Meet Our Coaches

Senior Head Coach Brian Ford tsccoach@traralgonswimming.org.au

Brian has been the Head Coach of the Traralgon Club since 1997 and a Traralgon Swimming Club member for the past 28 years. Brian is a Silver License Coach who was the Victorian Target 2008 Squad coach in 2004 and 2005, the Victorian Country Squad Coach from 2006 - 2009, and has been a presenter at the ASCTA(V) Conference on numerous occasions. Brian was a member of the Australian Elite Breaststroke Camp team in 2008 and Coach for the Junior Australian team in the Duel in the Pool against Japan in 2009. A Life Member of the Traralgon Club, Brian has an extensive personal swimming background having been a National Age swimmer in 1974 and 1975, a State, Country and local swimmer, and has had a long involvement in Masters Swimming over the years. A believer in discipline and strong communication, Brian leads his swimmers and our Club by example. Brian's believes that "The Traralgon Swimming Club offers every swimmer the opportunity to compete at a level, be it Gippsland, Country, State or National. This is achieved by having a structure in place with coaches, programs, strength and conditioning and a positive culture which allows this to occur. Athletes crave discipline, energy and a sense of belonging to a team environment and we at Traralgon always put TEAM first. Every bit of encouragement and enthusiasm is directed to the swimmer's individual achievement, however it is their contribution to the team result which is a true reflection of the club's success. Together Everyone Achieves More - T.E.A.M. is the benchmark of the Traralgon Club."

Head Coach Ben Geard - National/Saunders Squad

Ben Geard is a Bronze License Coach with extensive experience as a State and National Swimmer. Ben has been a National Open semi-finalist and continues to compete for the Club at a high level as well as coaching at all levels. Ben has a keen understanding of the role motivation plays in keeping swimmers on task and enjoying their sport and is a believer that consistency and quality of training is paramount to great race performance.
Ben is also a qualified masseur and uses this skill to advantage.

2012: Introducing Dean Gooch. Dean will be working with the State Squad and assisting at various levels. We are excited to welcome Dean to our coaching team!

Will Morrison - Country Squad
Will joined the coaching team through 2007 and is an outstanding addition to the Traralgon Club. Will's enthusiasm and interest in developing his coaching skill ensures his Squad have the very best support. He was head coach of the successful 2009 Gippsland Interdistrict team and has a strong philosophy of ensuring our junior swimmers "do the right thing" in stroke and personal development. Will also competes for the club at a Masters level.

Michelle Ford - Gippy and Development Squads

Michelle Ford is a Traralgon Swimming Club Life Member, having been an active member of the Club since she was a 10 year old junior swimmer. Michelle is a Learn-to-Swim teacher with 30 years experience and runs the very successful "Poolside" Learn-to-Swim program in Traralgon. She brings her vast experience and expertise to coaching at the Junior level in the club where she has been developing swimming talent for 25 years. Michelle's coaching philosophy is that: "Every child deserves the opportunity to extend their skills past the learn to swim environment. By being part of a swimming club they have the chance to develop new skills in an environment that is encouraging, supportive and team oriented. I have always enjoyed watching learn to swim children progress through the club and achieve their goals no matter what they may be."

Charley Askew, Georgia Collings and Tom Morrison are former swimmers who have stepped up to coaching and are making a difference at the Club. They bring a natural flair for teaching and working with young children and are making a wonderful contribution to the development of our swimmers. They are all enthusiastic and energetic and provide a great support at all levels of training and competing within the club.

Cam Juha and Alice Lieshout are swimmers who are supporting various levels of training with Green Level Coaching Qualifications. The Traralgon Swimming Club encourages swimmers to develop skills as mentors for junior swimmers and from there, achieve coaching qualifications. Sam Roberts, Erin Roberts and Jessica Norwood are current Junior swimmers who are getting involved with the club at both swim and strength and conditioning levels. They will be future qualified coaches who are now lending their experience and support across the squads.

Sam Fenton - Strength and Conditioning

Sam is our awesome strength and conditioning coach who has been with us for eight seasons - so the fruit of his labours are showing in improved physical condition and stamina. Sam not only works with the swimmers on land training and gym work, but on hydration, diet and general physical and mental preparation. Sam has also worked with the Gippsland Academy Swimmers in his capacity as an accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Andrew Biram - Strength and Conditioning

Andrew is a parent with the Club two young swimmers, Grace and Ava, who takes our Junior Development and Gippy Squad swimmers once a week for Land training. Andrew is also a Masters swimmer with the club and brings additional energy and enthusiasm to an outstanding coaching program.

SPONSORS

O'Connor Transport