Coaches Bios:
Matt Parrish Head Coach + Administrator :
Swim Career
Coach Matt grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. He began his swim career at age 6, but has enjoyed water since he was a baby. He started swimming competitively for the Birmingham Blue Dolphins (YMCA Zone Champs for 20+ years) and for his summer club of Beachwood Recreation. At age 10 Matt was part of a 10 and under YMCA Zone Relay that still holds the record to this day (91) for BBD. At 12 Matt was a part of a YMCA National Record setting relay. With continued success on the USA/YMCA level in his Age Group Swimming Years (multiple State Championships, YMCA State Championships, + YMCA Zone Championships). Matt later switched over to Birmingham Bloomfield Atlantis (the team coach Paul founded) and went on to win a Junior National Championship.
Matt chose to swim at Brother Rice High School in Birmingham, MI. At Brother Rice, Matt would win the individual 100 Backstroke State Championship as well as 2 Relays as a Freshman. As a Sophomore, he won individual State Championship in the 100 Fly (placing 4th as a Freshmen), as well as being a part of 3 State Championship Relays. The 200 Free Relay set a National Record that stood until 2009. The 400 Free Relay was a State Record. Both Relays were top in the Nation for High School Swimming that year. In Matt’s Junior Year, he went on to win the 100 fly, Set a State Record (also top in the Nation) in the 200 Medley Relay, as well as State Championship in the 200 Free Relay (also top in the Nation). He placed 2nd in the 100 Backstroke (which was under the State Record Mark). In Matts Senior Year, he was a part of the 200 Medley State Championship Team, set State Records in the 100 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke and 400 Free Relay. He placed top 5 Nationally in all 4 events. When concluded, Matt was a 27 time All- American High School Swimmer, who won 14/16 events at the State Championships over his 4 years at Brother Rice. Matt was inducted into the Brother Rice Hall of Fame both Individually, and for the 96,97,98 teams being NISCA National Champions. He was also inducted into the Catholic League Hall of Fame. Matt was also named top 8 Michigan High School Male Swimmers in the 75 year history of MHSAA, and ranking #1 Butterflier for those 75 years.
His swimming career ended at Tennessee with All-American Honors (top 8) in the 200 Medley (Backstroke) and 200 Free Relays.
Matt has been blessed enough to have trained with some of the best swimmers, coaches, and facilities in the nation and world. As a pre-teen he learned from the Romanian Olympic Coach, with focus on efficiency (while America was focused on yardage). Matt was a part of the Junior National Team in 96-97 and was gifted the opportunity to swim a National Junior Meet in Malmo, Sweden. He has trained with Olympians, learned from Olympic Technicians, has trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Matt has been a part of the Lake Erie Swimming Board, as Junior Coach Rep, Senior Coach Rep (2 years) and as a part of the Scheduling Committee. This has afforded him the opportunity to attend ASCA clinics in Atlanta, GA as well as Dallas, TX. Swimming has taken Matt to all parts of the country (including Hawaii), it has blessed him with friends from all over the world, has given him a strong work ethic, great sense of community, and helped him learn that in order to do great things.. One must put in the work.
Coaching Career:
Matt started his coaching career at age 14 (30 years and counting) at Red Run Country Club in Royal Oak, MI. He then moved on to Village Athletic Club, and Bloomfield Surf Club all before he was out of College. These were summer club teams where Matt learned the importance of community, team atmosphere and hard work. At Tennessee, Matt helped coach a Club Team in Knoxville, as well as lent a hand as a 5th year coach for the University Of Tennessee Men's Team. Once out of College, Matt helped start the first “satellite” (many sites) team in Michigan, called Akita Swimming (later changed to Great Lakes Aquatics). This team went on to win the 14 & under USA State Championships in just their 2nd year of existence. After a few years, coach Matt moved to Chardon where he became a coach at Geauga YMCA and Chardon Sharks Rec Teams. He helped grow those teams to over 125 members each. Chardon Sharks won the SSL (summer swim league) 4 years in a row , and Geauga YMCA has placed top 3 the past 3 years, as well as top 15 at the YMCA Zone meet. He has coached multiple SSL champs, multiple USA Age Group Champs, multiple YMCA Zone Champs, as well as multiple NEOY League Champs. Matt has been named 2 time News Herald Coach of the Year (2018,2020), as well as Lake Erie Age Group Coach of the Year 2019 and Lake Erie Senior Coach of the Year in 2024 (the only coach to achieve Coach of the Year for both Age Group + Senior in Lake Erie) . Last Summer GWA claimed its first Senior Lake Erie Long Course Championship. GWA has placed top 10 in both Senior and Junior Lake Erie Championships (Short and Long Course Seasons) since it was created in 2020. Great Waves won the Lake Erie Senior Long Course Championships in 22+23, as well as the Short Course Championship in 24
Matt has a laid back demeanor but can also be very intense and expects a lot out of his swimmers. He understands that if a swimmer is to be the best they can be, it is ultimately up to them to desire the work ethic to be their best. He believes that each swimmer is their best coach, and that he alone can not make them a great swimmer, he can give them the tools, but it is up to each individual to use those tools accordingly. He believes in the sacredness in family, community support, leadership, hard work, and happiness. Swimming is a long term adventure that will undoubtedly have its ups and downs, each moment is an important opportunity to get better, stay the same or get worse. It is up to each individual to choose which direction they want their path to lead.
Bryan Scheider: Perry/Euclid Site Head Coach:
Coach Bryan is in his first year with Great Waves. He has been coaching on and off for the last 20 years at every level from 4 year olds through College Division 3. He was a member of the Cleveland State swim team in college and currently coaches Notre Dame Cathedral Latin as well as Villa Angela - St. Joseph, and Perry High School during the winter, and coaches the Euclid Panthers in the summers. Bryan has a Masters degree in Sport Management from CSU. Coach Bryan has 2 sons that swim, and his wife of 18 years teaches swimming lessons as well.
Coach Matt on Bryan " it is with great pleasure that we add Bryan to our coaching staff. I love Bryan's style and philoshophy of "Race Pace Training" meaning he focuses on top end speed as opposed to unneccessary yardage. Bryan is a man/coach that wears many hats. You may see him representing NDCL/VASJ at one meet, Perry at another, and if you swim SSL you saw him running around Euclid all weekend at Champs, for it was his efforts that made that meet so successful. Bryan has sent a swimmer or relay to High School states the past 3 seasons, and has won back to back Chagrin Valley Div 2 Womens Conference Titles for the Perry Womens team. Welcom Bryan"
Misty Caudill assistant Coach + parent leader + Lake Erie Vice Admin:
This is Misty's third year as an assistant coach for Great Waves Aquatics. She has also helped out with the Chardon Sharks SSL team over the summers. Coach Matt on Misty “ Misty loves to learn new things about swimming, she is constantly asking “why or how”, she has a great rapport with the swimmers of all ages. She is a very important part of this team, and a great model for parenting athletes.”
She lives in Chesterland with her two children, Clarke and Vera, and her husband Bill. Clarke is a Freshman and Vera is a 7th grader at West Geauga. Misty has a background in K-12 education and enjoys working with some of the age group swimmers to build skills and confidence. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and her dog, Lorelei.
