Welcome WEST's New Head Age Group Coach, Carlene Takaki!

Tim Senholtz

Good Morning WEST,

 

We are very excited to announce that Carlene Takaki will be joining WEST Coast Aquatics as our Head Age Group Coach. Carlene will begin her journey with WEST at the beginning of the Fall 2021-2022 season. As Head Age Group Coach, Carlene will oversee training, growth, and operations of the Age Group program and provide leadership to the other Age Group Coaches. 

 

Carlene began coaching in 2008 to help fellow Purdue Boilermaker, Marisa Watts-Cozort found the club team Swim South Bay in the South Bay Area. Carlene coached age group up to senior swimmers there before accepting a position assisting the National Team at Santa Clara Swim Club in 2010. In 2013, she moved to Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics to head the pre-senior group of swimmers ages 13-15. She has coached swimmers through the Junior National Level, including several Pacific Swimming Outstanding Swimmers and Relays, with athletes consistently ranking top 10 for their age in USA Swimming. 

Some of Carlene's notable coaching achievements include:

  • Western Zone Select Camp Coach, Eastern Zone Select Camp Coach

  • Active Member of the Pacific Swimming Board, representative at the USA Swimming Leadership Summit

  • ASCA Coach of the Year Nominee

  • Pacific Swimming Coaches Clinic Speaker

  • Women in Coaching Clinic Organizer and Speaker

 

Carlene grew up in the Bay Area and attended Presentation High School (class of ’03) where she was a 3-time All-American and helped the team to a CCS victory in 2001. In her collegiate career, she started as a walk-on at Purdue University, and ended as Big Ten champion in the 200 fly and an NCAA All-American. She graduated with a degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Jewelry and Metals and a minor in Art History. After her collegiate career, she stayed and trained at Purdue, completing her career with the 100 and 200 fly at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

 

In her free time, Carlene loves to SoulCycle, swim, walk, read, and spend time with her family.

 

If you are interested in welcoming Carlene to the WEST community, feel free to email her at [email protected].

 

We are ecstatic to have you on board with us Carlene!