Todd Stafek — Head Coach (email)
Head Coach Todd Stafek began coaching with TCCC in 1989. He is employed full-time by TCCC and coaches all levels of swimming with the Channel Cats.
Todd's swimming career began as an age-group swimmer in Salem, OR (3 years) and continued in the Tri-Cities (7 years), and through college. He was an original member of the Tri-City Channel Cats back in 1978. He was a member of the swim team at the University of Idaho for one year before moving on to the University of California, San Diego.
Todd's coaching experience goes back to when he was still competing in college and during the summers would coach a summer league team in the Tri-Cities. Upon graduating from the University of California, San Diego, he moved back home and was hired by the Channel Cats.
Since Todd began coaching for TCCC, we have achieved numerous team accomplishments: won many Inland Empire Championships, and placed at both the Age Group and Senior Sectional Championships. TCCC had had numerous finalists at the Western Zone Championships, Junior National Championships, and National Championships. TCCC had their first Olympic Trials Qualifier (Carl Jones) in 2008, had four 2012 Olympic Trial Qualifiers (Lisa Bratton, Carl Jones, Cody Roberts and Natilee Ruiz), and had one 2016 Olympic Trial Qualifier(Lisa Bratton, who placed 3rd in the 200 backstroke). TCCC has been awarded USA Swimming's Club Excellence Award at the Bronze level (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) and the Silver level (2007). Todd was also named a 2014-15 National Team Coach.
Julia Merrill — Head Assistant Coach (email)
Assistant Coach Julia Merrill has been coaching for TCCC since 2014.
Julia began swimming competitively when she was 9 years old in Oak Harbor, WA. Training and competing with North Whidbey Aquatics Club (NWAC), she swam as an age group and senior swimmer throughout her school years. Upon graduating high school, she swam for Brigham Young University in 2007-2008 as a breaststroker.
While in high school, Julia coached NWAC as a developmental coach, and loved giving back to the sport on the team that developed her. She quickly learned that coaching was something she loved and wanted to continue! After moving to Utah and swimming for a year at BYU, she began coaching for a local age group team (OTAC) and did so for the remaining three years of her college education.
Upon arriving in Tri-Cities in 2012, Julia coached for two years as an assistant high school coach for Richland and Hanford, before settling into her position for the Channel Cats. She loves working with swimmers of all ages, learning about them as individuals, and fostering a team-mindset to create a cohesive training group environment. Watching swimmers accomplish their goals and overcome obstacles is her favorite part of coaching.
Julia enjoys spending any free time with her family and pets. They love to camp, watch movies, bake, and hike. She loves being outside, and stays active as she trains and competes in triathlons. While running and biking have added depth to her training, swimming will always be her first true love!
Susan Travis — Assistant Coach
Ruth Wood — Assistant Coach
Coach Ruth began her swimming journey as part of the summer swim team in Tri-Cities, WA. She joined the Channel Cats at nine years old. She continued to swim as part of the team, and began to teach swim lessons as a way of sharing her love of swimming with others
In 2015 she was hired as an assistant coach with the Channel Cats, working with the younger age group swimmers. Over the years, Ruth's love of swimming and coaching inspired her to also pursue teaching. She continued to coach through college and now works by the pool and in the classroom. Ruth loves inspiring swimmers and students to be the very best that they can be. She enjoys fostering an enviroment that teaches teamwork, perserverance, confidence, and fun.
Anytime Ruth is not by the pool or in the classroom, she enjoys sewing, painting, and spending time with her family. She is married and has two fun and energetic dogs that keep her and her husband on their toes.
Hope Rossiter - Assistant Coach
Hope began coaching with the Channel Cats in November, 2024, but her connection to the team started years earlier as a Channel Cat swimmer for four years. A graduate of Southridge High School, Hope swam all four years on the school team and later returned as an assistant coach. During that time, she also worked for seven years as as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and novice swim coach at the Tri-City Court Club, building a strong foundation in both teaching and coaching.
As a coach, Hope's favorite part of the job is watching swimmers grow as athletes and individuals, celebrating their achievements, and encouraging them to keep setting new goals. Outside of the pool, Hope works as a paraeducator at Desert Hills Middle School and is currently pursuing her masters degree in special education.
Nolan Jenks - Assistant Coach
Nolan started swimming competitively at 7 years old in Mesa, Arizona. Growing up around the Tempe, Chandler, and Phoenix swim scene, he developed a love for the sport that’s stuck with him ever since. He still trains and competes today, staying connected to swimming not only as a coach but as an athlete and a true fan of the sport.
He began his coaching career in 2022 as head coach of the Prosser Piranhas summer league team, where he discovered how rewarding it is to help young swimmers grow and build confidence in the sport. In 2023, he started coaching at the high school level, where his focus is on developing complete athletes — building speed, strength, and efficiency in the water while guiding swimmers both technically and mentally. Nolan’s coaching philosophy is built on collaboration — he sees his role more like a golf caddy than an instructor, working alongside swimmers to help them make smart decisions, understand their races, and take ownership of their development.
Known for his energy, positivity, and genuine connection with his swimmers, Nolan creates an environment where athletes can push themselves, have fun, and keep getting better. He believes great coaching goes beyond fast swimming — it’s about helping athletes build confidence, take pride in their progress, and truly love the sport. His goal is to see swimming continue to grow and to create more opportunities for athletes in his community and beyond.
Adilyn Williams - Assistant Coach
Coach Adilyn Williams has been part of the Channel Cat family since 2016, when she first joined as an age- group swimmer at just eight years old. Over the years, she has grown into a dedicated athlete and leader, now serving as a senior swimmer for the team while also beginning her coaching career.
Adi officially joined the Channel Cats coaching staff in 2024, where she works primarily with younger swimmers to help them build strong fundamentals, confidence, and friendships through swimming. I addition to coaching with the Channel Cats, she has taught swim lessons and spent the summer coaching a recreational league team, further developing her ability to connect with swimmers of all ages and skill levels.
As both an athlete and coach, Adi brings enthusiasm, passion, and firsthand experience to every practice. She enjoys passing on her love for the sport and helping athletes reach their potential in and out of the water. Looking ahead, Adi will graduate from Hanford High School and Columbia Basin College in June of 2026 and plans to continue her own swimming career in college while pursuing a degree in the medical field.
