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.

Mark Bernett - Head Assistant Coach (email)

Jennifer Tonkyn — Assistant Coach (email)

Assistant Coach Jennifer has coached with the Channel Cats since 1997. She coaches all levels of swimmers at the Columbia Basin Racquet Club (CBRC) training facility in Richland.

Jennifer began swimming back in New York State at the ripe old age of 3 (back in the days of AAU swimming, before USA Swimming came about AND before the invention of goggles).  She continued her swimming career through high school and into college. Jennifer swam 4 years with the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights after which she was an assistant coach for one year.

During Jennifer's years with the Channel Cats, she has coached swimmers to all levels of competitive ability having swimmers go on to compete nationally as well as collegiately. She continues to enjoy her time coaching the Channel Cats and hopes to see the continued success of the team under the leadership of head coach Todd Stafek.