Coaches and Directors
Ron began his swimming career in Stockton, California at the age of 10 at Delta Valley Aquatics. He went on to qualify for Junior Nationals and was a High School All-American before going to Fresno State University to swim in 1992. In 1994, due to FSU dropping their men's swimming program, Ron had the opportunity to attend BYU where he went on to be a men's team captain and win a Western Athletic Conference team Championship in 1996.
After graduating from the "Y" in 1997, Ron began his coaching career in American Fork, Utah where he helped lead Hilltop Aquatics to their first ever state championship in 2001. In addition to team championships, he also coached NAG Top 16 performers as well as numerous Western Zones, Sectionals, and Junior National qualifiers. In 2001, he moved to Colorado to become the Head Age Group Coach with the AFA Falfins Swim Team.
In Colorado Springs, Ron branched out and got the opportunity to coach at both the High School and College level. At Rampart High School, several athletes achieved All-American status and the Rampart men won their first Metro League Championship in over 20 years. In 2003, the Air Force Academy added Ron to their staff where he led the men's and women's distance groups. In his two years there, athletes under his direction won individual conference championships and qualified for the NCAA Championships.
In 2005, Ron came back to Utah as the assistant coach at the University of Utah. In his time at Utah, he was a part of Utah's first women's Conference Championship Team and built many lasting relationships with athletes he coached and recruited.
In 2008, the Wasatch Front Fish Market was formed and as the Head Coach of the team Ron has seen the team grow from a very close knit group of 9 athletes to the incredible family we are today. Since 2008 Ron have developed more than two dozen Junior National qualifiers, several senior national qualifiers and in 2015 qualified our first athlete for the US Olympic Trials. Our senior program established themselves as the premier senior program in the state and our age group program has won several Age Group Championships. The success that we have seen has been a reflection of a highly driven coaching staff that is goal oriented and knows the importance of planning and long term development of athletes at all levels of the team.
Ron has been fortunate to have been recognized over the years for the success of our athletes. As a team, we have been a USA Swimming Club Excellence Team 5 times, earning Bronze Medal status in 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018. In 2019 we achieved our first Silver Medal status. In 2013, In 2017, Ron was named to the USA Swimming National Junior Team Coaching Staff and had the opportunity to see one of our athletes represent the USA in her first international competition. Locally, Ron have been recognized by my peers here in Utah as the Senior Coach of the Year 5 separate times (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017).
Ron has always had a heart for the young men and women that he has coached over the years. His commitment to them and their swimming careers is something that he takes very seriously. The Wasatch Front Fish Market is committed to seeing young men and women dream big and succeed. And they will!
Ashton's competitive swimming career started at 7 years old at the Salt Lake Country Club. Competing every summer until she was 12, she decided to step up her swimming before starting high school and joined the Eagle Aquatics club team. She swam and played water polo through her time at Cottonwood High School, and was a varsity captain on both teams her junior and senior years.
This led her to play water polo at the Division II level at California State University, Monterey Bay for 4 years. Throughout her time as an Otter, she earned the title of All-American Athlete for the years 2014 and 2015, as well as team captain her senior year. She studied Health and Human Services and graduated with honors in 2016.
Through her time in Monterey, she began coaching for several high school and club water polo club teams. Moving back to Salt Lake City in 2016, she was hired as Cottonwood High's assistant swim coach, and re-started the water polo program in the spring of 2017. She began coaching with Fish Market in the spring of 2018, working with the National Development Group and Advanced Junior groups and has learned so much through the amazing athletes and coaching staff. Since then our age groupers have seen state championship titles, state swimmers on the top 3 podiums and high point awards, state records, age group zones and sectional qualifiers. Ashton led the Utah Zones Team as head coach in the summer of 2023 and will do so again in 2024. She is currently sitting on the Utah Swimming Board as Coaches Rep, and was incredibly honored to be recognized as the Age Group Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
Most recently, she graduated from Westminster College in the Spring of 2020 with a Masters Degree in Community Leadership. Her thesis focused on involvement rates of refugee students in athletics at the high school level in Salt Lake County. Aside from the pool deck, she loves to do anything that gets her outside including hiking, camping, and skiing. She is an avid reader and a dog mom to Wallace, her sweet rescue mutt and Solo, a spirited boxer pup!
Go Big Fish!
Allen Jones started swimming competitively at age 12 in Herndon, Virginia where he grew up. His accomplishments include being a two time Junior National Champion (100 and 200 Breaststroke), U.S. National Qualifier, and 1996 US Olympic Trial Qualifier. He attended college at the University of Tennessee where he swam for four years. There, he was a four year letterman and team captain. He also served as a student assistant coach prior to graduating in 2001 with a degree in economics.
Allen’s coaching career has included all levels of swimming from summer swim teams to his many years of experience as a USA Swimming registered coach. He is also an ASCA Level 3 Certified and ASCA Level 4 Educated Coach with a commitment to continuing his pursuit of coaching excellence. Allen has served on several Utah Swimming committees through the years including the Nominating Committee, Age Group Committee and the Admin Review Board. He is a two time winner of the Utah State Age Group Coach of the Year award. Since joining Fish Market in 2011, Allen's swimmers have broken more than 20 State records and he has had several swimmers ranked in the top 10 nationally in various events. Allen purchased the Wasatch Front Fish Market from its original owner in 2021 and expanded the number of locations from 2 to 4 and expanded programming to offer swimming to new groups in the community. Allen and his wife Ashley live in South Jordan. He has 3 sons, 1 step daughter and 1 step son. In his spare time he likes to work in the yard, watch RSL soccer and train for local running and triathlon events. If you pass him biking or running on the roads give him a honk, he can surely use the encouragement!
Coach Kayky’s journey in swimming began in São Paulo, Brazil, where he grew up and developed a passion for the sport at a young age. After becoming a multiple-time Brazilian national champion and earning international recognition, he moved to the United States in 2018 to pursue both academics and athletics at the University of Tennessee. Competing in one of the most competitive collegiate environments, Kayky stood out at the SEC and NCAA levels, further establishing himself as one of Brazil’s top swimmers. His dedication and hard work led him to represent Brazil at the World Championships and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, a dream he had carried since childhood.
Today, Kayky is channeling that same drive into his coaching career with the Wasatch Front Fish Market Swim Team. His greatest joy comes from seeing swimmers progress whether through refining technique, achieving personal bests, or building confidence in and out of the pool. He believes that swimming is more than just a sport; it’s a tool to develop discipline, resilience, and lifelong passion.
Outside of coaching, Kayky enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, watching movies, and exploring gastronomy. He carries the same curiosity and dedication that shaped his athletic career into his personal life, always striving to learn, grow, and inspire those around him.
Zach has coached swimming for a little more than 5 years. He specifically loves freestyle and butterfly, those are his favorite strokes. He swam for Jordan High School and also swims open water. Some of the places he has coached in the past include for Salt Lake County at both Dimple Dell and Draper Rec Center. He has also coached at Alta Canyon Rec Center and finally, he has coached for Jordan High School and Hillcrest High School.
Mikaela has always loved the pool and swimming. Growing up, she practically lived in the pool but did not start competitive swimming until she was in high schoo. She swam all 4 years and then some in college. She has done lifeguard and swimming lessons throughout the last 8 years and has been a year round coach with WFFM for the last year! Mikeala says that getting to know your swimmers and seeing them progress is the best part of the job!
Sam began swimming when he was 8 years old in Herriman, Utah. In high scool, he had the amazing opportunity to be part of the first class of Mountain Ridge High School to compete for all 4 years of athletics eligibility. Through the obstacles of the COVID pandemic, he fell in love with the sport of swimming. As team captain, Sam led the team to 2x region champions and held 4 school records. He has coached at the JL Sorenson Squids from 2023-24. Sam was the assistant coach for the region champion team Cedar High School. He hopes to leave athletes with a positive and joy-filled experience in the pool, and to help them develop into champion athletes and people! Sam is currently going to school for History and Social Science Education.
