Coaches
Our Coaching Team
Guiding swimmers with passion, purpose, and proven expertise
Coach Jack joined the CGBD staff in 2005 after coaching with several other teams in the area. As a swimmer, he achieved Top 16 national rankings, reached the finals at National Championships, and participated in the 1984 Olympic Trials.
Coach Jack brings over 30 years of experience to the team. He has served many roles within the CGBD organzation. During his tenure, he has developed swimmers who have qualified for the USA Swimming National Junior Team, Olympic Trials, as well as one swimmer who participated in 2007 FINA World Championships. Coach Jack also enjoys mentoring younger coaches.
Coach Jack loves mountain biking, surfing, off-road triathlons, and camping. He currently lives in Williamsburg with wife, Irene, and their two dogs.
Coach Jihan coached for Eastern Express Swimming and Typhoon Aquatics before joining CGBD in 2005. She was Head Developmental Coach, Age Group Coach, Assistant Office Manager, Accounts Manager, and lessons site supervisor before stepping away to be a stay at home mom.
Coach Jihan returned to the CGBD coaching staff in 2019 as an age group coach before becoming the Director of Dolphin Swims SwimAmerica program in 2021. She currently serves on the Virginia Swimming Board of Directors as the Disability/Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair and the SwimAmerica Advisory Board with the America Swim Coaches Association. She was honored with the CAA Community Impact Award in 2024.
Coach Jihan grew up swimming in NJ and Middle Atlantic swimming and still holds several pool records. In college, she swam for the University of Rhode Island before graduating with a degree in Marine Resource Management. She was a marine mammal rescue specialist in Connecticut and Virginia before committing to swimming full time.
Coach Jihan is the Vice President of the Hampton Chapter Jack and Jill of America, Inc. where she volunteers her time to make a difference in her the community. She also serves her community as a board member for Pugs U Gotta Save. She currently lives in Smithfield with her husband, children, and three dogs.
Coach McKenzie joined the CGBD staff in 2017. She swam for Coach Jack and Coach Steve at Typhoon Aquatics and CGBD for 11 years. Coach McKenzie was a middle school teacher before transitioning to coaching full time and now enjoys coaching swimmers of all ages from the littles as summer league all the way through our Senior program.
Coach McKenzie is a passionate coach who also serves CGBD as a Virginia Swimming delegate, meet entry coordinator, and Strength and Conditioning Coach. Her goal is to help all swimmers unlock their full physical and mental potential both in the water and beyond.
When she’s not on deck, Coach McKenzie enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, biking, and camping with her husband Jake and daughter Sloane.
Coach Sarah began her swim journey in high school where she swam all 4 years as well as played water polo. She coached high school and taught swim lessons in California before moving to VA. She worked as a coach and Beach Lifeguard for the City of Norfolk before finding her place with CGBD in 2021. Sarah is one of the site supervisors for our SwimAmerica and Dolphin programs. Sarah is also our day-to-day manager for our 2nd grade Learn to Swim program with the City of Hampton. She is ASCA Level 1 and Level 2 certified, as well as Swim Angelfish certified. She loves working with children of all ages to create a safe and welcoming environment. Coach Sarah is wonderful at helping swimmers develop their strokes and technique. She currently lives in Hampton with her Navy husband and 2 young children.
Jenna swam for SEVA and 757 before swimming for Virginia Tech. Jenna competed at the US Olympic Trials in 100 breaststroke before graduating with a degree in Sociology. She coached for HOKI Swimming in Christiansburg, VA and is currently working on her Masters in Psychology from Liberty University and is also continuing her education at the University of Virginia in Applied Behavioral Analysis. In her spare time, Jenna volunteers with the Riverside Mental Health Recovery Center in Newport News. Jenna is one of the site supervisors for our SwimAmerica and Dolphin programs. S She is ASCA Level 1 and Level 2 certified, as well as Swim Angelfish certified. Jenna loves coaching children of all ages to create a safe and welcoming environment.
Coach Steve has always been a proud advocate for swimming as a competitive sport and as a means for maintaining fitness. As a swimmer, Coach Steve was a high school and collegiate All-American. He even qualified for the 1972 Olympic Trials. Coach Steve initially worked for CGBD in 1980s developing Senior and National Team swimmers. Steve rejoined the CGBD coaching staff in 2000 as a full-time age group coach. In 2001, Steve signed on as Age Group Head Coach and Team Administrator taking on the administrative functions of the team, ultimately becoming the Head Coach in 2008. During his tenure as a coach, Steve has developed several nationally ranked Top-16 swimmers, Junior National qualifiers, Senior National qualifiers, National Age Group record holders, and Olympic Trial qualifiers. Coach Steve has been a zones coach and in 2006 and 2007 he was Age Group Coach of the Year. Coach Steve lives in Yorktown with his wife Sandy.
Sharon has been a part of CGBD since her daughter joined the team over 20 years ago. She volunteered in numerous ways for the team until her daughter graduated from high school in 2015. In 2015, she was asked to come back to the team as the Team Administrator and has grown that role since then.
Sharon loves spending time with her 2 children, going to the beach and being outdoors. She lives in Newport News with her husband and golden retriever.
Coming soon
Jennifer started with summer league swimming before becoming a competitive diver and then diving coach. She loves working with the kids as a Dolphin Swims site supervisor.
Jennifer has a degree from Auburn University in Education with a specialization in Health Promotion. She have certifications in Personal Training , Strength and Conditioning, Nutrition, Health Promotion, Swim Angelfish, ASCA, and Swim America. She worked for the US Navy and Marine Corps as a Public Health Educator and a NASA as a Fitness Specialist.
In her spare time she is a member of 757 ROC Hyrox Club and is currently competing in Hyrox and Deka Strong events. Jennifer is a pet lover and has 10 rescue cats and dogs that reside with her and her family.
Megan has always loved swimming. She swam all 4 years in high school and also participated in the dive team. Megan is currently employed by Coast Guard Blue Dolphins as a lead site supervisor coach and is SwimAngelfish special needs certified. She is a very big advocate for having a fun but in a structured environment. Megan absolutely loves helping swimmers develop their strokes and techniques to get stronger and more confident from where they started.
Chloe has been a competitive swimmer since she was five years old and graduated out of CGBD a few years ago. Chloe is currently a fourth-year Kinesiology major at the University of Virginia, set to graduate in 2026. She has served as an assistant coach for the Queens Lake Eagles summer swim team and helped to establish a diverse undergraduate swim program at UVA. Swimming has always been a deep passion of hers, and loves the opportunity to share it with others throughout her life.
Alayna has been a competitive swimmer for many year on club teams and summer league. She is an instructor with CGBD and head coach for the Elizabeth Lake Tideriders as part of the GPSA summer swim league.
Alayna love seeing kids gain new skills and helping them achieve their personal goals in the pool.
Alayna is a homeschooling mom of 3 and very passionate about swimmers with special needs.
Alexa has been an avid swimmer since she was little and has competed in surfing, swimming, and diving programs. Alexis started her career as a lifeguard before becoming a swim lessons coach. She is passionate about teaching technique and swimming skills to young swimmers.
Abel started his career swimming for the Glendale Gators summer league team in the GPSA summer swim league. Abel also swims for Warwick High Schools. He was an instructor with the YMCA for 2 years before accepting a lessons coach position with CGBD. Abel attends the University of Virginia studying Mathematics.Abel enjoys playing the jazz piano and the trumpet in the marching band. In his free time, he enjoys doing puzzles, reading, and listening to music.
Alice has been apart of CGBD for many years and is a member of our national teams. She recently graduated from York High School with highest honors, advanced and IB diplomas. She will be attending UVA in the fall studying public policy and law with a minor in Spanish.
Alice loves working with children and sharing her passion for the water.
Amanda started swimming competitively when she was 4 years old for Kingspoint Dolphins summer swim team and then joined CGBD when she 9 years old. She graduated from James Madison University with a Health Sciences degree and is actively actively pursuing a degree in Health Care Management and Business Administration. Amanda loves swimming with her two young children, baking, and spending time with her family. Her favorite thing about coaching is seeing the growth of the swimmers and watching them accomplish their goals.
Calista been swimming her whole life, swam competitively for years and taught as an assistant coach for a couple of years. She loves spending time with friends and family in her spare time. Her favorite thing about coaching is seeing the kids improve everyday and the smile they have when they achieve their goals.
Raymond has been teaching swim lessons for over 4 years. He has been swimming since he was a kid and and enjoyed various types of aquatic activities, including being a lifeguard for over 13 years. Raymond loves seeing kids improve their skills and overcome challenges in learning to swim. Some of his favorite things to do include listening to music and playing games.
Stephanie has been swimming in Hampton Roads for many years. She swam for SEVA for 7 years, CGBD for three years and for York High School for four years. Her dad was a SEVA and CGBD coach for many years.
Stephanie loves teaching kids and seeing them progress and have fun as well! In her free time, she likes to read and she loves going to the beach and traveling. Stephanie is in college with a major in accounting.