TEAM DIRECTOR-  RAY MITCHELL     Ray has coached for 33 years at all levels of competitive swimming; USA Swimming, High School, Collegiate and summer league. He formed the Terrapins Swim team in 1989 with Paul Stafford. Ray was the USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year for 1998, 1999 and 2003 and the Pacific Swimming Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2003. He is the only coach in the history of USA Swimming to be awarded the Developmental Coach of the Year 3 times. He has qualified more swimmers to the USA national Junior team than any other coach in US history. He has coached National Champions such as Kate Dwelley, Lauren Rogers, Laura Davis and Natalie Coughlin. His swimmers have qualified for USA Swimming National “A” and “B” teams, World Championships, Pan Am games, World University Games, Pan Pacific Games and Goodwill Games teams. Since 1989 his teams have racked up over 30 top ten finishes at the Junior and Senior National levels, winning National titles in 1997 and 2000.   He has developed over 150 High School All-Americans, over 300 NAG ranked swimmers and many National and Olympic trial finalists. He has served as the Head Women’s coach for the USA National Junior team, coached numerous USA World Cup teams and also served on the USA Swimming Club Excellence task force and the Athlete Tracking task force. Ray helps coach the Terrapins National Group and administrates the club’s   business affairs.  He and his wife Cindy have a 11 year old son, Chase.

PAUL STAFFORD-  HEAD COACH Paul has over 25 years experience coaching all levels of competitive swimming. He has coached summer league, High School and USA Swimming getting phenomenal results at each. During Paul’s tenure as Head Age Group Coach he developed one of the top Age Group Programs in the United States, having won numerous Far Western Age group Championships. He is recognized as one of the top Age Group coaches in the United States and was awarded the prestigious American Swim Coaches Association’s Age Group Coach of the Year award in 1999. He also earned the Pacific Swimming Age group Coach of the year in 1997.  Paul has been a featured speaker at numerous LSC and National Clinics where his talks have always inspired those in attendance.   Paul has not only advanced Terrapin swimmers of all abilities, but has been successful in developing some of the United States top age group swimmers. His swimmers have consistently ranked in the top 10 each year in the USA National Age Group rankings and he has had many swimmers ranked #1.   He has also produced MANY National and Junior national swimmers from his Age Group program, a substantial feat few of his peers have been able to equal. His swimmers have also set numerous Pacific and National Age Group Records. In Paul’s first year as the Terrapins National group coach, his swimmers have qualified for the National Junior team, World Youth Championship team , qualified for Olympic Trials, qualified for Senior and Junior nationals and have earned All-American status. At the 2008 NCS High School Championships, his swimmers broke long standing NCS Records and posted some of the top times for High School age swimmers in the United States.   Coach Paul brings a tremendous amount of dedication and commitment to his swimmers and has the reputation for getting RESULTS. He is married to his wife Catherine and he has 4 children; Sarah, Theresa, Christianna and John Paul.

DOUG REED-  HEAD AGE GROUP COACH Coach Reed joined the Terrapins staff as a full time coach in 2004.  Doug began teaching swimming and coaching at the age of 16 with swim programs for the Pleasant Hill Park & Recreation District.  He has received awards from the Mayor of Pleasant Hill and the Pleasant Hill City council for his outstanding work with the youth of their community.  Also, before coaching with the Terrapins, Doug was head coach of College Park High School for 6 years and during thi time he was awarded boys coach of the year in 2004 by the Contra Costa Times.  Doug attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he majored in Physical Education & Kinesiology, and was a member of the Men's Swim Team. Doug was not only an experienced competitive swimmer but also an Elite gymnast for many years. Doug has made a tremendous impact at the club with his swimmers showing consistent and rapid improvement in their skill level and times. Coach Reed is the consummate professional who approaches his duties in a very serious and organized fashion. He expects his swimmers to be dedicated and focused in pursuit of their individual goals. Doug is a great “stroke coach” and has the reputation for maximizing each swimmers skill level in a fun, challenging and exciting program. Doug has developed some of the top age group swimmers in Pacific Swimming and was recently named to Pacific Swimming North American challenge coaching staff.Coach Reed is responsible for producing many top ten NAG swimmers, Far Western Champions, Zone and PC All stars and Junior national qualifiers.

RICK WATERHOUSE-  SENIOR COACH Rick has been with the club for over 25 years and is well respected among his peers.  He was part of the staff of the Pleasant Hill Swim Club, the Concord-Pleasant Hill Swim Team, and now the Terrapins.  Rick has personally coached many NAG top 16 swimmers and many of these swimmers were ranked #1 in the USA in their respective events. Rick also assisted in the development of the numerous Olympic swimmers training at the club in the early 80’s.  Rick was selected the Pacific Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year in 1991 and Pacific Swimming Senior Coach of the Year in 2006.  He serves on the Pacific Swimming Board of Directors and is also a teacher in the Acalanes Unified School District.  Rick brings a massive amount of coaching experience to the club having coached in the 70’s 80’s 90’s and currently to 2008.  Rick is one of the most experienced coaches in the United States.

KAREN RIC E -  AGE GROUP COACH / SWIM SCHOOL DIRECTOR Coach Karen has been involved in swimming and coaching for over 20 years.  She swam at the local and USA Swimming level and as a coach has extensive experience in all levels of coaching.  Coach Karen runs the Terrapins 10-under program and our Learn to Swim and Race Program.  Coach Karen comes to the Terrapins from a S-Bay swim club where she administered one of the largest learn to swim programs in the United States.  Coach Karen has made an immediate impact here at Terrapins with her positive and professional approach with both swimmers and parents.  Her students and swimmers have made incredible improvements in technique, confidence and self-esteem.  Coach Karen runs an innovative and exciting program where each child gains the maximum level of personal instruction possible, while also learning to work as a group.  Her daily teaching and training sessions are truly a “work of art” as she leads all her students and swimmers in a nonstop, challenging and fun learning journey.  Anyone who has viewed one of Karen’s practices is awestruck by Coach Karen's enthusiasm and attention to detail.  It is no easy task to command a group of 5-10 year-olds, but Coach Karen has mastered this art and it is truly unbelievable to witness.  Coach Karen uses these skills to more effectively communicate with her swimmers and parents.  Karen also runs an academic MATH tutoring program for all ages which has been incredibly successful for many of her swimmers and students.  Language is also no barrier as Karen also tutors ESL students.  Coach Karen is one of the most experienced and successful 10-under coaches in the United States.