Head Coach Alex Tomlinson
I have been swimming since I can remember. I started in England in my local pool with just the intention to learn how to swim, and fell in love with the sport pursuing it to the highest level. I attend NC State and am a rising sophomore majoring in political science with a focus in law and justice. I have coached at Meredith Townes for 5 years but this is my first year as head coach. I am looking forward to this season and returning to some level of normalcy! GO PUPS!!
Coach Willi Dunlap
Willi has been swimming for the Mudpups for 9 years, and he has been swimming for year-round teams even longer. Willi’s best events are the IMs and freestyle events, and he also swims breaststroke. Willi is a rising Junior at Broughton High School, which he also swims for. Willi has been helping the coaches to work with Mudpups for years now, and he is very excited to help the team progress this summer!
Coach Thor Dyke
My name is Thor Dyke and this is my 13th year as a Mudpuppy and my second year coaching. I am a rising senior at the Wake STEM Early College High School and swim for the TAC Titans. I am very excited to see the new swimmers develop the joy that I have for swimming.
Coach Caroline Ross
Caroline has been swimming for the Mudpuppies for twelve years and coaching them for three. She trained with the Marlins of Raleigh for six years moving on to captain her Swimming, Cross Country, and Track teams at St. David’s, where she is a graduating Senior. Every summer she looks forward to sharing her passion for swimming and love for the team with these bright young swimmers. When the summer is over, Caroline will attend her first year at UNC Chapel Hill studying Russian and economics as part of the Air Force ROTC program.
Coach Bella Ercolino
My name is Bella Ercolino and I've been on the Mudpuppies since it was founded! I am a rising Sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill, studying nutrition and Spanish, with hopes of going to medical school. I also walked on to the women's rowing team at Carolina! In high school, I swam for RSA and have loved spending my summers coaching the Mudpups!
Coach Jackie Brice
I have swam for the Pups for ten years, and this is my second year coaching. I swim for the RSA Wahoos and the Broughton swim team. I am a rising senior in high school. My favorite stroke is breaststroke because I can breathe in every stroke! I am excited to be a part of the Meredith Townes Mudpuppies for another season!
Founding Coach Brian Goldman
Our first head coach, Brian Goldman had a unique way in bringing out the best in everyone, in swimming and in life. From the tiniest 'Pups to our senior swimmers, Brian was our Pied Piper, and was often found on deck with dozens of his swimmers listening to him in quiet attention, or leading them in our Mudpuppy cheer before meets. Brian took great joy in seeing his team succeed, but even greater joy in knowing that the community he began with three dozen swimmers just a few years ago grew larger and stronger each year. And while he is no longer with us on the pool deck, what he has created continues - an enduring family tradition that celebrates togetherness through swimming.
Our second head coach - Tom Beck, came to us with many years of swim coaching around the Triangle, and is a competitive open water swimmer and avid photographer. He, along with his dear wife Thao and daughter Claire, came to the 'Pups and jumped in with both feet, leading us for five years, up to the highest division in TSA. Along the way his love for swimming was clear to all, leading many to take their swimming to the next level and join year-round teams in the area. While Tom has retired from coaching the Pups, we expect that he'll make many cameo appearances on deck this year!
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Pups!
