Group Coach, Performance Coach

Email: [email protected]

Heather came to NKB from the USA, where she had a long and successful career in competitive swimming.  She is returning as the Head Age Group Coach again this year, as well as the Program Coordinator for our Junior Barracudas program.  She joined NKB in 2010, following her work as an award winning teacher in Boston Public Schools.  She brings over two decades of coaching experience to the pool, during which time she has coached novice swimmers through to some of the top ranked national level athletes at Canadian championships.  She has also been named Ontario Coach of the Year and earned CSCA’s Domestic Excellence Award on multiple occasions.  Coach Heather recognizes the value of grassroots development and establishing strong fundamentals for healthy, long term development.  She has launched and helped develop multiple grassroots initiatives for coaches and swimmers alike that foster starting with FUNdamentals on the path to high performance.  She shares her love of the sport of swimming with her swimmers and is committed to helping all swimmers succeed, in and out of the pool, through her emphasis on technique development, character development, and positive, strong work ethics.

 

Mike Broadway
Lead Coach, Youth Green 2
Lead Coach, FitSwim
Collaborating Coach for Youth Green, Youth Kanata, Youth White

For Mike, swimming has always been a family affair.  His swimming career started at Pointe Claire Swim Club where he and his sisters were no strangers to owning the podiums as swimmers, with Mike being a regular fixture at Canadian National events in the ‘70s and ‘80s.   After he hung up his goggles, Mike went on to be a coach, including time as the collegiate head coach at John Abbott college and a swim coach for the Pointe Claire Modern Pentathlon team.  Like his father, he had also been extremely involved in the world of officiating and has been integral in shaping some of the policies common in our sport today.  More significantly, he has been integral in creating a welcoming environment on the pool deck regardless if he was an Level III+ official, parent in the stands, NCCP certified coach, or volunteer.  If you’ve been to an NKB meet in the past 15 years, we’re sure you’ve seen him, his son Ben (an NKB Alum!), and the positive impact they have had on the swim community.  This year, Coach Mike is happy to be once again leaving his official’s whites in the closet and instead continuing to don his black and green coaching shirts, and we are glad he is continuing with Youth Green!
 

 

Kristin Dalkowski
Lead Coach, Youth White
Collaborating Coach for Youth Green, Youth Kanata

Kristin's passion for working with our youngest Barracudas is the first thing you will notice when you meet her! This season Kristin will again be coaching Youth White.  Kristin is no stranger to the pool - she was a competitive swimmer for six years before moving onto water polo where she continued to explore her love of water sports. Kristin is a certified swim instructor who has worked with several organizations, and is also an NCCP certified coach. When Kristin is not on deck, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with a Taylor Swift playlist on in the background.  Kristin is excited to continue with our NKB team this year and to help our young Barracudas develop their skills to achieve their full potential all while sharing her passion for swimming.

 


 

Ben Ethier
Lead Coach, Strength and Conditioning
Assistant Swim Coach to All Programming

This jack of all trades joined NKB in 2012, and Ben is still wearing his many caps (well!).  He continues as the strength and conditioning coach, as well as continues his work assisting poolside in both our competitive and Junior Barracudas programming.  Ben brings his passion for coaching and working with young athletes to the NKB family from his experience with other aquatic clubs, including Perth Stingrays and dive clubs in the Ottawa area.  He has numerous certifications and vast experience across athletics, nutrition, rest & recovery, functional range conditioning and athlete adaptability and agility. With whole athlete well-being at the core, he will be continuing to use his skill set to strengthen our dryland and weight room programs.  

 

 

 

Annie Holmes
Lead Coach, Youth Kanata
Collaborating Coach for Youth Green, Youth Kanata

Annie's enthusiasm for swimming is truly infectious! While Annie may be among NKB’s newest coaches, she is no stranger to the water.  Having spent many years as a competitive long-distance swimmer in South Africa, her passion for the sport has only deepened, particularly with her own children now embracing swimming. As an NCCP certified coach, Annie embodies the values of hard work and discipline, all while ensuring that the joy of swimming remains at the forefront. She is excited to join the NKB team this year, eager to contribute to the development of our young swimmers and help them reach their full potential, all while sharing her profound love for the sport.

 

 


 

Abigail Imbeault
Lead Coach, Youth White
Collaborating Coach for Youth Green, Youth Kanata

The Mighty Barracudas are excited to welcome Abby  back for another season! Abby is certainly no stranger to the winning ways of the Black & Green. She is a long time coach and supervisor in our Junior Barracudas program, and is continuing into her third year coaching our mini (but still Mighty!) Barracudas in Youth White. She is an NCCP certified coach. When not at the pool, you can still find her working with youth as she is in teacher's in the Ottawa Catholic School Board. We're sure her enthusiasm for working with children is what you will notice first, and it's what will inspire your swimmers to keep coming back. 

 

 

 

Darren Kirabo Ssamula
Lead Coach, Youth Green 1
Collaborating Coach to All Youth Groups

Darren is a Barracuda through and through!  Originally hailing from Uganda, he represented his home country as a competitor at World Junior Championships and the Africa Seniors as part of Team Uganda.  When Darren landed in Ottawa and joined the Barracudas in 2019, his fearlessness and passion for swimming was readily apparent.  Despite covid he quickly became a team leader and soaked up skills that led him to further his swimming career into university.  After making a splash at the University of Victoria, he has returned home to Ottawa to complete his studies in Computer Science with a passion rivaling his strongest strokes. Darren is also currently advancing his NCCP certification as well as putting to good use all the knowledge he gained from the torrent of questions he sent Coach Scott’s way as an athlete.  With a coaching style that blends determination and delight, he creates a poolside atmosphere as electric as the waves he once conquered. Get ready to witness Darren infuse each stroke with his vibrant energy, propelling our young swimmers toward their own seas of success.

 


 

Aleasha Knight
Lead Coach, Youth Black
Collaborating Coach to Performance, Youth Green

NKB is thrilled to welcome back Aleasha and all the energy and excitement she has for swimming!  As an Age Group and Senior athlete, Aleasha could regularly be found volunteering her time at team events, drumming up excitement for our mini but Mighty Barracudas, or right at the heart of the loudest group of Barracudas, cheering on teammates with an infectious energy.  Even now as an NCCP certified coach she is no different! This NKB alum graduated from University of Maryland Baltimore Campus, an NCAA Division I school, where she specialized in the backstroke events and lead her team to three conference titles.  She is also a certified special education teacher so  when not poolside she can still be found “kidside” at a local elementary school.  She has a passion for physical and mental health of youth as well as accessibility in the sport of swimming.  As a result, she has lead initiatives that bridge her two worlds of special education and swimming.  Combining her experience with youth and her knowledge of swimming with the commitment she holds towards these passions, we’re sure success will continue to follow for all our athletes.  NKB is proud to welcome this cat-loving, NFL fan back for another season with the Barracudas!  

 

Luis Luebs
Lead Coach, Senior 
Collaborating Coach to Performance Programming

Luis is entering his second year with the Barracudas, building on the fun and rewarding experience he had with the team last season.  The pool deck, however,  has long been his second home, and his extensive experience as a swim coach and project manager continues to shine through in his work.  His coaching philosophy emphasizes positive leadership, hard work, and fostering a strong sense of unity among athletes in pursuit of shared goals. With a focus on hard work and technique, Luis implements a comprehensive training system designed to optimize performance development. It’s no surprise that he has successfully guided swimmers to national and international competitions! Luis is an ASCA International and NCCP certified coach, and he has recently completed the Advanced Coach Diploma, eagerly awaiting the certification results. Through the programming he delivers and his commitment to continuous learning, Luis empowers our swimmers to unlock their full potential and excel both in the pool and in life.


 

Barb Moffitt
Lead Coach, Senior

Barb is excited to be back with NKB and NKB is excited to have her back! This year, she will be coaching in our Senior programming.  Barb is an NCCP certified coach who has years of coaching experience ranging from the most novice "rookies" to helping "veterans" move onto the national level. As an Early Childhood Educator as well, Barb enjoys combining her skills with early learning and the swimmer's love of the water. She can always be found bringing her personal touch into her coaching, and we are lucky to have this creative lady bring her artistic talents to our club as well. (Be sure to check out some of the lettering and shirt designs she has done!) Her understanding of the spectrum of swimming and development across the years will be a great benefit to all the athletes she coaches, and to their families as well! Being a swim mom of three graduated Barracudas herself, she knows what it takes as a swimmer and as a family to help foster our growing athletes' success - she is passionate about coaching and enjoys helping swimmers achieve their goals!

 

Rama Vyombo
Lead Coach, Youth White
Collaborating Coach for Youth Green, Youth Kanata

Coming from Kenya with 21 years of competitive swimming experience, Rama earned the incredible privilege of representing his country as at major events like the Commonwealth Games, All African Games, and World Swimming Championships from 1998 to 2012.  His coaching journey spans over two decades, where he has helped swimmers develop every level, from fundamental stages to international competitions, including athletes from East Africa to proudly represent their nations at various international competitions. His coaching philosophy is all about celebrating each swimmer’s unique strengths while helping them grow both as athletes and individuals. Swimming isn’t just a sport—it’s a passion, and he’s here to help every swimmer make a splash and achieve their goals.

 



 

Mackenzie Alexander
Assistant Coach

Mackenzie’s journey in the swimming world began as a Junior Barracuda swimmer, where she quickly fell in love with the sport. Her passion for swimming led her to transition into competitive swimming, and after gaining valuable experience, she returned to her roots as a coach with the Junior Barracudas four years ago.  This year, we are excited to also welcome her as an assistant coach in our competitive programming.  Outside of her coaching role, Mackenzie spends her summers as a waterfront director at a local summer camp, where she combines her love for the water with her commitment to youth development.  She thrives on helping young athletes discover their love for sports and guiding them to improve their skills.   Mackenzie is also pursuing her studies at Carleton University, where she is majoring in Social Work and minoring in Spanish. Her dedication to making a positive impact extends beyond her academic and athletic pursuits. Mackenzie is actively involved in volunteer work and took a year off to engage in volunteer projects abroad, further enriching the experiences and perspectives she brings to our community at NKB.  With her energy, combined with her extensive experience and dedication, we are sure Mackenzie will have a positive impact on the youth of NKB!

 

Paxton Carney
Assistant Coach

Paxton is a familiar face around NKB—she started as a competitive swimmer on our team, moved on to coach the Junior Barracudas, and is now diving into her role as an assistant coach in our competitive program. Her journey with us has been nothing short of exciting!  Paxton is known for her fun-loving and playful spirit, bringing a splash of energy to every practice.  Energy and enthusiasm are two of the key ingredients to motivating young athletes and she is dedicated to using just that to help our kids push their limits while making sure they enjoy every moment of their training.  When she's not coaching, you can find her at Carleton University, where she's balancing her studies with her passion for swimming.  NKB is delighted to welcome Paxton into coaching the competitive programming and know her vibrant approach will continue to inspire and energize our swimmers!


 

 

Sophia Kelly
Assistant Coach

NKB is thrilled to introduce Coach Sophia as a new member of our team for this season, but many of you may already recognize her. Sophia is a passionate coach with a strong background in aquatics.  She was a competitive swimmer for six years, and has spent her more recent years as a coach at NKB’s Summer Camps and in our Junior Barracudas programs.  Sophia enjoys coaching our littlest Barracudas and is simultaneously looking forward to expanding her role with NKB, sharing her love for the sport with young and eager swimmers. Outside of the pool, Sophia loves spending time with her dogs and two pet rabbits, baking, and doing arts and crafts. She believes that swimming is not only an important life skill that demonstrates discipline and dedication, but is a way for kids to create lifelong friendships and core memories to last a lifetime.




 

Emma Moffitt
Assistant Coach

We are excited to welcome Emma onto the NKB coaching staff this fall as an assistant in the competitive program and continuing as a coach in the Junior Barracuda program as well.  She brings with her a wealth of experience from her own 11 years as a competitive swimmer. During her swimming career, Emma achieved numerous personal goals, including qualifying for national level competitions, demonstrating her core values of commitment, hard work, goal setting, and determination.  Her passion for swimming is matched only by her love for working with kids. Emma is excited to inspire the next generation of swimmers, helping them develop their skills and confidence in the water. Currently, she is also pursuing her studies at Ottawa University, where she continues to grow both academically and as a coach.  With her upbeat personality and dedication to fostering a positive environment, Emma is eager to make a lasting impact on her swimmers and the NKB community. She believes that swimming is not just about competition, but also about building friendships and enjoying the journey together. Emma looks forward to a fantastic season ahead!