Coaches of VKSC
Head Coach
Cole Bergen
Groups: Senior Performance, Performance
Origionally from Calgary, Cole partook in almost every sport you could imagine and to this day is happiest when parttaking in some form of athletic endeavour. At the age of 15 he decided to come back to the sport of swimming. During this return he began working with learn to swim programs, and realized a unique opporitunity to share his love of sport and everything it offers with the next Generation.
Cole was actively coaching as a passion and career from 2014 onwards. This began coaching with Cascade swim club, leading age group and summer club programs. As he sought out post secondary opporitunities the chance to attend UVIC and Coach with Island Swimming became available. Cole spent just under a decade working at ISC with all athletes from provincial to international level. Winning 2 team provincial championships, earning 2 swim B.C. Development coach of the year, and being fortunate enough to partake in some swimming canada Jr teams. In this time he has had the opporitunity to see the positive impact swimming can have on both an individual and community. This opporitunity is what brings Cole to the kokanee as head coach.
Assistant Head Coach
Jack Savage
Group: Junior Performance
Born and raised in Kamloops, Jack found swimming late at 12 years old. He quickly gained a passion for the sport and swam for the Classics through to the end of high school, and continued to the varisty level at the University of Victoria from 2018-2023. Taking on leadership roles coordinating the team's social events, and running the social media, he became a Captain in his final year. Over the course of his swim career, he swam distance, back and fly events. He achieved podium finishes at Provincials, and qualified for Westerns and Trials.
Jack began coaching in 2019 in BC Summer Swimming with the Kamloops Tsunami, as a summer job while completing his BSc in Psychology, and developed a knack for promoting a passion for improvement in his athletes. He coached 5 summers in Kamloops, and 2 with the Revelstoke Aquaducks. Although he has coached athletes to provincial medals and club records, his favourite achievement is that the 8 year olds he coached in his first season, still swim to today at 15-16 years old and are still passionate and getting involved as coaches!
Jack is NCCP Level 2 Certified, loves Pit Vipers, and can do a 360 on Skis (and has video proof).
Assistant Coach
Morgan Mardiros
Group: Developement
Morgan is in her 4th year of coaching with the VKSC. She is currently studying at post-secondary. As a VKSC swimmer from a very young age through to graduation she will provide direction and expertise to Tier 6 and Grassroots swimmers.
Junior Development
Kerry Miles
After a successful swimming career that included Canadian Records, Olympic Trials racing and top ten rankings in age group swimming in Canada, Kerry is now coaching our youngest, newest swimmers. Kerry is a certified at level 2 NCCP and will be directing coaching staff at the Grassroots level of VKSC.
Grassroots Coaches
Tima Coad
Hi I’m Coach Tima. I love everything in the water from surfing to swimming to scuba diving. I’ve taught learn to swim programs for 15 years as well as instructor development. I am always learning and I’m loving coaching in the club environment. My favourite stroke is freestyle. My favourite stroke to teach is breaststroke.
Emily McWilliam
Coach with Grassroots 1. Emily has been a Vernon Kokanees as a swimmer, and is now coaching with VKSC.
Laurel Poole
