Coaches and Directors
Head Coach (Focus: National Team, Oversight of entire YSSC program)
Scott Ellis joined us in 2023 as the Head Coach/Director of Competitive Swimming for the YSSC Fightin’ Sea Cukes.
Coach Scott said the following as the Head Coach of YSSC:
“I'm honored to be part of such a talented staff -- the culture that they have created is exceptional, and I am looking forward to building on what we already have established. I am excited to connect with each swimmer and help ensure as they come through the program it is a life-enhancing experience and not an activity in and of itself.”
Coach Scott coached the Men and Women's National Team into a 2nd place Overall Combined finish at YMCA Nationals in Greensboro! Just this past July, the National Team competed in YMCA Long Course Nationals and came out as overall Combined National CHAMPIONS for the 2nd year in a row! Congrats Cukes and Coach Scott!
Primary Focus: Senior 1, Junior Sectional
Coach Ryan Mallam has 25 years of coaching experience. Starting in the club arena he then moved on to many years in college coaching including Division II, NJCAA, and Division I. Not only does Coach Ryan have several years of experience but he has an endless supply of extremely funny jokes.
Primary Focus: Orange Group
Primary Focus: YSL Sub
Coach Lynda will be helping out in YSL groups. Lynda grew up in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She started swimming at 8 years old with the Pennsbury Aquatic Club and also swam for Pennsbury High School and local summer swim teams. She graduated from Clemson University in Elementary Education. Throughout her summers of high school and college, Lynda lifeguarded and taught private swim lessons. Lynda and husband, Jonathan, have been married for 16 years and have 2 children - Nathaniel and Kaleigh. Both kids love swimming for YSSC! Nathaniel is 14 and swims with the Junior 1 group. Kaleigh is 10 and is in the blue group. Lynda is starting her 3rd year of coaching YSL. She loves watching the mini Cukes improve weekly, learn new skills and many times join one of the competitive groups!
Lesley grew up in Greenville where she began swimming with the summer SAIL league at Foxcroft when she was 6. She also swam for 4 years with the Paladin Aquatic Club year-round program. Lesley attended Eastside High School and went to college at Mars Hill where she played volleyball. Her son Thomas started swimming with YSSC three years ago when he was 7 in green group and is now currently swimming in blue. She began coaching the YSL program last year and looks forward to helping Coach Wendy with Red and Green this season.
Coach Mackenzie grew up in the Shenandoah Valley and learned how to swim as an adult. She enjoys participating in sprint triathlons and open water swimming events. Mackenzie is a physical therapist with Spartanburg County Schools and has been coaching YSL since 2022. She also enjoys hiking, baking, and spending time with her family.
Lindsay began her coaching career at Stanford University, working with women’s team from 2000-2002. In 2002, Coach Lindsay became the assistant coach for the Dartmouth Women’s Swimming team where she coached for two seasons. In 2004, coach Lindsay began working with the “elite” level at the Coppell Family YMCA. Lindsay joined the YSSC coaching staff in 2012 as is ecstatic to contribute wherever and whenever she can!
Coach Lindsay is married to Geoffrey Wilson and has four children, Lucas (14), Camrynn (13), Charley (9), Parker (6), and three crazy labrador retrievers. Coach Lindsay still loves to swim.
Coach Kate grew up in Asheville, NC as an avid year-round swimmer with Buncombe County Swim Team/Peak Swimming. She was particularly fond of long distance freestyle and 400 IM. After high school she pursued pharmacy at the University of South Carolina and is now a pharmacist with Spartanburg Regional Health System. She has been a Sea Cuke parent for several years and is thrilled to get back to her swimming roots with coaching. When she isn’t at the pool, Kate enjoys training for various endurance sporting events, cooking and being with her family.
Primary Focus: Dryland for Green, Red, Blue, Yellow, Junior 1, Junior Sectional, Senior 1
Coach Amy was born in KY, grew up in Charlotte, and has lived in Greenville since 2002. She is a graduate of UNC Charlotte with a degree in Exercise Physiology and Athletic Training. Amy & her husband, Chris, have 4 daughters. The oldest (Emily) played travel softball but the younger 3 have been Cukes since 2013. She has two swimming in college now (Ella & Hayden) and her youngest (Harper) is in Senior 1. Coach Amy also has grandkids and another on the way.
By day, Amy teaches preschool but, in the evening, she is the dryland coach at YSSC. In the past she has worked with almost every group. Now her focus is Green, Red, Blue, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Junior 1, Junior Sectional, and Senior 1.
