A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Coach Mavi has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education (Brazil), and a Master’s degree in Kinesiology (study of human performance) from the University of North Dakota.
As a swimmer (1970-1990), coach Mavi was a South American Champion and record holder, took 5th at a Pan-American Games (1983), and 10th at a World University Games (1983). He was also a World Champion as a Masters swimmer (1989 and 1990). All as a Breaststroker.
As a coach (1986-present), coached in various teams in Brazil (1986-2000), as well as the Senior National Team. His Club teams/swimmers earned numerous National, South American, and Pan American Games titles and records.
In the US (2000-present) Coach Mavi first coached at the University of North Dakota as the Head Swimming and Diving Coach (2000-09), where he was voted the NCAA DII Coach of the Year, earned the status of ASCA Level 5, and his teams and swimmers won 32 individual and relays NCAA National titles, breaking 6 National records, and placed his team twice as the runner-up at a NCAA National Championship.
In 2009 changed to be a USA Club coach. Since then, have had a couple of his swimmers going to USA Senior and Junior National Championship, having his swimmers “moving on” to some of the best Swim Team colleges in the US.
Coaching Philosophy: Coach Mavi says that he is a technique/detail-oriented coach: “everything my swimmers do during practice has a reason”. He likes to see his swimmers coming out of races with a “I think I did a great job” smile. There is no time to waste during a practice: “PERFECT practice makes it perfect”. But that doesn’t mean that games and fun stuff will never be done; they are all part of a well-balanced planning (hard work and “fun” stuff). He adds: “in competitive swimming, having fun is swimming fast. Let’s work towards that”.
Married with Ana, and a PROUD father (as he describes) of Manuela (29) a former D1 swimmer who is now a nurse at the Outer Banks, NC; Mariana (27) who lives in Los Angeles and is a Musical Engineer; and just welcomed their first grandchild (Myles).
Head Age Group Coach Tom came on board as an Assistant Coach in May, 2016 and coaches our Junior Advanced group. He retired in June 2016 after spending the previous 25 years as a high school social studies teacher in the Coachella Valley and Desert Sands Unified School Districts. During four of those years, he served as the president of the Desert Sands Teachers Association, served three terms on the California Teachers Association State Council of Education, and was a delegate to four National Education Association Representative Assemblies.
Prior to his career in public education, Tom spent 15 years as a swimming coach, literally from Maine to California, and is an ASCA Level 3 certified coach. His successful experience includes being head coach of three club teams, head age group coach of a fourth, head coach of three high school teams, and assistant coach of two others. His swimmers competed at local, state, regional, and national levels. His teams have won state championships, and individual athletes training with him have gone on to become national collegiate champions. At every turn, Tom has been involved in the administration of the sport as well as the advancement of the coaching profession. Between 1988-90, he served as the first National Director of ASCA’s SwimAmerica program. He also was selected to the coaching staff of the Southern California Swimming Western Zone team in 1986.
Before becoming a coach, Tom swam competitively on interscholastic, club, and intercollegiate teams, specializing in middle-distance freestyle, breaststroke, and individual medley events. He is a 1975 graduate of Union College, Schenectady, New York, where he earned a B. A. in Political Science and was captain of the swimming team. He was born and raised in South Portland, Maine. Tom is married to Julia Alberg-Burbank, with whom he shares six children and stepchildren as well as three grandchildren.
Coach Adrian has been a life-long lover of swimming for fun and for exercise. He has been supporting our team in various capacities since 2021 when his oldest son joined the team and wife began to coach for us. Coach Adrian is originally from Eastern Europe. While there, he studied interior design and volunteered as a youth leader in his church, all while teaching himself English! In 2009, he moved to the US and arrived in the Coachella Valley in 2020. Adrian loves to draw, is a fantastic baker, and loves being with his family and friends. Adrian comes to the team with a grateful heart and is excited to serve his community by empowering our youngest members to develop and nurture their love of the sport of swimming. Coach Adrian lives in Palm Desert with his sons, Enzo and Amias, wife Caylie, and Doberman, Charlie.
