Philip Franke (Head Coach) - Coach Phil started coaching for Ambush Swim Team in June of 2020, and later became the Head Coach in September of 2022. Prior to his coaching career he was a member of the Mike Moses Middle School Swim Team, Nacogdoches High School Swim Team, Doches' Dolphins Summer Swim Team, and the Ambush Swim Team. In his 6 years of competitve swimming he achived many milestones such as NHS Team Captain, District Champion, Regional Finalist, and State Finalist. Phil graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a B.B.A. in Sports Business in May of 2023. He currently is a teacher at McMichael Middle School where he teaches 6th grade math.

Coach Phil's primary goals are to build good character into all his athletes and help them achieve their swimming goals of Region, State, Sectionals, Trials, or Olympics. He is dedicated to coaching his athletes to the best of his abilities. 

Achievements: 

• LGI Certified
• ASCA Level 2
• Ambush Assistant Coach 2020 - 2022
• Ambush Head Coach 2022 - Present 
• Doches' Dolphins Assistant Coach 2020 - 2022
• Doches' Dolphins Head Coach 2023, 2025
• Doches' Dolphins Director 2024

Derek Theiss  – (Ambush Coach and Advisor) Derek has 16 years of competitive swim coaching under his belt including Head Summer League Coach, Assistant NOCH & Ambush Coach, and Head Ambush Coach. Derek graduated with a Kinesiology degree from Stephen F. Austin in May of 2022. He then followed his love of water polo and became the Head Coach of Water Polo at Nacogdoches High School in August of 2022. While with the High School he will take on the role of Advisor of Ambush by giving insight, help, and mentorship to coaches and athletes. 

Derek's main focus is helping each swimmer take the right steps at the right time towards competitive swimming. Another goal of his is to teach kids how to transfer the good things they learn in swimming into their daily lives.

Achievements:

• Space Cowboys Head Summer League Coach 2007-2008
• North Channel Nadadores Head Summer League Coach 2009-2012
• North Channel Age Group Coach 2009-2013
• Ambush Assistant Coach 2014-2018
• Ambush Head Coach 2018-2022
• NHS Head Water Polo Coach 2022-Present

Hannah Richey (Nacogdoches Developmental & Junior Group) - Coach Hannah started coaching for Ambush Swim Team in the summer of 2022. Prior to her coaching career, she swam competitively for Mike Moses Middle School swim team, Nacogdoches High school swim team, Ambush swim team, and Doches' Dolphins Summer league team. In her 8 years of competitive swimming she gained many achievements such as NHS team captain, 3-time District Champion, Regional Finalist, and 4-time varsity letterman. Before her coaching career she was involved with our swim lesson program as a level 1, 2, and 3 instructor as well as head instructor. She is currently studying Kinesiology at Stephen F. Austin University, where she plans on graduating in May 2026. 

Coach Hannah loves working as an Ambush Coach and works extremely hard to ensure every kid is improving their swimming skills while having fun. 

Achievements: 

• USA Swimming Certified Coach
• Ambush Assistant Coach 2022 - Present
• Doches' Dolphins Assistant Coach 2023, 2025
• Doches' Dolphins Head Coach 2024

Coach Flowers comes with a diverse background in aquatic trainigs/ coaching.

Her swimming carer began with a summer league program at age 4 with the San Jacinto Gators.  She continued training and swimming the Northshore Channelview area with USA Swimming and summer programs, until 8th grade when the family moved to Deer Park.  

While in Deer Park, Flowers swam for STAR USA swim team, Deer Park Junior High Swim team, Deer Park Seals Summer League, and Deer Park High School.  She also played waterpolo for Deer Park High School.  During high school, Flowers was District Champ, and Regional Qualifier all 4 years.   She was also a member of the water polo team and they won district and regional champs.  

Upon graduation from high school, Flowers was given a chance to swim for Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, but due to family emergency, she declined the offer.  Instead, she attended Stephen F. Austin State University and received her Bachlor's and Masters degrees in education.

During the summers Flowers began teaching swim lessons at age 15, and worked as a Life gurad at the Deer Park City Pool. 

In 1994, Flowers began working for Six Flags Waterworld.  This adventure lead from lifeguard, to head guard, to manager.  While at Waterworld, Flowers was a member of STORM Lifeguard competition team and competed in 4 Texas State Super Guard Competitions.  She also trained lifeguards with Jeff Ellis and Association.  In 1994, she was a member to Top Gun Lifeguard training team for National Association of Water Safety Council.

In 1998, Flowers served as a Swim Coach and a Writing Coach for the US Scholar Athletes Games in New Jersey.

After college in 1998, Flowers worked for Nacogdoches City Pool as a manager, swim instructor, and pool manager. 

Coach swam for USA Master's Swim Program 1998-2000.

She began working for the Boys and Girls Club in 2011 and currently teaches swim lessons, and coaches for the swim programs. 

Coach is also currently serving Lufkin MIddle School as a ELAR Teacher/ Swim Coach and Lufkin High School as the Head Swim Coach.

Flowers's Certifications include:

Bachlor's of Science in Intradisciplinary Studies

Masters of Education with a Reading Specialist

American Red Cross Lifeguard

American Red Cross WSI

CPR

First Aide

NFHS- National Federation of High School Coach Member

TSHCA- TexasState High School Coaches Association Member

TISCA- Texas Interscholastic State Coaches Association Member

Certified USA Swim Coach

Coach Flowers-

My main goal is to instill the love of swimming to all.  I meet people where they are and provide guidance to get better.

Swimming/Athletic Background/Achievements

Angelo Aquatics: Swim lessons and Summer league 2000-2002

Jonesboro Jets:  Summer league 2003-2004

Lufkin Sharks: Summer league 2005-2012

Ambush Swimming: Year-round 2012-2013.

• SCY and LCM Sectionals Qualifier 2012 and 2013: 50Fr, 100FR, 100BR, 200BR, 100FL, 200IM
• Gulf Swimming LCM Summer Champs 2013 medalist : 100M FR and 100M BR
• Aggieland April Open 2013 medalist in 100M FR and 100M BR

Lufkin High School: UIL Fall/Spring Semesters 2009-2013 at the Livewell Pool (so many laps swam in that lane by the slide)

• Current holder of 6 records set in 2012/2013. 50 FR, 100 FR, 500 FR, 100 FL, 100 BR, and 200 IM.
• Team MVP four years in a row. Co-holder MVP the fourth year with fellow swimmer - previous PCA/Ambush coach - Coach Marisa (Wilmon) Nash.
• UIL-5A State finalist for the 200 IM in 2013 in Austin, TX.
• TISCA All District Team 2009/2010
• TISCA All Region Team 2010/11 and 2011/12
• TISCA All State Team 2012/13

Texas Christian University: 2013-2017; studied Kinesiology and General Business

• Recruited for and competed in Breaststroke and Sprint Freestyle events to represent the Frogs. One season - 2013/14.
• Scholar All-American Swimming and Diving Team Divison 1 Fall 2013 - awarded by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.
• Received a letterman from the university for helping score at the Big 12 Championships.
• After leaving the sport of swimming, I walked on to the TCU Track & Field team and "red-shirted" for one season in the hammer throw. I worked with the SFASU Track & Field Coach for a summer, and he helped with the recruiting process for TCU.
• My third year at university, I began running and training for half-marathons.
• Fourth year, I became the Vice President of the TCU Triathlon Club.
• CERTIFIED ATHLETICS COACH: Certified by Human Kinetics Coach Education; American Sport Education Program (ASEP); Professional Coaches Education Program

My Prime: 2018 to present

• Since graduation, I have continued to compete, train, and explore what the human body is capable of. Endurance sports have become both my proving ground and my classroom. I have competed in:
  • Ironman 70.3 - NOLA, Oct. 2018
  • Spartan Beast - Dallas, Oct. 2019
  • Rock N Roll Marathon - San Antonio, Dec. 2021
  • Pineywoods Purgatory Century (100mi) Ride - Lufkin, Oct. 2022
  • Ironman 70.3 - Waco, Oct. 2024
  • and many more half-marathons, open-water events, and sprint triathlons each race teaching me something new about resilience, discipline, and the quiet power of consistent work.
  • For a year and a half in 2018-2019, I joined Delayed Entry for the United States Navy. I trained with candidates for Special Warfare/Operation programs and eventually was offered a switch in my rating from Nuclear Engineer to Air Rescue Swimming. Life pulled me a different direction, and I did not pursue a career with the USN.
• These years have deepened my passion for the human body - not just how it moves, but how it adapts, heals, and rises to any challenge when given structure and purpose. Pushing my own limits has given me firsthand understanding of athletic development, energy management, and the mental side of performance. It has also shaped the way I coach: with intention, curiosity, and an appreciation for every athlete's unique path.
• This chapter of my life has been about staying hungry for growth, staying humble in the process, and showing the athletes I work with that your "prime" isn't something that happens to you - it's something you build, one disciplined day at a time.

Natalie Naramore

Ambush Coach – Junior Group

Natalie began with the BGCDET in 2018 as a lifeguard and swim instructor.  She began her swim career with Ambush starting with summer league when she was 10.  She lettered four times for Lufkin High School and went on to swim four years for the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas as part of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC).  Natalie graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2024 from the University of the Ozarks with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting with minors in Mathematics and American Studies.

She has returned to East Texas to pursue her graduate degree in Accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University and has rejoined the Ambush swim club to continue to give back to the sport that has meant so much to her.

Her goal is to instill a love of swimming in her swimmers that has sustained her through her academic and athletic careers. 

“For me, swimming is so much more than just looking at that black line at the bottom of the pool.  It has instilled in me a sense of confidence and identity as well as taught me with hard work and perseverance, there isn’t anything I can’t do.”

Natalie’s Swimming Achievements:

2023-24: Member of the SCAC Academic Honor Roll, Female Eagle Academic Excellence Award, Team Captain, Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society member, Member of SCAC Student Athletic Committee

2022-23: Member of the SCAC Academic Honor Roll, Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society member

2021-22: Member of the SCAC Academic Honor Roll.

2020-21: Member of the SCAC Academic Honor Roll, SCAC Sportsmanship Award

Lufkin High School: Named an Academic All-American, All-District, Two-time Texas Academic All-State member, Team MVP and Captain. District Champ in both 500 Freestyle and 100 Back. Regional Finalist. 

Erik Cozadd (Ambush Coach & Team Administrator) - Has been the Aquatics Director for both Lufkin & Nacogdoches pools since May 2007. His swimming background began as a freshman with the NHS swim team. In the fall of 1998 Erik began his collegiate three year swimming career as a fighting Cardinal at Wheeling Jesuit University, West Virginia. Erik earned his Bachelors in Psychology & Spanish in December 2002.

Erik's main duties with Ambush involve administrative work, but he also helps coach when needed. Now resides in his hometown of Nacogdoches with his daughter Ava.

Coaching Achievements:

• East Texas Swim Team/Ambush Coach 2007-2022
• Team Ambush Coach & Administrator 2012-2022
• Gulf Masters Swimming board member 2009-2011
• USA Swimming Meet Director Certified, CPO, LGI, ASCA Level I
• USA Swimming Coach Certified & Registered USA Swimmer

Swimming Achievements:

• Texas 5A State Qualifier 1997 & 1998 50 Freestyle
• Awarded Swimming Scholarship to Wheeling Jesuit University Spring 1998
• Bluegrass Mountain Conference Medalist 1999, 2000, & 2001
• Junior National Qualifier, ETEX 1998
• United States Masters Swimming member since 2007
• USMS Nationals 2008, 2009, 2015, 2017