Coaching Staff
Franz Huggins, Head Coach
Coach Franz arrived to Ransom Everglades from Trinidad and Tobago, where he was founder and head coach of the Areios Aquatechs in Port of Spain. He coached a number of swimmers to the Olympics, Pan American Games, South American championships and Carifta Swimming Championships. An American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA)-certified Level 3 coach, Coach Franz has also served as a national governing body executive in the position as First Vice President and Paralympic Committee of Trinidad and Tobago's Swimming Technical Director.
Coach Franz has overseen athletic performances that have won medals at Youth Olympic Games, World Junior Championships and Pan Amaerican Junior Championships.
Coach Franz was a Trinidad and Tobago Spirit of Sport Award nominee for Coach of the Year in 2013. He earned his bachelor of arts in Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University and attended Plantation High School, and was honored as "Swimmer of the Year" at both schools. He is also Ransom Everglades' Aquatics Director, Head Boys and Girls High School swim coach and a physical education instructor.
John Janszen, Associate Head Coach
John Janszen joined RE in 2024 after 6 years with the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana where he was Head Coach. Under John's leadership the Y program saw steady progression at all levels. YNWL regularly set program bests for Local, State, Regional, and National qualifiers while developing opportunities for swimmers of all levels and abilities. By April 2019 four swimmers from YNWL became the first ever from Louisiana to compete at the YMCA National Swimming Championships, including Championship finalists.
Coach John brings years of coaching experience to Ransom Everglades Aquatic Club. Prior to his time in Lousiana, he coached in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he held the position of Assistant Director of Competitive Aquatics at Powel Crosley Jr. YMCA (PCY). His successes at PCY include the Men’s Team Champions at the 2017 Long Course YMCA Nationals. While at PCY, John worked primarily with swimmers age 11 and older. He also handled championship meet preparation for all senior athletes. Additionally, John serves as Assistant Meet Director for YMCA Masters Nationals and was formerly a Louisiana Swimming Board Member & Safe Sport Coordinator.
Prior to coaching at PCY, Coach John was Assistant Director of Competitive Swimming at the M.E. Lyons YMCA, after serving as Swim Team Director at the Coffman Family YMCA in Springboro, OH. At Coffman, he succeeded in achieving record growth of the team size, Y National Qualifiers and National Finalists. Coach John spent five and half years coaching in the college ranks at Miami University and Xavier University. At the collegiate level, he oversaw athletes who became All-Conference, NCAA Qualifiers, & US Olympic Trial Qualifiers, managed recruiting and strength and conditioning. A swimmer himself, Coach John enjoyed four years of swimming for Xavier University. He was a four-time Scholar Athlete Award winner and school record holder. Coach John graduated in 2004 with a degree in Sport Management and earned a Masters of Education in Sport Administration in 2008. Coach John is an ASCA Level 4 Age Group / Level 5 YMCA certified coach.
Alaina Stotzky, Assistant Coach
Email Coach Alaina
As the head coach of the middle school swim team at Ransom Everglades, I enjoy sharing my passion for swimming with our young athletes. I previously served as a coach the Nashville Aquatic Club in Tennessee while also conducting research on autoimmune diseases, specifically Type 1 Diabetes, as a research assistant at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. I also served as a long-term substitute teacher at Lake Mary's Preparatory School in Orchard Lake, Mich. I grew up in Flint, Michigan, and traveled to Florida to pursue my undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Miami. There, I had the incredible opportunity to swim for the Hurricanes Division I swim team, which enabled me to attain a lifelong dream of competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021 in the 100-meter backstroke. I was also an Atlantic Coast Conference finalist, 16-time All-American and school record holder in the 200 backstroke. When not at the pool, I enjoy spending time with my two mini poodles, Axel and Apollo, and I will always share pictures if anyone wants to see them!
Maddie Davis, Assistant Coach
Coach Maddie joined RE Aquatic Club in 2023 after moving to Miami to pursue her Master’s degree in Marine Conservation while studying sharks at the University of Miami in 2022. Coach Maddie both teaches Swim Lessons and coaches our Sailors Group. Coach Maddie loves the ocean and being in the water and is excited to be coaching and inspiring the next generation in the sport of swimming!
Coach Maddie started swimming at the age of 8. She was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. While growing up she swam for an outdoor neighborhood swimming club during the summer and then transitioned to swimming with the Greater Omaha Aquatics Club (G.O.A.L). She swam in High School for a cooperative team with Platteview High School and Bellevue East High School. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and swam all 4 years of college as part of College Club Swimming and qualified for College Club Swimming Nationals at Ohio State University in 2019. She was the Vice President and President of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Swim Club, where she maintained all aspects of the club, including coaching.
Maria Martinez Gil, Assistant Coach
Coach Maria started swimming at the age of seven in Colombia and continued to swim competitively upon moving to Salt Lake City, Utah. She swam for Corner Canyon High School and the University of Utah Club Team. She recently earned her degree in Psychology and Child Development. Before joining Ransom Everglades she was the Head Coach at Salt Lake Country Club, Assistant Coach for East High School, and has eight years of experience as a swim instructor. Maria is thrilled to join the Ransom Everglades team to keep teaching the younger generation about the sport of swimming.
Silvana Gonzalez, Assistant Coach
Caro Torres, Assistant Coach
