Florida Swimming
Level 4
Excellence 300

Coaches and Directors

Coaches and Directors
Coaching Staff
Kristen Foley Head Coach
Kristen Foley comes to Southwest Aquatics from Trident Aquatics in Oklahoma where she spent 2019 assisting in elevating the status of the team to recognition at both the national and state levels while tripling the roster size.
 

Prior to Kristen’s time in Oklahoma she spent two years as the Head Coach and Aquatics Director at LIU Post in NY. She was elevated to that position after serving as assistant coach for two years. Prior to joining the coaching staff at LIU Post, Kristen served as an assistant coach at St. Joseph’s College for the 2015-2016 season.

 
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Kristen has been both an elite and developmental team coach with Team Suffolk since 2011, coaching both junior national and national level qualifiers. She also coached a Boy’s High School Varsity team during that time where she recruited a first year team and produced six All-County qualifiers and one All-State qualifier. Prior to that Kristen coached overseas for two years.
 
During Kristen’s time at the collegiate level she saw four swimmers qualify for the NCAA championships and had several CSCAA Scholar All Americans. She was also the recipient of the ASCA Coach of Excellence award.
 
Kristen graduated from Hunter College with a B.A. in Nutrition and Food Science.
 
JT Land Head Age Group Coach

Coach J.T. has been with the South West Aquatics family since 2012. He has worked his way up from a stroke instructor to team coach. His experience from stroke lessons has easily transitioned into coaching swim team due to his solid foundations in stroke technique and stroke progressions. JT has coached multiple swimmers to the Florida Age Group Championships(FLAGs). His swimmers have won FLAG Championships and set FLAG and Florida records. He has also worked with the PEAK performance camps and has worked with countless athletes of all ability levels.

J.T. has a  bachelors degree in Sports and Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching from the University of Central Florida. He has a true passion for coaching and enjoys seeing his swimmers accomplish their goals. He bring a high energy and excitement to the pool deck. 
 
JT and his wife Kari live in Winter Garden and have a son, Beckham.
 
Mike McGinty Age Group Coach

Coach Mike has been coaching since 2001, and has been working with swimmers since 1998. He has coached multiple swimmers from different ages to the Florida age Group Championships(FLAGS) and to the Florida Senior Championships. He has also coached a swimmer who won multiple events at FLAGS. Coach Mike loves developing swimmers and ensuring their progress. He promotes and teaches commitment to his athletes which are important life skills.

Mike grew up in the Dr. Phillips/Winter Garden Area and swam for Coach Bruce Follensbee at Dr. Phillips High School. He has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida. He is a certified private pilot and a Coast Guard certified boat captain. He enjoys fishing and water skiing in his spare time.  

Jessica Laird Age Group Coach

Jessica Laid comes to SouthWest Aquatics from Swim RVA in Richmond, VA where she was most recently the Senior Advancement Coach after spending 2.5 years as the Head Developmental Coach. Jessica is an ASCA Level 3 Coach and was chosen as an Eastern Zones Coach for Virginia Swimming in 2016 and 2017. 

Prior to joining Swim RVA, Jessica spent twelve successful years coaching 12 & unders at various clubs such as Poseidon and Kayak in Virginia. 

Jessica currently lives in Titusville with her two dogs, Kiwi and Mango

Board of Directors