Head Coach: Jimmy Zhao
Head Coach Jimmy Zhao started swimming as a youth in China. He eventually swam as a professional for six years, proficient in all four strokes. He was fortunate to train in the same facility as Olympic champion and former Chinese national swim team captain Sun Yang as well
as the latest Olympic champion and 100 meters freestyle world record holder Zhanle Pan. Outside of the pool, Jimmy is a father, a husband, a software engineer, and a YouTuber. He was an assistant coach with STAR during the 2024-25 short course season.
Coach Jimmy made the natural progression from athlete to coach once his professional swimming days were completed. He has been a swim coach for over 10 years, coaching people from the ages of 5 to 65. In his words, “The sheer joy of sharing the magic of swimming with
others is something I deeply cherish. Being a coach has provided me with the perfect platform to disseminate my love for this sport.” His coaching philosophy focuses on guiding athletes through an unforgettable journey in swimming—building skills, confidence, and a lifelong love
of swimming—while maintaining a strong, results-driven approach.
The results from last season were clear. Every swimmer in the groups that he led dropped time in multiple events throughout the short course season, culminating with a blizzard of personal best times at the regional meet. The athletes really connected with Coach Jimmy by the end of
the season and appreciated what he helped them achieve. We are looking forward to seeing what he will bring to all of our practice groups this year and beyond.
Assistant Coach: Wendy Regan
I’ve been coaching for STAR for the past 2 years. I formerly coached between 2011-2013. Both of my kids were STAR swimmers between 2010 and 2021. I love watching the kids improve and work hard while also fostering friendships and having fun. By day I work as an Audiologist at UW Health. My husband and I enjoy pickleball, hiking and camping. I also enjoy swimming, biking, running, lifting weights, and working in my gardens in my spare time.
Assistant Coach: Melissa Klaeser
Coach Melissa brings a wealth of experience with her to STAR. She swam for FCY for 8 years, and UW LaCross for 4 years. She has taught swim lessons to all ages and was also head coach for the LaCross Country Club summer team. She is a physical therapist by day. Coach Melissa loves the outdoors and is super excited to get back to the pool deck with STAR.
Assistant Coach: Lillian Duffy
Lillian Duffy is a senior at UW-Madison and has extensive experience in competitive swim, water polo, and lifeguarding.
Lillian comes from a big swim family, with both of her parents swimming competitively for a large part of their lives. She then followed in their footsteps and swam all through middle school and high school. Her favorite strokes are freestyle and backstroke. She was introduced to water polo through swimming, and she is currently the president of the UW-Madison club water polo team. From a young age, she has always wanted to teach, so she is excited to apply her two passions of teaching and swimming together with the STAR swim team.
