2024 DART-Solano Fall Coaching Staff
DART-Solano staff includes USA Swimming Coaches (DART), USA Water Polo coaches (DART) and Winters Swim coaches. We have a diverse and exerienced staff who have worked with swimmers and water polo players of all levels-from Novice to National level athletes.
Ricky Silva
Solano Site Lead
This is Ricky's 8th year with DART-Solano. He took over the Head Coaching position at SASO Swimming. The team was eventualyl merged into what is now DART-Solano. Ricky is also in his 4th year as a coach at Solano College. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton.
Ricky as worked with three USA Swimming Gold Medal Swim Clubs (Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics, Santa Clara Swim Club, DART.) During this time, he has produced swimmers that have competed at the national level, including Futures, Junior Nationals, Nationals, Olympic Trials and NCAA's. Swimmers directly coached by Ricky has achevied national top 10 times, team records, national level times and have made the USA Swimming National Junior team as well as USA Swimming select camps.
Ricky has also been involved in the LSC and USA Swimming leadership side including coaching at various LSC and USA Swimming camps as well as been a part of the Board of Directors for Sierra Nevada and Pacific Swimming.
Kai Nabeta-welcome back to DART!!!
Ray Wieser
National/Senior coach
Coach Ray has been involved with swimming since 1985 but took a hiatus while in law school. When his children started swimming, he dove right back into coaching. He was soon the Head Coach for the team. Coach Ray has been a coach his whole life for whatever sport his kids were involved in. Ray is a graduate (and swam) of the University of Georgia.
As his son grew in swimming, his family made the decision to leave the current team and moved to DART. He has decided to remain coaching into his retirements years and has been with DART ever since he was approached to coach with the team 11 years ago.
Here is something he has learned while coaching:
"You have to love coaching and be willing to modify your coaching to the individual athlete." -Words from the Weiser
One of his coolest memories while coaching was watching his son swim Finals at Olympic Trials. When not poolside Coach Ray can be found playing pickleball with his wife, hiking and reading.
Lacie Lopez
Developmental Lead/Team Admin
Coach Lacie has been with Dart since 2023 but not new to the swim world. She swam when she was younger, swam for Vaca High and has been a swim mom for 8 years. In addition to working with Dart, Coach Lacie work with VUSD in everything from volunteering for and organizing events as well as her current role as a paraprofessional in SPED. In her spare time Coach Lacie enjoys cheering on her children with their various activities. When she’s not at the pool or baseball field you can find her watching her beloved Dodgers or reading.
Gracie Lopez-Returning in August of 2024!!!
Coach Gracie has been with DART since 2023, but is not new to the swimming world. She swam competitively for 7 years. Coach Gracie's favorite strokes are fly and breast. She is attending Solano College this fall in the hopes of becoming a teacher. When she isn't at the pool, she is spending time with her family and friends or reaching a new book.
Nick Lillard
Assistant Coach
Coach Nick Lillard started coaching in the area in 1998. He started coaching with a Summer swim team and moved on to coach developmental, age group, seniors, and masters. Nick swam competitively in Solano County from 1992 to 2001. He then swam for Diablo Valley College for 2 years where both years the team won the state championship. He placed in the top 8 in the 200 fly and 400 IM at state both years. Currently he is training with the DARTS Masters group in Solano. He took first in the "Borboleta" mile butterfly in 2012 at the Rinconada Masters Meet. He is an assistant coach for the age group, senior, and national groups. He graduated from Sacramento State. In addition to coaching he is a teacher for Solano County Office of Education. He's teaching at Armijo High School with students with moderate to severe disabilities. Outside of work, he enjoys watching the Cleveland Browns, and open water swimming.
Nathalia Hernandez
Blue and Intro to Team Coach
Haley Barker
Assistant Coach/Swim Lesson Lead
TBD-Assistant Coach
Jeff Greer-Dryland Coach and Consultant
Pinnacle Fitness
Jeff Greer is a distinguished coach with 18 years of experience in athletic development and fitness training. With a diverse sports background that includes 14 years of travel baseball and a decade as an active professional road cyclist, Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coaching practice.
Jeff holds several professional coaching certifications:
CPT NESTA Certified Personal Trainer
CSCC NASM Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach
CSNC NASM Certified Sports Nutrition Coach
IYCA Certified Member (International Youth Conditioning Association)
CME Certified Mobility Expert
As the owner and head coach of Pinnacle Fitness, Jeff has worked with thousands of athletes, guiding them to reach their full potential. His true passion lies in mentoring young athletes, helping them achieve excellence in their sports. Under his guidance, many of these athletes have garnered top honors at NCAA events across Division I, II, and III colleges nationwide. Moreover, some of his protégés have reached the pinnacle of their sports, competing in the MLB, NFL, UFC, and Bellator.
Pinnacle Fitness, led by Coach Greer, is recognized as the premier destination for youth athlete development in Solano County. Jeff's dedication, extensive experience, and commitment to fostering athletic talent have made him a highly respected figure in the sports coaching community. His work continues to inspire and elevate the next generation of athletes, instilling in them the values of discipline, resilience, and excellence.
Summer Coaches
The following coaches are currently coaching with us this summer and early fall prior to returning to school.
Abby David
Age Group 2 Coach
Graduated from Armijo High School in 2020...Participated in three seasons of varsity swimming...Swam for the DART/SASO. Majoring in Kinesiology at Cal State East Bay. Swam one season (Covid season) at Cal State East Bay. Finalist at CIF San Joaquin Sections-two time CIF State Championship qualifier.
Hobbies include spending time with family and teaching myself how to play the ukulele...Loves eating sushi, Korean bbq, chipotle and In N' Out...Favorite musical artists are BTS and Twice.
KK Greer
Age Group 1 Coach
Swam for DART/SASO and Rodriguez High School swimming. Currently a collegiate swimmer at University of La Verne . Has been competitive swimming for 14 years . Has experience as a swim instructor for 3 years and coaching intro groups.
Angel Santa Cruz
Assistant Coach-Solano
Olivia Balatbat
Assistant Coach-Solano
Olivia competitively swam for DART/SASO and was part of Angelo Rodriguez High School's varsity swim team. She is currently studying Sociology at University of California, Santa Barbara. She has been teaching as a swim instructor since 2021 and also has some experience with coaching the intro groups. She is passionate about fashion, photography, and watching swimmers succeed!
Steph Sit
Assistant Coach
Stephanie is a volunteer with a rich background in aquatic sports and education. She is a former competitive swimmer, coach, swim instructor, water polo player at UC Santa Cruz that holds degrees in Marine Biology and a Master's in International Management. She strives to provide opportunities for all to learn to swim. Currently, she serves as Senior Director of Supply Chain at Eli Lilly. Stephanie's unique blend of athletic and professional experience enriches her coaching approach. Committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, she continues to inspire the next generation of swimmers.
DART Water Polo Coaches
Alex Gonzalez
Co-Lead Water Polo Coach
Andrea Cifelli
Co-Lead Water Polo Coach
Coach Andrea has been immersed in aquatics her whole life, starting with swimming on the AHI swim team in 2003. She played water polo all four years in high school and for five years with club teams Napa Valley Water Polo and FAR (Fairfield, American Canyon, Rodriguez) Water Polo. After returning from her time in the U.S. Navy in 2018, Coach Andrea joined the water polo coaching staff at American Canyon High School as an assistant coach, and a couple of years later, she became the girls' varsity head coach. In 2019, she joined Dart Solano Water Polo and has since been dedicated to building the program and is excited for the team's future.
Sydney Vanerpool
Junior Water Polo Coach/Polo Coach
I’ve been coaching Water polo since 2020. I love helping kids of all ages learn and love the sport as much as I do. I swam all through my childhood and picked up the game in high school at ACHS where I then went to play at Sierra College and help bring home the State Championship in 2018. I competed my Bachelors degree in Psychology at Sonoma State and continue to work in the field when I’m not on the pool deck. I love coaching the juniors and starting them early with the sport. I look forward to seeing all of their smiling faces on the deck every day. I also hold a lot of love for my high school players as they show their dedication to the work.
Kimmy Tiss
Water Polo Coach
With over 15 years of being in the water polo community as a player, referee and coach, Kimmy joins our staff this summer. Kimmy is an Armijo HS alumni with 3x MEL MVP awards, a Sierra College Alumni with 2x Big 8 All American awards, and a central and pacific zone referee for USA Water Polo. Kimmy also continues to play with Davis masters team, Peacock Polo to enhance her game and bring what she has learned to our athletes. Kimmy loves the sport of water polo and is excited to bring her skills to our program.
