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 joins us from the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana where he was Head Coach since the Fall of 2017. Under John's leadership the 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.
Ivanova Febres, Team Administrator/Assistant Coach
Coach Ivanova was born and raised in Venezuela where she lived until the age of 17. She has been swimming since the age of 4 and was a competitive swimmer from 1982 to 1991 in her hometown, Mérida. She competed State, Regionals, Nationals and some International meets during this period. Later she coached all levels of Adult swimming at Club de Natación Ejido in Merida.
Having moved to the US in 1994 she spent time swimming masters in Arizona before moving to Europe and swimming masters in Spain. After coming back to the States she kept swimming on her own until the day before her son (a Ransom Everglades Aquatic Club member) was born. Since 2015, she joined an open water club and swims in the ocean every Sunday!
Today, she includes coaching swimming to the Pioneer's group at Ransom Everglades Aquatics Club, Director of Swim Lessons, and Team Administrator as part of her many joyous swimming activities.
Evan Banciela, Facilities/Aquatics Assistant
Coach Evan has been a coach since graduating from the University of West Florida in 2017. Born and raised in Miami, Coach Evan attended Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, where he helped secure 3 state titles during his highschool years. Coach Evan has coached every age group and prefers the swimmers who are just finding their foundation in the sport, as they can develop skills and habits that will help them throughout their entire lives. He is currently Senior Assistant Coach with the Raiders, Performance, & Senior groups, and is responsible for assisting with facilty needs at the pool.
Carlos Van Isschot Barber, Assistant Coach
Estefania Fierro, Assistant Coach
Silvana Gonzalez, Assistant Coach
