COACH BIO / Contacts

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COACH BIO / Contacts

MEET OUR COACHING STAFF

The Terrapins boast one of the most experienced coaching staff’s in the United States. The team has consistently ranked as one of USA Swimming’s best Club teams and has earned the prestigious GOLD MEDAL status numerous times. There are very few teams in the USA, if any, which can show the consistency of excellence and consistency of coaching than the Terrapins. Most coaches on the staff have been coaching together for over 20 years, an impossible feat in these days of “team jumping”. This is what sets the Terrapins apart from most USA Swimming clubs; A consistent staff, philosophy and program for over 20 years. Our coaching staff has the experience of years and years, having developed thousands and thousands of young men and women. This level of experience is quite unique in our sport and the main reason the Terrapins remain a force in American swimming. Most of our swimmers go on to compete in College and have become some of the United States premier collegiate swimmers, with most on College Scholarships.

There is NO substitute for experience and our results speak for themselves.

STAFF CONTACT INFO CAN BE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

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.

RICK WATERHOUSE

National Team Assistant

Coach Rick has been with the team since the 1970's as it merged into the Terrapins. First with the Pleasant Hill Swim Club, then Concord - Pleasant Hill, then Concord Pleasant Hill Lamorinda, to the Terrapins. Rick has worked under several head coaches, first as an age group coach, then pre-senior coach and recently as assistant national team coach. Rick was named the Pacific Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year in 1991 and the George Haines Senior Coach of the Year in 2006. In 1986, Rick was one of the first age group coaches in the country to qualify as a ASCA level 5 coach. He says "I owe a great deal to all the other coaches I have had the pleasure to work with. I have been fortunate to have worked with an amazing group of swimmers over the years. From novices to Olympians, it has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience. I particularly enjoy seeing the college swimmers as they return each year and many others who now have careers and families of their own." Rick recently retired after a 35 year teaching career in the Acalanes Union High School District. He and his wife Casey have two grown children.

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.

Coaches

National Team Assistant Rick Waterhouse	Head Coach Paul Stafford (925)680-8372 x206
Team Director Ray Mitchell (925)680-8372 x207	Head Age Group Coach Doug Reed (925)680-8372 x205