Meet Our Coaches

Senior Head Coach Brian Ford

Brian has been the Head Coach of the Traralgon Club since 1997 and a Traralgon Swimming Club member for the past 27 years. Brian is a Silver Licence Coach and a Qualified Green Licence Presenter. He 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 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 Licence 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.

Matt Dinsmore - State Squad

Matt has been involved with the Club as a State and National swimmers for some years. He has developed an interest in coaching and is respected as a knowledgeable and motivating leader. This year Matt takes on the State Squad. Matt has achieved a Bronze level in Coaching and is in his second season of coaching the Gippsland Target Squad. Matt also lends his experience and expertise to the local Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), a sub committee of the Gippsland Association.

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."

Sam Fenton - Strength and Conditioning

Sam is our awesome strength and conditioning coach who has been with us for seven 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.

Rebecca Dunstan - Strength and Conditioning

Rebecca currently looks after our Land Training and Strength and Conditioning program for the very junior swimmers of the Club. She is a great asset to the program as she has a very structured approach to Junior development setting up our young swimmers bodies for the future. She is also involved with the Masters program.

Assistant Coaches - Georgia Collings, Charley Askew, Sarah Berryman, Cameron Juha and Alice Lieshout are senior swimmers with the Traralgon Club who have shown an interest in coaching. They assist at every level of the Club and have undertaken the necessary level of Coaching qualification. These outstanding young people bring a wealth of swimming experience to our coaching team.

SPONSORS

O'Connor Transport