2025 Head Coach
Coach Ryan has been part of the Barracudas swim team for many years, he first started here at the age of 8 and continued to swim for the Barracudas until about the age of 15. Ryan then transitioned to a coaching role, and has been a coach ever since! After several years as an Assistant Coach, 2024 was his first year as head coach of the Barracudas. We are excited Coach Ryan is returning as Head Coach for the 2025 Swim Season!
A little about myself: I grew up in Austin and attended West Ridge MS and Westlake High School. I have two older brothers and one younger sister who all also swam for the Barracudas! In my spare time, I enjoy going to the gym, working on my car and going to concerts. When it's not summer, I work at the YMCA of Dripping Springs as a swim coach for various groups in the program. I am looking forward to coaching the Barracudas!
2025 Assistant Coach
We are excited to have Coach Adri returning as an Assistant Coach for the 2025 Swim Season! Adriana was a Barracuda swimmer for 12 years and has coached the past 4 years. She has several high point awards from the All Star Invitational and holds Barracuda records in 3 individual events and was on 4 record holding relay teams. She was a competitive swimmer at Nitro Swimming for 11 years and 1 year at Whitecaps of Westlake. She was a TAGS (Texas Age Group Swimming) finalist and qualified for the high school regional meet.
She attends Westlake High School where she splits her time between academics, NHS Co-President & marching and concert bands. She will be attending Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) in the fall and studying Biomedical Engineering.
2025 Junior Coaches & Helpers
Interested in helping the younger kids improve their swimming skills? Paid and volunteer positions available!
All of our awesome Barracudas that will be in the pool helping the younger kids:
Want to be a Coach?
Read below & APPLY HERE!!! https://goo.gl/forms/DhLbs0eafOLAID9p2
More information? Email [email protected]
Coach Expectations -
On Deck:
- Treat all swimmers equally
- Build Self-esteem in each swimmer using encouragement and praise
- Maintain a high level of sportsmanship at all times to promote team spirit
- Active participant in every practice, meet, and team event
- Maintain open communication with other coaches, board members, and parents.
Teaching Skills:
- Be responsive and sensitive to the needs of all swimmers of all ages
- Emphasize fundamentals of proper stroke and turn techniques
- Demonstrate drills and/or proper stroke techniques with in-water presentation
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Provide regular constructive feedback to all swimmers
- Explain technique and provide feedback on DQs before next meet.
Leadership:
- Arrive early and prepared to begin practice on time
- Assist with setup of pool area, for practice
- Attend all practices, meets, and team events
- Coordinate with fellow coaches to provide consistent coaching philosophy
- Be familiar with and prepared to implement workouts and drills
- Assist fellow coaches in keeping swimmers in productive activity
- Generate relays in preparation for weekend meets (using online tools)
Certifications (must be turned in prior to start of season) -
- CPR Certification - Coaches MUST have, at minimum, CPR certification per our insurance carrier. Certification MUST be from American Red Cross or American Heart Association and must have an in person component.
- Helpers do not require any certifications. We have many on staff as "helpers" without CPR, we just cannot call you a coach.
- Lifeguard Certification - We must maintain a lifeguard in the pool area at all times during practice. Therefore, head coaches and a small number of our coaches are required to be lifeguard certified.
- A background check (18&o) and references will be required.
Past Coaches
Natalie swam with the Barracudas from 7 to 17 and coached for several years. She attends Washington University at St. Louis where she studies BUCS (Business & Computer Science) and swims as a WashU Bear.
Westlake High School and has lettered on the Varsity swim team for 4 years. She swims year round at Nitro swimming.
Go Barracudas! Go Bears!