Coaches
Our Coaching Team
Guiding swimmers with passion, purpose, and proven expertise
Coach Jack joined the CGBD staff in 2005, bringing with him a wealth of experience from coaching with several other teams in the region. A standout swimmer in his own right, Coach Jack achieved Top 16 national rankings, was a National Championship finalist, and competed at the 1984 Olympic Trials.
With over 30 years of coaching experience, Coach Jack has worn many hats within the CGBD organization. He has played a pivotal role in the development of athletes who have gone on to qualify for the USA Swimming National Junior Team, the U.S. Olympic Trials, and even the 2007 FINA World Championships. In addition to coaching athletes, he is passionate about mentoring the next generation of swim coaches.
Outside of the pool, Coach Jack is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys mountain biking, surfing, off-road triathlons, and camping. He lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, with his wife, Irene, and their two dogs.
Coach Jihan brings a deep passion for swimming and community engagement to her role as Director of the Dolphin Swims SwimAmerica Program. With a coaching career that began with Eastern Express Swimming and Typhoon Aquatics, she joined CGBD in 2005, where she has worn many hats — including Head Developmental Coach, Age Group Coach, Assistant Office Manager, Accounts Manager, and Lessons Site Supervisor. After taking time off to raise her family, she returned to CGBD in 2019 and was named Director of the SwimAmerica program in 2021.
In addition to her coaching experience, Jihan is Swim Angelfish Special Needs Certified and USA Swimming Paraswimming certified, which allows her to work effectively with children and adults who have physical, cognitive, or sensory challenges.
In addition to her work on deck, Coach Jihan serves on the Virginia Swimming Board of Directors as the Disability/Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair and is a member of the SwimAmerica Advisory Board with the American Swim Coaches Association. Her leadership and community impact were recognized in 2024 when she received the CAA Community Impact Award.
A lifelong swimmer, Coach Jihan grew up competing in New Jersey and Middle Atlantic Swimming and still holds several pool records. She swam collegiately for the University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Marine Resource Management. Prior to committing full-time to coaching, she worked as a marine mammal rescue specialist in Connecticut and Virginia.
Beyond the pool, Coach Jihan is an active community leader. She serves as Vice President of the Hampton Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and sits on the board of Pugs U Gotta Save, a dog rescue organization. She resides in Smithfield, Virginia, with her husband, children, and their three beloved dogs.
Coach McKenzie joined the CGBD coaching staff in 2017, bringing with her a lifelong connection to the program. A former swimmer under Coach Jack and Coach Steve, she spent 11 years training with Typhoon Aquatics and CGBD. Before transitioning to coaching full time, Coach McKenzie was a dedicated middle school teacher, a background that enhances her ability to connect with and motivate swimmers of all ages.
Today, Coach McKenzie works with athletes across the spectrum — from young summer league swimmers to those in the Senior program. She is a passionate and purposeful coach, committed to helping athletes unlock their full physical and mental potential in and out of the water. In addition to her on-deck coaching, she plays a vital role within the organization as a Virginia Swimming delegate, meet entry coordinator, and Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Off the pool deck, Coach McKenzie enjoys outdoor adventures with her husband, Jake, and their daughter, Sloane — especially hiking, biking, and camping.
Coach Steve has long been a passionate advocate for swimming — both as a competitive sport and as a lifelong path to fitness. A high school and collegiate All-American, he qualified for the 1972 Olympic Trials, marking the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the sport.
Coach Steve first joined CGBD in the 1980s, where he was instrumental in developing Senior and National Team swimmers. He returned to the program in 2000 as a full-time Age Group Coach and quickly rose to leadership roles, becoming Age Group Head Coach and Team Administrator in 2001, and ultimately Head Coach in 2008.
With decades of experience, Coach Steve has guided countless swimmers to success. His athletes have included nationally ranked Top-16 swimmers, Junior and Senior National qualifiers, National Age Group record holders, and Olympic Trials participants. In recognition of his leadership, he was named Age Group Coach of the Year in both 2006 and 2007, and has served as a Zones Coach for Virginia Swimming.
Coach Steve continues to lead the CGBD program with integrity, deep technical knowledge, and a strong belief in the power of swimming to transform lives. He lives in Yorktown, Virginia, with his wife, Sandy.
Kaelyn Thackery
Dolphin Coach
Email: coachkaelynt@cgbdswim.org
Coach Kaelyn brings a wealth of experience as a dedicated educator and accomplished swim coach. Hailing from Hampton Roads, her local roots have instilled in her exceptional leadership skills and a profound love for the sport. With lots of expertise in water safety instruction and a proven track record of coaching competitive swimming, Coach Kaelyn's impressive resume includes CGBD coach and supervisor of Dolphin Swims, tenure as Head Varsity Swim Coach at Phoebus High School, and Assistant Coach at Warwick Yacht for the past three summers. Additionally, she has taught photography at Phoebus High School for two years, showcasing her creative and student-centric approach in both academic and athletic settings. Currently, Coach Kaelyn continues to make a positive impact on the community by joining the special education program in York County.
Coach Kirstin is a lifelong swimmer and former competitive athlete who also rowed for the University of Connecticut. She is a passionate and dedicated advocate for the sport of swimming—not only as a competitive pursuit but as a lifelong skill that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, enjoy, and benefit from.
As both a former military “brat” and a current military spouse, Coach Kirstin has lived and worked in diverse locations across the United States and around the world. Her global experiences are complemented by over a decade of work in the field of education, including roles in middle and high school teaching, special education, adult education, and English as a Second Language (ESL).
Her coaching background is equally broad, spanning U.S. and international age-group programs, high school swim teams, and both youth and adult swim instruction. This unique combination of athletic, educational, and multicultural experience shapes her holistic and inclusive approach to coaching.
Coach Jack M., originally from Kansas, has been involved in aquatics for many years and brings a wealth of experience to CGBD. His specialty lies in working with developmental swimmers, where he is passionate about helping athletes build strong fundamentals, developing confidence in the water, and fostering a lifelong love for swimming.
Since joining CGBD last year, Jack has quickly become an important part of the coaching staff. His enthusiasm, dedication, and ability to connect with swimmers earned him the Dolphin Swims Staff of the Year award—an honor that highlights his positive impact on swimmers and their families.
Starting next week, Jack will work with our prep groups and midday developmental swimmers.
Beyond the pool deck, Jack enjoys traveling across the United States.
Coach Megan has been passionate about swimming from a young age and has dedicated much of her life to the sport. She swam competitively throughout all four years of high school, where she not only contributed to her school’s swim team but also competed on the dive team, showcasing her versatility and commitment to aquatic athletics.
Her love for the sport naturally transitioned into coaching, where she discovered her true calling—helping others grow and succeed in the water. Megan joined CGBD as Dolphins Swims Coach and now is a Site Supervisor.
In addition to her coaching experience, Megan is Swim Angelfish Special Needs Certified, which allows her to work effectively with children and adults who have physical, cognitive, or sensory challenges.
Megan lives in Newport News with her husband and dogs.
Dave Green is a former firefighter with the York/James City County Fire Department who found his passion for swimming later in life. Since then, he has built a strong coaching background, working with Masters swimmers and military recruits. Dave brings a disciplined, supportive approach to the pool, shaped by years of public service and a commitment to helping others grow. His coaching style emphasizes confidence, technique, and continuous improvement for swimmers of all levels.
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.
Coach Jennifer is Swim Angelfish Special Needs Certified, which allows her to work effectively with children and adults who have physical, cognitive, or sensory challenges.
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.
Isaiah has been swimming his entire life. He grow up swimming in the GPSA summer league with his two younger brothers . He has coached summer swimming and is an Dolphin Swims site supervisor for CGBD. Isaiah likes to play guitar, drums & hang with family.
In addition to her coaching experience, Isaiah is Swim Angelfish Special Needs Certified, which allows her to work effectively with children and adults who have physical, cognitive, or sensory challenges.
Coach Isaiah worked along side is dad running a small business in Hampton Roads.
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.
In addition to her coaching experience, Stephanie is Swim Angelfish Special Needs Certified, which allows her to work effectively with children and adults who have physical, cognitive, or sensory challenges.
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.
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.
Jas grew up swimming year-round with CGBD, where she was coached by Steve Hennessy and had the opportunity to compete at Age Group Championships right here in Hampton Roads—a highlight of her swimming journey.
With over seven years of experience in childcare, she brings a strong foundation in youth development. Ready for a new chapter, Jas saw the perfect opportunity to combine her passion for working with children and her lifelong love of the water. Joining the team is a dream come true, and she’s excited to give back to the next generation—just as others once did for her.
Keegan has been connected to the water for as long as he can remember. He began swimming at the age of six and has enjoyed over a decade of competitive experience. He continues to pursue his passion through USA Swimming and Masters Swimming. Now stepping into the role of coach and instructor, Keegan is excited to support and inspire younger athletes as they develop their own skills and confidence in and around the water.
