Coaches and Directors
Todd has been coaching with Steel City Aquatics since 2020. He has over 35 years of experience as a head coach at the collegiate, high school, and USA Swimming club levels. Todd has served on the USA Swimming National Team staff for three years and has sent two athletes to the National Junior Team. More recently, Todd led the AMS Select Camp to the Olympic Training Center and he currently serves as Senior Chair for AMS.
Prior to his arrival with Steel City Aquatics, Todd coached a successful stint with the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins and the Hawken School in Cleveland. The Silver Dolphins rose to USA Swimming Silver Medal status under Todd’s leadership. The team produced one Olympic Trial qualifier and multiple scorers at the USA Swimming Open Water Nationals, short course Winter Junior Nationals, and long course Junior Nationals. His girls’ team at Hawken high school team won three team state titles, and the boy’s team won one state team title and two runner-up finishes in his three years in Ohio. His swimmers currently hold three state records from their performances at the Ohio High School State meet.
Todd had previous successful runs locally at both Peters Township and Fox Chapel, where he coached their club and high school teams. While with the Fox Chapel Killer Whales, his team won the Eastern Zone Sectional Meet and he had his first Olympic Trial qualifier in 2012. While coaching in Allegheny Mountain Swimming, Todd served as AMS Senior Vice Chairman, Head Coach of AMS All-Star Team, Head Coach of the Central Zone Select Camp, and Head Coach of AMS All-Star Team Camp at the Olympic Training Center.
Todd’s career began on the collegiate level where he served as the Assistant Head Coach at Kenyon College in 1988, where both genders won NCAA Division III titles. After one year at Kenyon, he was appointed Head Coach at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. In his thirteen years at Case, Todd produced two NCAA Division III National Champions, 44 All-Americans, and his teams were twice-recognized as achieving the highest GPAs in collegiate swimming.
His accolades include Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year honors and Ohio High School Coach of the Year. An accomplished competitive swimmer himself, Todd was a seven time All-American at Kenyon and a five-time National Champion in United States Masters Swimming.
Gianna has been coaching with Steel City Aquatics since 2020. In addition to coaching all levels of the program including the Masters program, Gianna has been selected to coach the AMS Summer Zone team the last 4 years, twice as an assistant coach and twice as the head coach. Gianna also serves on AMS's Age Group Committee and Coaches Committee. She was selected to USA Swimming's 2023 Womens Leadership Summit, and USA Swimming 2025's Women in Goverance.
Prior to her
arrival, Gianna spent three seasons with the Division I University
of Wisconsin – Green Bay Phoenix Swimming and Diving teams.
After two years as a graduate assistant, Gianna was elevated to
Assistant Coach. During her time with the Phoenix, Gianna assisted
in coaching several NCAA Championship qualifiers, five new Horizon
League Champions, and one U.S. Olympic Trial qualifiers. Moreover,
she helped oversee over 20 new program records and added numerous
All-Time Top 10 Times to the program history. At Green Bay, Gianna
assisted the head coach in all areas of the swim program, including
recruiting, training, meet preparation, seasonal and administrative
planning, on-deck coaching, and dryland practices. Gianna also
directed the annual swim camp and swim lesson programs at Green
Bay.
Gianna previously coached for the South Fayette Aqua Club from
2018-2019. Prior to coaching club swimming,
Gianna taught water safety skills and swimming strokes to
children during high school and college.
A previous swimmer herself, Gianna competed at the Division III level for Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA for four years. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Gianna earned her bachelor's degree from Saint Vincent College and master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.
Erik Collins joins Steel City Aquatics after spending the last several years coaching in Virginia at the Mason Makos and George Mason University. He has been coaching swimming full-time since 1991 and brings over three decades of experience and success to the pool deck. His athletes have achieved top honors at Junior Nationals, earned selections to the USA Swimming National Select Camps, and won medals at international competitions including the Pan American Games and the Short Course World Championships.
Coach Collins has also helped guide numerous swimmers to USA Swimming Scholastic All-American recognition. A member of the inaugural ASCA Fellows Class, Erik has twice been selected to serve on the coaching staff for USA Swimming Select Camps. Additionally, he served on the Potomac Valley Swimming Board of Directors from 2017 to 2024, contributing to the development of the sport at a regional level.
Erik is excited to join the coaching staff at Steel City Aquatics and looks forward to bringing the best of Virginia Swimming to our region. He is eager to work with both our senior-level athletes and developmental groups, and is committed to contributing to the continued growth and success of the program.
Jeff Stewart has been coaching with Steel City Aquatics since 2024. Previously, Jeff coached with Blue Ash YMCA in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he served as the Director of Competitive Swimming. During his time there, he successfully directed a 180-member team, overseeing both National and Senior Training Groups through in-water and dryland workouts.
Jeff managed a team of 10 Assistant Coaches and organized the practice schedule across three YMCA pools. Under his leadership, the team produced 24 YMCA National Qualifiers, 5 YMCA National Scoring Relays, 1 YMCA National Individual Runner-Up in the 200 Free, and USA Swimming Winter and Junior National Qualifiers.
Jeff's extensive coaching background also includes his time with the Cincinnati Marlins as Assistant Head Coach and Head Age Group Coach, as well as serving as Head Swim Coach for the Tippecanoe White Sharks in West Lafayette, Indiana.
He has a strong track record in high school swimming across Ohio, having coached numerous OHSAA State Champions, NISCA All-Americans, and USA Swimming Junior and Senior National Qualifiers. Additionally, Jeff has served as the Head Men's and Women's Coach and Aquatics Director at Wheeling Jesuit University (now Wheeling University) in West Virginia.
Hannah has been with Steel City Aquatics since 2024. Prior to joining us, Hannah swam for the club team at Pitt and went to Nationals every year.
Previously, Hannah attended South Fayette Township High School and competed for South Fayette Aqua Club and the High School team. She has been coaching swim lessons since she was in eighth grade. Hannah has served as a coach for the South Fayette Summer Swim Team and the lessons program. As a Learn to Swim Supervisor, Hannah focused on teaching the basics of competitive swimming and transition to a competitive team environment. She also held the position of Assistant Aquatics Director for the South Fayette School District.
Additionally, Hannah has spent time working with Goldfish Swim School as an instructor. Hannah has a passion for teaching kids how to swim and getting them to improve and love the sport like she has.
Merci has been with Steel City Aquatics for the last several years and she has an extensive background for swimming and coaching. She has spent time as a coach for Northgate Aquatics, where she was one of the founding coaches for the program and supervised the Masters swimming program at Northgate High School. She previously worked as a developmental and age-group coach with Team Pittsburgh Aquatics, and has coached High school swimming for the Beaver Area, Oakland, and Central Catholic for the last 16 years. She has coached numerous MAC, WPIAL, and P.I.A.A. State qualifying swimmers, who have achieved High School All-American status. At Oakland and Central Catholic, she has won a combined 10 WPIAL team Championships, and 8 P.I.A.A. State Team Championships with Oakland Catholic. She was the P.I.A.A. State Coach of the Year for Oakland Catholic in 2009 and 2010.
Merci is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA), and a Level 3 Coach. She is an ASCA Certified Site supervisor for Swim America, where she has trained at the ASCA training facility in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She has been a program director for Swim America for 10 years, where she has offered coaching, swim instruction, and aquatics management to various pools around the Pittsburgh area.
When not coaching or instructing, Merci runs an aquatics management company, where she provides training in safety and staffing programs at numerous pools in the Pittsburgh area. She has been an American Red Cross Instructor for over 25 years, and she has instructed hundreds of lifeguards.
Merci works with our developmental programs at Steel City Aquatics. She has a passion for swimming and teaching water safety. Merci attended Median School of Health Careers & CCAC for Physical Therapy Asst., CAN, and Massage Therapy, and she has raised three happy children.
Meghan has been with Steel City Aquatics since 2022. She plays a key role in guiding swimmers in the Age Group, Novice and Pre-Team Disvisions, by helping them build strong fundamentals and gain confidence in the pool.
Her coaching journey began with teaching swim lessons, laying a foundation of patience, clear communication, and skill development. She further expanded her experience by working with developmental swimmers and divers at both Robinson Township Pool and Montour High School, and has also been involved in maintaining pool operations and managing swim lesson groups—demonstrating strong organizational and instructional skills.
Meghan’s connection to swimming spans her own competitive background. She swam for Montour High School and the Montour Marlins Aqua Club, bringing firsthand athlete experience to her coaching.
Residing in the Pittsburgh area with her husband Josh, Meghan stands as a committed member of the local swimming community—invested in fostering a supportive and growth-oriented environment for young athletes.
Coach Antonio joins Steel City Aquatics from Jacksonville, Florida. Originally from Naples, Italy, he was a competitive swimmer for 12 years before transitioning into coaching. He began his career as a swim instructor, working with 10-and-under swimmers at his former swim club. After two years, he advanced to the role of Assistant Coach, working under the guidance of his own coach and mentor.
His coaching journey continued in Italy, where he gained valuable experience with multiple teams. He later became the Age Group Coach for the Naples Tiger Sharks, based on the American Naval Base in Naples, Italy, and competed in the European Forces Swim League. Through his dedication and leadership, the Tiger Sharks captured the Southern Division Championship title for the first time in nine years. Following this success, Coach Antonio was promoted to Head Coach, a role he held until relocating to the United States to further pursue his coaching career.
In Florida, he joined the Flagler Fluid Swim Team as the Senior Coach. There, he guided many swimmers to new heights, helping them qualify—many for the first time—for both the Florida Age Group Championships and Senior Championships.
Coach Antonio is thrilled to be joining Steel City Aquatics and looks forward to working with an outstanding team of athletes and coaches as he continues to help swimmers of all levels reach their full potential.
Audra is an experienced swim instructor and youth coach with over seven years of experience teaching water safety and foundational swim skills to children ages 6–10. She began instructing in 2017 and quickly developed a passion for helping young swimmers build confidence in and around the water.
From 2018 to 2021, Audra served as Assistant Coach for the West Allegheny Middle School Swim Team, where she helped new swimmers develop technique, organized meet lineups, and supported athletes during competitions. Her background as a certified lifeguard and swim instructor has shaped her focus on creating a safe, encouraging, and growth-oriented environment for swimmers of all skill levels.
Audra recently earned her B.A. in Communication Studies with a minor in Law and Legal Studies from West Virginia University. She brings strong leadership, communication, and mentoring skills to every swim program she supports.
Coach Tommy Ginocchi began swimming in second grade with the West Allegheny Aqua Club under Coach Bob Miller before continuing his competitive career with Steel City Aquatics, participating in both age group and masters swimming.
During high school, Tommy swam for West Allegheny High School while also coaching the West Allegheny Middle School team. In addition, he was active in the Learn 2 Swim program, taught private swim lessons, and worked as a lifeguard at Settlers Cabin Wave Pool.
After graduating high school, Tommy continued his swimming and coaching career at the University of Mount Union. There, he specialized in the mile, 500 freestyle, and 400 IM, and was part of three Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championship-scoring teams. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering while competing at the collegiate level.
Outside of the pool, Tommy works in Land Development at Michael Baker International. He is excited to continue giving back to the sport and community that shaped his own swimming journey.
Jocelyn has been coaching at South Fayette since 2018. She enjoys sharing her passion for swimming with the younger swimmers.
Jocelyn is a graduate of Peters Township High School where she was a WPIAL Champion three years in a row and finished in the Top-6 at PIAA States in several freestyle events. She was a two-time All-American in the 200 freestyle. Jocelyn attended the University of Kentucky on a swimming scholarship, where she continued to specialize in the 200 and 500 freestyle. After her junior year, she transferred to Creighton University, where she earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy in 1996.
Jocelyn is a part-time pharmacist at RxPartners. She lives in South Fayette with her husband, Mark, and her two daughters, Carolyn and Katelyn.
Kenny’s passion for swimming started early—he began competing in 6th grade with the Brentwood Spartan Swim Team and continued through high school as a dedicated team member. During his junior and senior years at Brentwood High School, Kenny served as team captain, specializing in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke—events where he consistently excelled.
As a proud 2023 graduate of Brentwood High, Kenny has seamlessly transitioned from athlete to coach. He now shares his experience by coaching at Steel City Aquatics’ Moon Site, where he assists with the Age Group and Novice Divisions—fostering skill development and inspiring competition.
Kenny is currently pursuing a dual degree in History and Political Science at Robert Morris University, where he expects to graduate in 2027.
Lauren grew up as a multi-sport athlete, excelling in basketball and becoming a state championship tennis player. However, she discovered her true passion for swimming later in life when her four children fell in love with the sport in 2017. Inspired by their enthusiasm and commitment, Lauren immersed herself in the world of swimming—not only as a supportive parent but also as a student of the sport.
Eager to better understand the technical and competitive aspects of swimming, Lauren began training with the Steel City Aquatics Masters program in 2022. Her dedication to learning and personal growth as an athlete has shaped her unique perspective as a coach. She brings to the deck a deep respect for the sport, a continual desire to improve, and a drive to help others succeed—whether they're just starting out or refining their skills.
Outside of the pool, Lauren is a passionate educator at the Classical Conversations campus in Sewickley. Her love for teaching and learning seamlessly translates into her coaching style, where she strives to inspire, educate, and encourage the next generation of swimmers at Steel City Aquatics.
Megan has been with Steel City Aquatics since 2024. She has worked with a lot of swimmers across the program, and is based primarily with the Montour Site. As an assistant coach, Megan brings a strong passion for swimming and a commitment to helping young athletes develop their skills, confidence, and love for the sport. Megan looks forward to supporting swimmers in reaching their goals both in and out of the pool.
Megan is a graduate of West Allegheny High School. She then went on to compete for Westminster College where she was dominant in freestyle events. Megan had strong placements in the President's Atheltic Conference and she served as team captain.
When she isn't coaching, Megan works as a RN.
Amanda's coaching career began while she was attending West Allegheny High School. As a student, she was able to gain experience as a Learn-2-Swim instructor. Throughout her high school years, she gained experience as a private swim lesson instructor and later on, West Allegheny Middle School Assistant Coach in her junior and senior years of high school.
Amanda began swimming at the young age of 6, with West Allegheny Aqua Club (WAAC), where she swam until graduation. From there she continued to swim in college in Division II on West Virginia Wesleyan’s women’s team. During her summer freshman and sophomore years in college, she swam with Steel City Aquatics. She was a finalist in the 400 IM at the Great Midwest-Mountain East Conference Championship, placing 8th her Freshman year. She graduated with her bachelor’s in Exercise Science and a minor in Human Biology in 2023.
Amanda primarily coaches Age Group swimmers, where she finds passion in helping swimmers step up to the next level. She was selected as an assistant coach to the 2024 AMS Summer Zone Team.
Outside of the pool, Amanda is attending PA school at Saint Francis University.
A 2023 graduate of West Allegheny High School, David has been passionate about swimming since first grade. A standout athlete, he was a finalist at the Pennsylvania High School State Championship.
Currently, David continues his swimming career at the University of Findlay, where he competes at the collegiate level as he pursues a Finance major with a minor in Economics. David’s competitive drive shines through his accolades—most notably becoming the conference champion in the 200-yard butterfly, a testament to his dedication and resilience as a swimmer.
As an assistant coach, David now brings his athletic experience, academic growth, and competitive insights to the pool deck. He supports the development of swimmers with the same care and drive that propelled him to success—fostering skill, confidence, and a spirit of excellence among his athletes.
Kim’s passion for swimming began at a young age, from summers spent at the neighborhood pool to competing in AMS meets like Junior Olympics and Zones with West Allegheny Aqua Club. She went on to qualify for the PIAA State Championships all four years at West A, where she was a former record holder and learn-to-swim instructor. Kim continued her swimming career at Duquesne University while earning a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications.
Swimming runs deep in her family—her aunt, Carol Zaleski, is a former President of USA Swimming and made history as the first female referee at both the FINA World Championships and the Olympic Games. Deeply immersed in the swimming world, Kim was even in Rio to witness Michael Phelps’ final Olympic swim in 2016.
Kim began coaching with West Allegheny High School in 2011, helping lead the girls team to consecutive Conference and WPIAL Championship titles. From 2012 to 2019, she coached with the high school and Aqua Club teams before taking a short break to grow her family. Now a proud mom of two, she lives in South Fayette with her husband, Bill, and enjoys passing her love of the pool to her kids every chance she can.
Alissa is a native Pennsylvanian and swimming enthusiast. Originally hailing from the Scranton area, she has been in love with the water since 3rd grade and swam competitively throughout high school. Partnering with her school and the local swim club, she also taught swim lessons through the Learn2Swim program.
During college, Alissa completed her internship with the National Parks Service where she helped lead youth educational programs for Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. As a recent transplant to the area, Alissa swims and coaches regularly with the Steel City Masters group. Alissa primarily works with the younger swimmers out of South Fayette site. She is passionate about helping children love the sport and building great athletes.
Meghan’s extensive experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm for swimming instruction is a valuable asset for leading our Learn 2 Swim program. In this role, Meghan leads the strategic direction, staffing, growth, and customer service for the entire L2S program.
Previously, Meghan has served as the Swim Team and Lessons Coordinator at Wyngate Swim Club for the past 3 years. Meghan also took on the responsibilities of Pool Manager at Wyngate in 2023.
While growing up, Meghan was a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor in high school and college. Meghan is devoted to helping children learn water safety and furthering their development in independent swimming.
Amy has been Steel City Aquatics' Head Diving Coach since 2021. Amy has been around swimming and diving for most of her life. She started swimming at age 5 and started diving at age 13. Amy competed at the local and state levels with Carlynton High School as well as at the Junior Olympic level with Pitt Aquatic Club. After a successful high school diving career, Amy went on to compete for the University of Pittsburgh from 1992-1996. Throughout college and graduate school, she coached swimming and diving lessons at Pitt. Amy then coached with the high school and age group teams at Seneca Valley School District for a year before getting a teaching job with Carlynton School District where she coached until 2003.
After taking some time off to raise three kids, Amy is back coaching the Beginner and Intermediate diving groups at Moon and South Fayette. She has a son and two daughters in the South Fayette School District. Her daughters Anna and Caroline both swim and dive for Steel City!
