Hi, this is Coach Nancy. Thanks for taking a moment to read about my passion for coaching competitive swimming…..

I have been an age group coach since the Fall/Winter 2007 season. My love and passion for the sport of swimming began back when I became an age group swimmer, at the age of 8. I swam competitively until I was 19 years old.

My age group years were spent pounding out 2 workouts a day, 6 days a week…with BR Ryall YMCA, in Glen Ellyn, IL.  Add in 3 doubles a week at 5 am, as well!  A few of my swimming highlights were becoming a multiple-time state champion at the IL YMCA state meets. My best events as a younger swimmer were 50 & 100 breast, 50 & 100 fly and the 100 & 200 IM. I was a National Champion at Y Nationals, multiple times, as well. I also held the National YMCA records in the 200 breast & 400 IM.  I competed at Senior Nationals (AAU Swimming back in the day J) multiple times. I swam for Arizona State University. While at college, I decided to stop swimming after my freshman year…to pursue my college studies and do some other exciting things!

During my age group years, I also attended Camp Ak-O-Mak, up in Northern Ontario, Canada. Camp Ak-O-Mak was a place that I trained for 7 weeks in the summer with friends and many others, from all over the country and Canada. Ak-O-Mak was run by Buck Dawson, who ran the Swimming Hall of Fame, for many years! Those were 2 intense summers of training! The kids love hearing my stories about how for 7 WEEKS….everywhere we went unless we had to go to a competition miles and miles away….all of us could either SWIM, CANOE OR WALK there. We could not be driven!  It was awesome!!

I started my coaching career with the Academy Bullets and it was there…that I found an incredible passion for coaching young swimmers and creating an atmosphere for private and clinic instruction. Many of my swimmers that were as young as 8 years old, were able to achieve time standards successful enough to place themselves at regionals and state. They qualified for both relay and individual swims. I really enjoy taking a swimmer to his/her fullest potential, focusing on their technique and incorporating that into their complete program. My swimmers always experience FUN and enjoy the creativity my coaching provides.

I launched the competitive swimming program at USA Athletic Club & Spa in the spring of 2013, after being asked to think about coaching there in Feb/March 2013. Coaching the Tidal Waves allowed me to provide incredible attention to each and every one of our swimmers. The swimmers responded very well and loved our program. Our success was significant! We developed MULTIPLE Regional Champions, 5 State Champions, 1 National Age Group Record holder and placed in the Top 10 at the Age Group State meet twice in our last 2 seasons there. We had Top 3 Relay performances at Regionals many times and a Top 3 Relay performance at Age Group State, as well.

While coaching the Tidal Waves, I was named the Illinois 2016 Age Group Coach of the Year. At that same time, I was named as one of the Top 10 ASCA F&F Age Group Coaches of the Year, 2 years in a row. I am extremely proud of those honors!

In 2017, I was offered and accepted the position of the HEAD COACH of the Fox Valley Park District RIPTIDES SWIM TEAM! This is a newer team and program with endless opportunities for our swimmers! We began our first season in September 2017. Coaches Sara Converse, Janine Staudacher, Miranda Ambre and I began the Riptides program here at the Fox Valley Park District. 

The Riptides program is developing successful swimmers at all levels within our program. During our time here at the Fox Valley Park District, we have produced many Regional Champions and both Age Group and Senior State Champions! We have also had Age Group State Champion relay teams! Our State Champions include events that cover all four strokes plus both IM events! We sent a 15 year old athlete (Leah Hayes) to the 2021 Olympic Trials who swam in her first Olympic Trials and came home as an Olympic Trial semi finalist! This athlete was also named to the 2021 USA World Cup Team, earned a spot on the 2022 LC World Championship team, swam on Team USA at the World Championships and earned a bronze medal in the 200 M IM....while setting her first Junior World Record!! Leah also swam at the World Junior Championships in 2023, earning multiple medals and setting multiple Championship meet records. Leah swam at the 2024 Olympic Trials and swam 4 individual events, swam in 2 semi-finals and 2 finals. Leah finished 5th in both the 200 M and 400 M events! While coaching Leah, I was also named as one of the Team USA coaches at one of the World Cup events in 2021! We are an extremely successful smaller team and we continue to create an atmosphere that provides driven and dedicated workouts for our kids, strong tech focus and attention to detail for all of our swimmers.

Our swimmers compete in regular USA sanctioned meets, Regional, State (Age Group and Senior), State Open Water and National level meets. The Riptides have had multiple Top 10 finishes at State meets. As mentioned above, we have developed multiple Regional and State Champions, 2 State record holders, a multiple National Age Group record holder, a 2021 and 2024 Olympic Trial qualifier, semi finalist and finalist, a bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships and a Junior World Record holder!!  We are extremely proud of those accomplishments!

A few other very important parts of my life include being a mother to 2 wonderful children. Kelly is 39…. and loves sharing time with my swimmers and parents. Very often you can find Kelly on deck, assisting the coaches and team in many ways! Her assistance is constant and very appreciated! Brian is 36 and was a very successful competitive swimmer from the age of 7 until he graduated from Boston College in 2011.  Brian lives in Chicago and is enjoying life very much!  Brian was a successful swim coach with SCST until he decided to go full time into the business world. He has worked and continues to work very successfully with Make A Wish Foundation. Brian loves to travel and does so extensively around the world!

I have a BSN in Nursing and spent 15 years as a pediatric RN prior to becoming a part of the sales world. I worked as a nurse in Loyola’s Peds ICU and also was part of a team that brought pediatric care to Marionjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, in Wheaton, IL.  I believe the experience of being a pediatric nurse gives you a unique perspective on life.

I still enjoy swimming, usually on the weekends or later in the evening, after completing my coaching day.  It’s my way of clearing my head and getting a workout in!

Thanks for reading my bio…stop by sometime and say hi!!  We will be working hard but enjoying every minute……each and every day at the Vaughan Athletic Center!!

 Coach Nancy