Heath Edwards - Head Coach

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 803-665-8444

SC Swimming's 2017 and 2018 Swim Coach of the Year, was born and raised in Columbia, SC. He began swimming year-round in high school and had a very successful age group swimming career. In his junior year at Irmo High School, Heath won Junior Nationals in 200 fly and finished top two in the country in two other events. 

After graduating from Irmo, Heath began his college swimming and academic career at the University of Georgia (UGA). Coach Heath had a very decorated swimming career at UGA, collecting 14 All-American Honors, Academic All-American Honors, an SEC Championship Title in the 200 Fly and the UGA record in the 200 Fly. His team awards included the Hardest Worker Award, Most Improved Award, and the Jeff Poppell Award, given to one senior whose “career achievements and leadership qualities set him apart from his teammates and peers.” 

Between Heath’s junior and senior year at UGA, he took two years off to serve a full time mission for his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After returning to UGA from his two year hiatus, Heath was voted Team Captain and led his team to a national placement at the NCAA Swimming Championships. 

Coach Heath started Palmetto Aquatics in 2001, and he developed it into one of the strongest swim programs in South Carolina. He has coached swimmers at all levels, from Novice all the way through Senior Nationals.  He had more than 40 PALM swimmers win Age Group State Championship titles and more than 60 PALM swimmers received All-State awards.  Coach Heath has also had 40+ swimmers go on to swim at the collegiate level.  In 2021, Coach Heath sold Palmetto Aquatics and it became Gamecock Aquatics.  

Heath has three sons, Emerson, Tanner, and Sawyer, and he is married to his best friend, Kim.

Kim Gould - Senior Team Associate Head Coach

Jen McCloud -  Senior Team Assistant Coach

Jan Thompson - Gamecocks Co-Lead Coach and Team Manager

Alec Rutkowski - Gamecocks Co-Lead Coach

Caroline Adams - Peeps Lead Coach

Hope Shellman  - Peeps Assistant Coach

Emma Edwards - Chicks Lead Coach

Avery Groff - Chicks Assistant Coach

Jeff Poppell - High Performance Consultant

Ashleigh Gould - Roosters & Hens Co-Lead Coach

Maddie Gould - Roosters & Hens Co-Lead Coach