2025-26 Coaching Lineup Announced

We are excited to announce the 757swim coaching lineup for the 2025-26 season, as well as a new supportung role, Director of Performance:  

Mike Salpeter – Head Coach

Lead Coach – Gold 3

Mike brings with him to 757swim over 20 years of competitive coaching experience, and 12 years of head coach experience.  Mike is certified as a Level 4 Coach (out of 5)  by the American Swim Coach’s Association, demonstrating his accomplishments in coaching swimmers to national level success.  He has completed the educational requirements for a level 5 certification which is indicative of his commitment to continuing education. 

Mike is active in the VA swimming community having served on the Board of Directors for VA Swimming for the last 5 years and has made multiple appearances as Head Coach of the VA State All Star team at the Eastern Zone Championship, including coaching the team to its 2021 Eastern Zone victory. 

Mike holds a BS in Psychology and a MS in Elementary Education both from Mary Washington College and brings with him multiple perspectives having been a competitive swimmer, swim parent and coach.  Mike’s coaching philosophy is simple but powerful: “Every day is an opportunity to impact lives in an extraordinary way.” Whether on the pool deck, in competition, or during the quiet moments of training, he believes in showing up with purpose, building confidence, and creating a culture where every swimmer feels supported, challenged, and inspired to grow.

Morgan Cordle – Director of Performance

Morgan served as the founding coach of 757swim for 9 years before leaving the pool deck for a career in sports tourism.  While Morgan was away from the pool her passion for the sport and 757swim remained strong.  She will be rejoining the staff in an advisory role lending her experience and expertise to the coaches of our elite level groups.  In this supporting role Morgan will ensure that coaches are equipped with top-of-the-line technique development and aerobic training philosophies so that 757 athletes have the opportunity to succeed at the highest levels of the sport. 

Under Morgan’s leadership 757swim earned Bronze Medal Status with USA Swimming in 2018, 2019 and 2020.  Morgan’s competitive accomplishments include coaching swimmers to reach Olympic Trials, multiple top 16 finishes at Summer Juniors, 3rd place overall team finish for 757swim at Futures, and multiple state championships for both the women’s and men’s teams.  She has also coached multiple Virginia state record holders.  Morgan has served as a member of the USA Swimming Senior Development Committee and was named Virginia Swimming Senior Coach of the Year. 

 Graham Thatcher – Head Senior Coach 

 Lead Coach Silver 3, Assistant Coach Gold 3

Coach Graham joined 757swim 2024 and quickly made his mark within our organization. As the lead of the Silver 3 and Gold 2 groups, Graham’s swimmers have accomplished great things including state championships and futures qualifications.  His accomplishments have earned him the selection as the 2025 Head Coach of the VA All Star Eastern Zone Team. 

Graham was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia and currently lives in Poquoson with his wife, Lisa, and three year old son, Elliot. He is a graduate of Old Dominion University in 2017 with a degree in Parks, Recreation, and Sports Management, and has worked in the youth development field for over 10 years running summer camps, after school programs, and finally athletic directing and teaching physical education at a local private school. He likes to call himself an effort-based coach and loves to work technique at speed. Graham’s coaching credo is "You get out what you put into practice all to gain a better understanding of what makes YOU go fast." He grew up playing soccer and credits most of his swimming success to having a multi-sport background. Because of that, he’s passionate about developing the whole athlete, knowing that it will only benefit them in the pool as well. He loves to be loud and energetic on the pool deck and aims to be his swimmers’ biggest cheerleader. Coach Graham has continued to swim competitively to help him maintain perspective as an athlete and to practice what he preaches (even if it hurts sometimes.)"

Thomas Hamlet – Head Age Group Coach

Lead Coach Gold 2 and Silver 2

Thomas comes to 757swim from Raleigh, NC where he coached for the Marlins of Raleigh (MOR).  Thomas recently received the 2025 American Swim Coaches Association’s “30 Under 30” Award honoring exceptional young coaches who represent the future of the swimming profession.  As a winner of this prestigious award, Thomas will attend ASCA’s 2025 World Clinic, the premier annual event for coaching education and professional development. 

Thomas grew up in High Point, NC and started swimming at age 7. From a young age, swimming became his sport and was always a huge part of his life. During his time as a swimmer, Thomas excelled in backstroke, setting many NCHSAA records throughout his high school career. A member of the Wolfpack, Thomas swam for NC State for 2 years (2019-2021) where he played a role in their ACC and NCAA success Thomas completed his education with a B.S in Nutrition Science and a minor in Exercise Science and has since moved on to coaching, where he hopes to provide swimmers with the same level of love and passion for the sport that he has.

Lindsay Landers – Head Developmental Coach 

Lead Coach - Copper Prep,Copper and Bronze 1

As Head Developmental Coach, Coach Lindsay oversees our developmental programs.  She meets swimmers where they are and works with them to develop skills and habits that build a strong foundation within the sport.  Lindsay joined the team in 2018 and is an integral part of our coaching staff, demonstrating exceptional dedication, passion, and expertise in nurturing our young swimmers to reach their full potential.

Coach Lindsay is an experienced championship level swimmer in her own right, and also holds a degree in elementary education with more than 15 years of teaching experience.  She believes that learning the fundamentals of swimming is best done with consistent and positive motivation. She strives to create positive relationships with swimmers and families noting that success is a collaborative effort.

Emma Buckley 

Lead Coach Gold - Bronze 3, Silver 1 and Gold 1

Coach Emma has been a member of the 757swim coaching staff since 2021 and has led or assisted with coaching every practice group in the organization. Emma's ability to work with swimmers of all ages stems from her belief in the importance of clear communication and adaptability when coaching. She knows that it's often necessary to be capable of explaining concepts in a variety of ways for a diverse group of swimmers to understand. Emma believes that good swimmers are built from a strong foundation and understanding of stroke mechanics and in giving swimmers the opportunity to try new things during practices and at swim meets. She supports her swimmers so that they are not afraid to push themselves, to try something new, or to fail.

Emma grew up in Richmond, Virginia before moving to Williamsburg for school, graduating from The College of William and Mary with a BA in English and from its School of Education with an M. Ed. in Secondary English Education. Since moving to Williamsburg for school, Emma has become a part of the wider community as a member of CrossFit 1607 since 2018, coaching for the gym from 2023-2025, and as a coach for a VPSU swim team for three years.

Emma has coached swimmers from ages nine to fourteen to the Virginia Age Group State Championships, and she was selected as a member of the coaching staff for the Virginia All Star Eastern Zone Team for 2025.

Jake Paulson

Lead Coach Bronze 2

Coach Jake has been with the 757 coaching staff since 2019. After serving as a super assistant and sub coach for two years, Jake stepped into the role of lead coach for Bronze 1 in 2022. Hailing from Charlottesville, VA, he attended William & Mary for both undergrad and graduate school, and now teaches 2nd grade at Laurel Lane Elementary. Jake’s coaching philosophy rests firmly in the belief that swimming is a lifelong sport built on fun and community amidst individual growth, advocacy, and maturation. With each of his practices, he aims to create an atmosphere of fun and positivity while pushing swimmers in their stroke development and cardiovascular fitness. If swimmers are happy and enthusiastic about attending practice each day, then coach Jake believes half the job is done! The push for success and improvement gets so much easier once this first part is done.

Assistant Coaches:

Thor Dyke

Cole Younger

Bobby Knowles

Mary Lynch

Morgan Wait

Evan Lynch

Jenna Heuser

Mary Baez