Coaches and Directors

Coaches and Directors
Coaching Staff
Mohammad Khadembashi Executive Director/ Head Coach

Coach Mohammad started his coaching career at the Santa Monica YMCA in 2007, and was promoted to Head Coach of the YMCA Team in 2011. Similarly, he joined TSM Aquatics as Assistant Coach in 2015 and was promoted to Head Coach four years later, in 2019. He is an ASCA (Level 5), USMS, and a certified USA Swimming coach. 
 
Since joining TSM, Mohammad has been leading swimmers to competitive rankings in Southern California, USA Swimming, and internationally. He has been able to coach TSM swimmers to Junior National, National, Olympic Trials, and World Junior levels during his time as the Head Coach of the Program, and has led the club to a Silver Medal status within USA Swimming. 
 
Mohammad was named Head Coach of Southern California Swimming for the Western Zone Age Group Championships in 2017 and 2018, where team SoCal won its first Zone Championships in a decade. He has coached TSM swimmers at the 2016 Olympic Trials, Senior and Junior National, World Juniors, and World Championships. Mohammad has been named to the USA National Team Coaches list for 2019-2020 and 2023-2024. He was appointed Team USA Head Coach for the 2019Fina World Cup in Hungary and Coach to the Venezuelan National Junior Team for the 2019 Fina World Junior Championships.
 
Coach Mohammad aims to impart his unparalleled joy for swimming to athletes during every practice. Mohammad also believes that every athlete can reach their potential through hard work and goal setting, and he challenges his swimmers to do exactly this in the pool as well as in their personal lives. 

 “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard

Iman Khadembashi Associate Head Coach

Coach Iman hails from Iran and came to the US in 2003. Iman coached at the Santa Monica YMCA 2009-2014 ultimately as Head Coach, leading the team to the Southern California YMCA League Championship, and also serving as Aquatics Coordinator and heading the swim lessons program of over 300 swimmers. In 2014 Coach Iman joined Westside Aquatics and assisted in starting a new program in Santa Monica. Soon after Coach Iman became the Head Age Group Coach at Westside. In 2014 Coach Iman also became the Head Coach of a Master’s Program.

Coach Iman is currently in his 8 th year of coaching. He has coached swimmers ranging from novice to Sectional qualifiers. He has also had his swimmers recognized by USA Swimming as the top 20 swimmers in the nation in their age group. Coach Iman is a fan and a student of the sport of swimming and he is passionate about coaching. He would like to help all his swimmers to realize their potential in and out of the pool, set goals, and create a plan to achieve those goals. In 2016 and 2017 Coach Iman was selected to coach at the Southern California All Star Festival Meet. Coach Iman believes that anything is possible through hard work and dedication.           

“If you really want something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse.”

Sydney Lee Assistant Coach
Daniel Heraly Assistant Coach
Coach Dan grew up in Green Bay, WI where he began his coaching career at the age of 16 working with the Green Bay YMCA. After attending college in Milwaukee, Dan helped start a new swim program on the south side of Milwaukee that grew to over 100 swimmers after one year. He then moved to Virginia where he assisted in restarting the women’s swim team at Emory & Henry College and started his own club, Blue Ridge Aquatic Club. While there, Emory & Henry had their first NCAA qualifier in the teams’ history. From there, Dan moved to Southern California to coach at the University of Southern California and the Trojan Swim Club.
 
Throughout his 15 years of coaching experience, Dan has coached athletes ranging from beginners all the way to current world record holders. His philosophy is that, through swimming, young athletes can learn valuable skills, both in and out of the water, that they will carry with them for life. 
Chris Kang Assistant Coach
Coach Chris has swim coaching in his family lineage and a huge passion for the sport of swimming. Coach Chris was thrown into the waters at the young age of 2 and started swimming competitively at the age of 5. Coach Chris has been coaching competitive swimming in Southern California since 2009. He brings 13 years of coaching experience to Team Santa Monica.
 
Coach Chris has helped produce a wide range of swimmers from Gold Medalists at Super JO's to Top 3 Ranked in Southern California. Coach Chris was also selected to assist Coach Mohammad at Western Zones Age Group Championship for 2 years running, as well as selected for All-Stars Festival Coach back to back to back years. Coach Chris believes technique and mental fortitude can be instilled at a young age as a firm foundation for success. He strives to understand the athlete's weaknesses, strengths, and concerns, so a plan can be formed and a goal can be achieved.
 
Coach Chris is an avid sneakerhead. Let's talk about shoes together!
 
"The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do."-- Kobe Bryant
Daniella Hawkins Assistant Coach
Board of Directors
Cathy Burrell Board Member - Treasurer
Gene Gilmore Board Member - At Large
Laura Goodman Board Member - At Large
Kirsty Hinchcliffe Board Member - Secretary
Ben Neely Board Member - At Large
Matthew Peterson Board Member - Vice President
Laura Scott Board Member - President