Head Coach Mike Merrell…………………………………                           .…………………………          

Mike Merrell joined the Lightning in 2016. Mike's history as an international championship swimmer, combined with his real-world experience and terrific coaching attitude, make him a vital part of the Lightning family.

Mike originally hails from Charlotte, NC.  He was a 7-time All-American at the University of Southern California, where he holds top ten times in both the 100 and 200 Fly. In fact, his USC record in the 200 Fly stood for two decades, falling only in 2015. Mike competed twice in the Olympic Trials, in 1992 and 1996.  He placed 3rd in 1992, missing an Olympic berth by just 0.02 seconds! Mike also competed--and medaled--at the Pan Am Games, the Pan Pacific Games, and the Summer Universiade Games. You can read more about Mike’s stellar swimming history at his Wikipedia page.

After a successful tenure in commercial real estate, Mike left the corporate world to follow his passion for swimming. In addition to leading the Lightning, he is also Assistant Pre-Senior Coach with Thunder Coast Aquatics. 

Mike sums up his approach this way: "I believe that having fun and keeping a good mindset will help kids swim fast.  Starting with the youngest swimmers, I want to instill great technique and the joy of swimming so they can grow to be confident and strong swimmers. I believe that the team is a big family, and will strive to instill that in every swimmer so it becomes a permanent staple for the community. Practices will be challenging, but will still be fun!"

Mike is married to Erika, and they have three boys--Chase (18), Cooper (15), and Brody (12). When he is not coaching, he enjoys spending time with the family and attending Warrior games.

Email Coach Mike - [email protected]

 

 

 Assistant Coach Carson Tazuk……………………………                           .…………………………     

Originally from San Francisco, Carson attributes his personal growth to the lessons and community that swimming gave him. After swimming for both the St. Helena Waves and his high school, Carson was recruited to the Santa Rosa Junior College swim team. When injuries halted his swimming career, Carson went on to obtain his Master’s degree from the University of Chicago in humanities in the intention of teaching English Lit. at either the junior college or college level in the future. While working towards that goal, he has excitedly returned to his passion of swimming with the hopes of giving back what he got out of the sport.

Carson sums up his approach to coaching as focusing on growth rather than ribbons: “Yes, you’re racing against a whole heat of competitors. But, most importantly, you’re racing to beat your last time. You’re working to prove that the time and effort you put into yourself will lead to growth and improvement.”
 
In his free time, Carson enjoys reading and watching Warriors games.
 
 
 

 Assistant Coach Claire Cassidy (starting in May)…                           .…………………………     

 
Claire Cassidy is currently a student and member of the Women’s Water Polo team at the University of Notre Dame. She has been a part of the LVST community since she was 4, swimming in her first meet in 2010 and graduating last year in 2024. Her dad and three older siblings also swam for the Lightning.
 
During her time swimming for LVST, she won two Marin Swim League High Point trophies and was also a member of several winning Hambone teams.  She also had an accomplished swimming career at Marin Catholic, finishing her senior year with 3 gold medals and 1 bronze at the Marin County Athletic League High School Championship swim meet. 
 
She taught Swim School at Lucas Valley for 7 years. Many of our current LVST swim team members learned to swim with Claire!  
 
Claire’s most memorable moments of her time at LVST were not winning her races or getting first place ribbons, but rather, being a part of this wonderful community, where the older and younger swimmers come together to form the family that is LVST.