UPAC Head Coach Aaron Hughes has been a part of the Puget Sound swim community for over 15 years in a variety of roles including USA Club Coaching, WIAA High School Coaching and as the Aquatic Operations Director for the University Place School District. As Head Coach of Curtis Vikings Girls Swim, he has mentored and inspired swimmers to pursue excellence in the pool, classroom and as community members. He now carries that philosophy to UPAC.

Coach Erica Adams comes to UPAC having previously served as head coach for NWR High School men and women’s swim teams with top 3 finishes at every MHSAA championship during her tenure from 2018-2022.  She also served as assistant club coach for Sunkist Swim Team from 2011-2022 during which the team rose from a 7th place LSC ranking to winning 7 consecutive championships.  Coach Erica is a Millsaps College graduate with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Secondary Education with a focus on classical studies and began her teaching career in Okinawa, Japan, with the Department of Defense.  Following her years in Okinawa, she taught in Kaneohe, Hawaii, and Flowood, Mississippi, where she taught at public and private classical schools.  Coach Erica began her competitive swimming career in 1983, embarked on her coaching career during college, and transitioned to an adult endurance athlete in 2014 having been recognized by USA Triathlon and Ironman as an AWA ranked athlete having competed in nine 70.3 events.  With many decades of experience, Erica continues to be a student of the sport and enjoys teaching all levels of swimmers from beginning instruction, stroke school, age group, multi-sport, and competitive athletes.

Coach Emily's swimming journey began in Pacific Northwest Swimming, where she trained with University Place Aquatic Club and swam for Curtis Senior High School.  Emily pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Western Washington University, and a Masters in Organizational Leadership through Eastern Washington University.

Emily's coaching career spans several years and encompasses various coaching roles. She served as an assistant Age Group coach at University Place Aquatic Club from 2015 to 2019, working with both Age Group and High School Fitness groups. During her time at WEST Coast Aquatics from 2019 to 2021, she worked as an Age Group Coach, leading the Age Group Challenge and Discover groups. Under her guidance, numerous athletes achieved qualifying times for Age Group Regionals and PNS Short Course Champs. Most recently, Emily was the Executive Director and Head Coach at Metro Aquatics from 2021-2024 where she led the Senior training group.

Emily's coaching philosophy revolves around fostering an inclusive, fun, and encouraging culture where swimmers can develop their physical abilities while also honing their mental and emotional awareness. She believes in equipping swimmers with the skills to navigate challenging situations both in and out of the water. Her genuine passion for working with youth is evident in her commitment to creating a supportive, diverse, and inclusive team culture where young athletes are motivated to strive for excellence.
 
Beyond her coaching role, Emily is actively involved in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in swimming. She serves as the Vice-Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in PNS (Pacific Northwest Swimming). 

Coach Emily was featured on USA Swimming HERE.

Coach Ashley was raised right here in the greater Tacoma area with a deep love for swimming.  She has a combined swimming and coaching background for the better part of 20 years.  Prior to joining UPAC as a coach in 2007, she swam competitively and played polo for Mt. Tahoma High School.  She worked for over ten years for The YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties as an Aquatics Director, and has coached swimming at clubs all over our area in different capacities; UPAC, Ohana, the Lakewood YMCA, and the Morgan Family Y.  She has worked with swimmers of all age groups and she is truly passionate about giving back to the community. "I want to give back the skills and training my coaches and mentors have instilled in me all those years ago. Coaching provides the opportunity to make a positive difference in a person’s life and I look forward to strengthening that mission here at UPAC.”

Coach Elena has extensive knowledge about competitive swimming and training. She is a former National Swimmer from Russia. Elena is an outstanding coach with immense patience and kindness. She creates a fast-paced, disciplined yet enjoyable environment to make her swimmers swim fast without burnout. Her love of coaching and of the sport of swimming transfers to the athletes she coaches and that shows itself in their improved times and longevity.  

Swimming has been a major part of  Coach Alexandra’s life since first joining a club team in her home state of Mississippi when she was seven. Throughout her club and varsity swim career, she set many state records, and served as co-captain of her varsity team. Alex swam collegiately for Tufts University in Boston, where she was a four-time NESCAC-All Conference Team Member, and upon graduation, she had swam competitively for a total of fourteen years.
 
Armed with a double major in Sociology and Environmental Studies with concentrations in Social Inequalities & Social Change and Food Systems, Nutrition, & the Environment, Alex was chosen to serve in Teach for America, where she returned to her native state and taught second grade for three years in Jackson Public Schools.
 
Alex and her partner, Patrick, relocated to Tacoma upon him becoming stationed here. She is teaching first grade at Rainier Elementary School on JBLM.  Alex will soon complete her coursework for a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore, Maryland.
 
One constant throughout Alex’s high school, college and adult life has been youth swim team coaching. She has been the head coach or served as assistant coach for private teams like the Jackson Yacht Club and Jackson/Briarwood Swim Club, the City of Jackson Public Schools All-District Swim Team, the Mississippi Makos Club Team, and, most recently, the Tacoma Country Club Swim Team. She has also given private swim lessons for beginning and intermediate swimmers ranging from 18 months – 14 years old, using her teaching skills to adapt teaching strategies to meet each individual swimmer’s needs, and the needs of their parents. Most recently Alex was an age group coach at Metro Aquatics.
 
Alex has a myriad of interests, including hiking, skiing, camping, cooking, and baking. Alex has an extraordinary rescue dog named Capri, who shares Alex’s enthusiasm for the outdoors, but not so much for swimming!