Coach Dave swam collegiately at Harvard with Joe Bernal where he pioneered the “Berkoff Blastoff”

underwater start that revolutionized swimming. Dave’s efforts led to four American and NCAA records and two NCAA Division I titles in the 100-yard backstroke. In 1988, Coach Dave set three world records in the 100-meter back and became the first swimmer to break 55 seconds. Dave won gold and silver medals in the 400-meter medley relay and 100-meter backstroke at the Seoul, South Korea Olympic Games for the USA. Dave returned to his Philadelphia roots in 1990 and began training with Dick Shoulberg and an international cast of pro swimmers for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. Dave broke 55 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke three more times in 1992, winning bronze in the 100 back and gold in the 400-medley relay for Team USA. Dave retired from swimming in 1992 and served as a USA-Swimming Athlete Representative and Board of Directors member through 1993 when he moved to Montana.

Dave began coaching for the Missoula Aquatic Club in 1993 and served as the team’s Head Coach from 2008 to 2018. In those ten years, Coach Dave led MAC swimmers to hundreds of team records, dozens of Montana LSC records, numerous Montana LSC short course and long course State Championship Team titles, a half dozen Northwest Sectional Top 10 Team finishes, and seven Bronze Medal Club Excellence awards. Dave has coached multiple Junior National and National Finalists and four Olympic Trials Qualifiers. Click HERE for Coach Dave's full Bio

Coach Chas is a native Oregonian, born in Portland. He first discovered his love of swimming while living in McMinnville. There he joined his first club swim team. He loved swimming so much that he started lifeguarding, teaching swim lessons, and coaching summer swim teams. Coach Chas attended Western Oregon University and during that time he started coaching for the local swim club in Salem and was the Head Coach for Sprague High School Swim Team. After graduating college, he then went on an adventure to Austin Texas where he worked outside in conservation and wildfire mitigation.  Coach Chas lives in Eugene with his wife Caitlin and daughter Mo.

Coach Sarah has been coaching since 2015 and taught swim lessons before that from 2013-2015. Getting swimmers excited about this sport is her passion. She’s worked with beginners to state champions and has seen the most success when they are having fun.

Coach Jill brings a wealth of competitive swimming experience both professional and personal—to TEAM Eugene Aquatics. Jill served on 3 Oregon All Start teams (2004, 2007-2009) and was named the 2018 Oregon Age Group Coach of the Year. 

Coach Jill was a multiple-event finalist in 5 Canadian National Swimming Championships before accepting an athleti scholarship from the University of Washington. She graduated with a BA in Kinesiology in 1984. “Dr. Black” also holds a master’s degree in sports psychology (UO, 1991) and a PhD in counseling (OSU, 2002)

Jill Lives in Eugene with her husband Chris and their cats. When not on deck she also publishes a weekly workout blog: www.workoutsoffthe beatenpath.wordpress.com

Coach Taylor has been coaching in his two hometowns Eugene and Springfield since 2006. Taylor brings a breadth of competitive aquatic experience, having coached at the age group and collegiate level.  His passion for the water started long before his introduction to a pool. Raised in Oregon he spent most of his summers on family rafting trips. When not on deck, you can find him cruising on his boat through the beautiful Oregon creeks and rivers.

Coach Dan was Born in California; raised in eastern Washington/northern Idaho on a cattle ranch. He has is B.A. in history/English and M.A. in history/political geography. Coach Dan swam 4 years in college - 1960-64 at the University of Idaho.  Coach Dan previously coached at: Lewis-Clark Neptune’s - 1961-66, Reedsport, Oregon - 1966-69, Willamalane Swim Club - 1970-82, University of Oregon - 1981-86, Eugene Y - 1998-2008, South Eugene High School - 1994 – 2015, Willamalane Swim Club - 2008-2020. Coach dan has developed 17 High school All-Americans; 33 National Qualifiers; 8 Olympic Trials, and 2 NCAA qualifiers.

Dan has 3 Children: Jessica; instructor at University of Michigan, Hannah; webmaster, Taylor; swim coach.  His hobbies are rafting; cooking; physical fitness; reading; crosswords. His favorite sayings are “don’t confuse activity with achievement” (John Wooden) “don’t sweat the small stuff” (anonymous). Dan’s pet peeves are whining; negativity; unrealized potential

Sarah began her involvement with TEAM Eugene in 2010 after graduating from South Eugene High School. She has since lived and worked throughout Oregon, California and Australia and is excited to return to this club and community. She is committed to finding all potential athletes a place in this sport and passionate about inclusive and diversified coaching. 

She has a background in education psychology and an MA in Teaching focusing on intrinsic  motivation and neurodivergent learning styles. 

Sarah loves reading, travel, and waterfall hikes. 

After a long break while his kids were growing up, Dan returned to coaching in 2021. Previously he was an assistant coach with the Boise YMCA swim Team from 1993-1998

Grace has been doing competitive swim since the age of 8 and played water polo in high school. She is originally from Orange County, California and is studying at the University of Oregon and absolutely loves teaching and being around kids while also continuing her love for the sport.

Aaron started with TEAM in 2022. He swam competitively as an age group swimmer. He taught lessons and guarded with Willamalane parks and rec for 2 years before starting coaching. He loves working with kids and has a new found passion for coaching. 

Olivia Bachman was born and raised in rural Iowa, and her love for swimming began at the age of 7. Olivia has competed in multiple USA Swimming sectional meets and holds school records for her high school. Her coaching career began coaching in 2020. She hopes to share her joy of swimming with the younger generation. She is an ASCA level 2 coach and continues to hone in on opportunities and education that will broaden her skills. She is currently a student at the University of Oregon, where she is earning her degree in advertising with a minor in sports business. When she’s not on a pool deck, you can catch her running on Pre’s Trail or attending a Duck game.

I was involved in swimming from a very young age. Both of my parents and my two older sisters were division I college swimmers. I swam up until I was 11 years old and then I ran cross country and track and field competitively through middle and high school. Currently, I have fallen back in love with swimming and have been swimming masters the last couple of years. I have coached swimming at Lakeridge High School and Legacy Aquatics. I am also an NASM certified personal trainer. I am excited about all types of athletics and when I'm not exercising I'm probably recreating outside or spending time with friends.

I have swam competitively for 10 years. I swam for the Minnesota White Bear YMCA Mariners, then transitioned to my high school team, the North St. Paul Polars Swim and Dive. After I graduated, I volunteered to be a swim manager for the girls and boys swim team at North. I realized in that time I still wanted to be connected to swimming and it's community. I decided to start coaching at the Minnesota Jewish Community Center is St. Paul for the U.S Master's Program there. As I started working there more, I became a assistant coach for our swim team, the Minnesota JCC Stingrays. Teaching people of any age how to swim always gives me gratitude as well as feeling like I've made a difference in the swimming community. I had two great coaches, and what they've taught me - I want to pass on to other kids that were my age and struggling.