COACH

Annika has been a member and coach of the Chicago Smelts since 2022, although she started her coaching career with youth 6&Under swimmers almost a decade ago. She’s currently getting her PhD at UIC, and works for a local non-profit, but in her free time loves to spend time with friends, play video games, and sing! Her favorite event to swim is IM and favorite to coach is backstroke. She loves the Smelts for the sense of community, great workouts, and the ability to share a sport she loves with others through coaching.

COACH

Brock grew up in the Pacific Northwest, spent his summers swimming in the mountain lakes and his family's backyard pool, and swam at a Spokane-area age group club throughout high school. In high school, Brock began coaching for the city rec league and went on to lifeguard and teach swimming throughout college, including a master's swim team in Portland, Oregon. In 2013 Brock swam in his first IGLA (International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics) Championship and found the family of gay swimmers across the globe. He joined the Seattle Orca Swim Team shortly thereafter and coached this team as well. He is committed to promoting inclusion in athletics, especially among queer people in aquatics, and to promoting community through sport.

COACH

Mike is a Level 3 USMS certified coach with twenty years experience in swim education. He’s worked with Olympians, Trials qualifiers, Masters State Champions and established multiple learn-to-swim programs. Having started Masters programs in both NJ and IL, he is well versed in creating safe and welcoming communities on the pool deck and beyond. Mike’s coaching philosophy is focused on creating a space where a swimmer can set goals, shatter expectations and work with him to ensure a lifetime of successful swimming.

SUBSTITUTE COACH

Carolyn's happy place is being in the water. She grew up club swimming and adding diving into the mix in high school. She started teaching swim lessons and lifeguarding while in high school, and, upon becoming a teacher in the Chicago Public School system she immediately began coaching boys and girls swimming at her school (Lincoln Park High School). She also picked up coaching girls water polo and in total coached 12 years in CPS. Upon ending her coaching she joined the Smelts (in 2019) and hasn't looked back. She coached the Smelts fairly regularly for a year and has since become a substitute coach for the team. When coaching, Carolyn focuses on helping swimmers in any way they need; efficiently, stroke technique, and being the biggest cheerleader on deck.  

SUBSTITUTE COACH

Keda grew up in the Ocean State (Rhode Island), and he's definitely in his element when he's in the water. He grew up swimming club and swam all the way through college (backstroke and IM), totaling over 15 years of competitive swimming experience before joining the Smelts in 2023. Throughout his swimming career, Keda has instructed learn-to-swim classes for all ages and coached age group teams of all levels. His coaching emphasis is on conscious swimming: making each swimmer aware of their strengths while swimming, helping them to grow in both ability and confidence in the sport.