With a passion for swimming and a commitment to the growth of young athletes, Kevin has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in the world of competitive swimming. Throughout his extensive career, he has been a guiding force, investing in kids and instilling in each swimmer a sense of importance and the drive to be their absolute best.
Coach Kevin's journey began as a dedicated swimmer himself, training with Covina Aquatics and later at the University of Southern California under the tutelage of the legendary Coach Peter Daland. Immersed in a competitive environment, Coach Kevin honed his skills alongside esteemed swimmers, including his roommate and primary training partner, Ken Fitzpatrick, a two-time Olympian and 1982 finalist. Their training group consisted of 26 swimmers from 11 countries, nine of whom represented seven countries in the 1984 Olympic Games, including gold medalists Jeff Float and Chris Cavanaugh.
Beyond his own accomplishments in the pool, Coach Kevin's coaching career took off with Heartland Swimming Association. After two years as an all-around coaching and administrative assistant, he became the Gold Team Coach. For the next 33 years, he led the team to remarkable achievements. Five times was named SI Swimming Age Group of the Year, and seven times served as the SI Head All-Star Team Coach. Coach Kevin consistently pushed the boundaries of success. Under Coach Kevin's guidance, swimmers set an astounding 217 team records, with 17 National Top Ten Age Group Swimmers, including three Junior National Qualifiers. One of his notable protégés, Felicia Castaneda, held the NAG Record in the 11-12 girls 50-meter breaststroke from 1999 until 2010, securing her place among the sport's elite.
Not only has Coach Kevin excelled within the confines of the pool, but he has also demonstrated his commitment to community engagement and philanthropy. Through his efforts, he raised over $100,000, providing over 325 surfboards to deserving individuals, fostering a love for the water among those with limited access. Additionally, his dedication extends beyond the pool, as he has coached and served as the coach of record for 17 channel swims, including challenging endeavors like Catalina, England, and the Straits of Gibraltar. Furthermore, his coaching prowess has been recognized on numerous occasions, including his appointment as the Head Coach of SI Swimming's Swimposium and Catch the Spirit Camp in 2019.
Coach Kevin's unwavering dedication, coupled with his ability to inspire and challenge swimmers to reach new heights, has made him a highly respected figure in the swimming community. With his expertise and commitment to excellence, he continues to shape the future of competitive swimming, leaving an indelible impact on all those fortunate enough to train under his guidance.
Assistant Coach, Richard Contreras
With nearly three decades of coaching experience, Richard Contreras brings his expertise, passion, and leadership to Swim Excellence Academy as its newest Coach. Recognized for his strategic approach to training and deep commitment to athlete development, Richard has guided swimmers to championship success at club, high school, and collegiate levels.
Richard also serves as the head coach at Torrey Pines High School, where he led the Falcons to multiple CIF Division I championships. His dedication to refining technique and fostering a winning mindset earned him three CIF Division I "Coach of the Year" awards and, recently, the California Coaches Association State Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year in 2025. His athletes consistently achieved personal bests, collegiate scholarships, and national rankings.
Richard’s journey in competitive swimming and water polo began during his time at Sierra College, where he earned All-League honors in both sports. His vast experience extends beyond the pool—he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American History from California State University, San Marcos. His academic background fuels his ability to mentor athletes not only in swimming but also in discipline, leadership, and sportsmanship.
Richard is dedicated to elevating the academy’s training programs, helping swimmers master technique, conditioning, and race strategy at an elite level. With a reputation for excellence and a track record of coaching success, Richard is poised to inspire the next generation of swimmers, guiding them toward their highest potential in and out of the water.
Assistant Coach, Troy Smith
Troy comes from a swimming family. His mom was a swim instructor, and his brother, sister, and he all swam at Division I universities. His mother taught him and their entire rural town in Idaho how to swim. At 5 years old, Troy competed in his first summer league season. His family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, when he was 8, and Troy began swimming year-round with the Hillside Otters. The team later merged with another Anchorage team that became Northern Lights Swim Club. While on this team, Troy worked his way up from a B/C swimmer at 11 to an AA swimmer attending Far Westerns at 12. By 14, he was a AAAA swimmer, competing at Western Zones. A few weeks after turning 16, Troy made his first Junior National cuts and went on to compete at many Junior National Championships.
For college, Troy chose to swim at the University of Arizona under Frank Busch. He competed in the US National Championships in the backstroke and IM events. He was also a multi-time finalist at the Pac-10 swimming championships.
After swimming college, Troy coached for several years, while he was a graduate assistant at the University of Arizona. He was the assistant coach to Sergio Lopez Miro for Hillenbrand of Tucson (now Tucson Ford Aquatics). His primary group was the 12-15 year olds. Three of Troy’s swimmers qualified for Junior Nationals, and two of them went on to become NCAA finalists for the University of Arizona. The team won the US Swimming National Championship in the summer of 1998 while Troy was coaching. During the summer, Troy also ran the Southwest Swim Camp at the University of Arizona for children aged 8 to 18.
In 1999, Troy relocated to San Diego with his wife Leigh to begin their professional careers. Troy has been working in biotech ever since, mostly in small molecule drug discovery for CNS (Central Nervous System) and cancer. Leigh and Troy have two boys, Tyler (16) and Eddie (14).
Junior Coach, Marea Allen
Marea has been a swimmer for roughly 7 years and coaching youth since she was 15. She has always had a passion for teaching kids to swim and finds it so fulfilling. Marea can’t wait to continue coaching for team SEA and watching the kids grow in their swimming skills.
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