Coaches and Directors
Dave Kilmer leads our program. Dave began his competitive swimming career in San Diego, swam his high school years with the Mission Viejo Nadadores, and returned to San Diego to compete at SDSU. His coaching career began when SDSU cut their swim team in 1984. He has been a leading coach in San Diego ever since. He has led many swimmers to national rankings, olympic trials, and has a very high percentage of swimmers who continue on to collegiate swimming after CAST. Dave has always been involved in San Diego's Local Swimming Committee, serving on the board and committees in multiple roles throughout his career. He is currently the general chairman of SI swimming.
Outside of work, Abbie enjoys outdoor activities (especially hiking & swimming), reading, and developing her nonprofit, which focuses on increasing access to environmental literacy in local schools.
Taylor began swimming at age 7. When she was 10 her team folded and she transferred to CAST. She quickly excelled and became a top contender in San Diego throughout her career. She still holds 1/2 of the 11-12 girls yards records for the team. Taylor went on to compete at the Futures level (first tier of national caliber meets) and went on to compete at the University of the Pacific.
While at UOP she coached for Tiger Aquatics for two years. In 2024 she returned to San Diego, and has been a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Kroc center.
We are thrilled that she has re-joined CAST in August of 2025, this time as a coach. Taylor has a deep understanding of stroke technique and a passion to help each individual reach their potential.
Ben discontinued his coaching with CAST in the spring of 2025. He is currently a standby coach when CAST needs him to fill in.
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Ben started swimming competitively at the age of 6 and swam form the Great Planes Aquatic Club, and competed through high school.
He began coaching swimming at the recreational level in Waverly, Nebraska in 2008.
In 2012 he began his career as a Special Education teacher at Norris Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska, and in that same year became the Boys’ varsity swim coach at Norris, where he coached for the next 6 years.
In 2019 he began his club coaching career with the Greater Omaha Aquatics Leopardsharks swim team. At GOAL he was the lead coach for the 11 – 13-year-old age group for two years and then moved to become the lead coach for GOAL’s senior group. He and his wife moved to San Diego in July of 2022 to teach in the San Diego Unified school district as well as begin coaching for CAST.
