Ian Quinn brings a wealth of experience and a history of success to the program, having most recently served as the Associate Head Coach at the University of North Carolina Asheville.

During his tenure at UNC Asheville, Quinn played an instrumental role in the program’s growth and success. He helped lead the team to record-breaking performances, cultivated a strong team culture, and developed swimmers who achieved excellence at the conference and national levels. His leadership and technical expertise will be invaluable in guiding UVAC’s swimmers to new heights. Quinn’s coaching philosophy centers on athlete development, teamwork, and fostering a positive and competitive environment. His experience at the collegiate level, coupled with his enthusiasm for age-group and club swimming, will bring a fresh and dynamic approach to UVAC’s swim programs.

“I am honored to join UVAC and build on the strong foundation already in place,” said Quinn. “The commitment to excellence at this club is evident, and I am excited to work with the talented athletes, dedicated coaching staff, and supportive community. I look forward to helping the program grow and achieve new milestones.”

"I may not come from the swimming world, but still strive to make the team as organized as possible. I understand what it takes to be a good team player and also a good athlete".

August is a native Vermonter and Costume Designer for local theatre companies. They spend time with us during the week to ensure all the paperwork is up to date so the coaches can focus on what they do best - coaching! 

Fun facts about August: "I like to read, sew, and watch the birds on my front porch". 

Olivia Jaras is an energetic and dynamic coach who brings her passion for endurance sports to the UVAC swim team. She has been helping out the team since her two kids (Maya and Lu) joined the team in 2020.

With a background that includes competing for Team USA in long-distance triathlon and racing in the 2023 World Master's Championship as a masters swimmer, she’s no stranger to hard work. Add to that her past as a mountain biker and competitive cyclist, and Olivia has learned the value of pushing limits while keeping things fun. Her approach emphasizes a mix of hard work and play, ensuring that swimmers across all age groups not only develop their skills but enjoy every step of the journey.

Whether she's working with the youngest swimmers or helping more seasoned athletes, Olivia's philosophy is that fostering a love for the sport is just as important as perfecting strokes. Her focus on building a positive, passionate team environment encourages athletes to excel, with the belief that when swimmers have fun, they thrive. It’s a coaching style that reflects her experience in high-performance teams—developing the drive for excellence through dedication and a love of the process.

I’m thrilled to be part of the incredible coaching staff here at the UVAC! Swimming has been a cornerstone of my life for just about as long as I can remember, shaping me into the person I am today.

 As a young child, I started on a small swim team with the goal of simply learning the basics of swimming. At the time, I was terrified of the water, and swimming didn’t come easily to me. But thanks to some amazing coaches, I overcame my fears, built confidence, and eventually fell in love with the sport. Those early experiences not only helped me develop as a swimmer but also instilled a lifelong passion for the water.

 I swam competitively through high school, under the very same coaches who guided me as a child, and later at the collegiate level. Now, as a coach, I’m inspired to pass on that same sense of encouragement and support to swimmers of all ages and abilities.

 My goal is to help each swimmer develop their skills, build confidence, and grow their love for the sport—just as my coaches did for me. I’m excited to work with everyone here at the UVAC and help contribute to this amazing team!

 A few fun facts about me: I used to race mountain bikes competitively out in Colorado, and have ridden my bike across the state of Iowa on two different occasions".

I'm excited to be joining the coaching team here at UVAC. Athletics have always played a large part in my life and helped make me who I am today both in and out of competition. I started swimming here at UVAC when I was very young.

Athletics have always played a large part in my life and helped make me who I am today both in and out of competition. I started swimming here at UVAC when I was very young.

Swimming never came naturally to me compared to running or biking, and I have worked with a number of coaches. Their encouragement is what has motivated me to keep working hard to improve. Thanks to their motivation when I was younger I have kept working hard and am now a professional triathlete!

I graduated from WPI with a bachelor's in aerospace engineering and am currently working towards my master's also at WPI. In college, I competed in varsity track and field and cross country where I earned many honors such as second-team all-American in the 10k. 

As a coach, I want to encourage a healthy relationship with the sport, build their skills, and build their confidence just as my coaches were able to do for me. I want each swimmer to look forward to practice every day and have the ability and desire to continue with swimming later in life in whatever form that may look like for them.  I'm looking forward to working with every swimmer to achieve this and all the other amazing coaches here at UVAC!

Xander is a lifelong swimmer whose passion for the sport is contagious. He swam at Colby College from 2016-2020 and is currently pursuing his PhD in biomedical engineering at Dartmouth.
 

Beatrice swam throughout high school for her high school team and on the Ridgewood Breakers club team. She was a butterflier (specifically the 200 fly), but quickly realized distance swimming was more her speed (500 free, 1000 free). She coached younger swimmers in preparation for the competitive swim team 2017-2018 at her local YMCA. She stopped swimming competitively in University once at McGill University, but continued to swim as part of her training plan. The last two years, before law school, she taught in Québec on the Lower North Shore (bonus points if you can find La Tabatière on a map), where she coached the high school track and cross country team. Her coaching style usually consists of tough workouts and pushing limits. She prioritizes physical and mental health, specifically in understanding your body as you exercise. 

Megan Rylander joined the UVAC coaching staff after returning to New England from North Carolina.

In North Carolina, Rylander was the Head Age Group Coach for the O’Neal Aquatic Club out of Southern Pines, NC. During her time with O’Neal, Rylander coached swimmers who qualified at the Age Group level.

Born and raised in Vermont, Rylander is happy to have found a home in UVAC. She grew up swimming for the Edge and went on to swim at Plymouth State University. Before moving to North Carolina, Rylander also coached for Solo Aquatics.