Coaches & Directors
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We are here to support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to administration, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact Jessica O'Donnell. |
| Coaching Staff |
Patrick Nalley
Head Coach
Patrick Nalley started swimming for a small neighborhood team in Cincinnati , OH back when he was 6. He then joined the Cincinnati Pepsi Marlins at age 8 and swam for them until he moved to Ft. Wayne , IN. Patrick swam for Ft Wayne Aquatics under head coach Dave Gibson for the next 8 years. He went on to swim for the University of Kentucky majoring in Finance and Marketing. After college he lived in Arlington , TX before moving to Colorado Springs , CO where he began coaching career.
Patrick started as his career as a
High School Assistant Coach. He then was recruited and accepted an
offer to be an Age Group Coach for the Falfins Swim Team, a local
Colorado club team under Head Coach Greg Winslow. With the Falfins
Patrick did a wonderful job teaching young swimmers technique and
strategy while sharing his passion for the sport. Two years after
he began work with the Falfins, Patrick was offered the Head Coach
position of the Colorado Rapids Swim Team. As Head Coach for the
Rapids, Patrick coached every swimmer on the team from the age 6
through age 18, from novice to elite. He built such a great working
rapport with the surrounding community that he quickly became Head
Coach of both the men’s and women’s swim teams at
Liberty High School.
Now after three years of head coaching experience and over seven
years of Age Group Coaching experience Patrick is our Head Coach,
responsible for the Gold, Black and National Training
Groups.
Jessica O'Donnell
Head Age Group Coach
Jessica was born and raised in Phoenix , AZ and started swimming competitively at the age of 12. She earned a full swimming scholarship to the University of Nevada , Las Vegas . At UNLV she was a Senior National Qualifier and school record holder.. She graduated from UNLV in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Anthropology. During the summers, Jessica had the opportunity to swim with Ernie Maglischo, one of the world’s foremost experts on the science of swimming.
After receiving a prestigious Regent’s Award for post-graduate study, Jessica began attending the University College of London. In 2002 she earned a Masters of Science in Cultural Psychology, and has had some of her academic work published. Jessica began her coaching career with Central London YMCA.
In April of 2003, Jessica joined the coaching staff at Brophy East Swim Team and had the opportunity to work with Denny Pursley, former National Team Director for USA Swimming. In May 2005, Jessica was invited to coach the USA Swimming Regional Distance Select Camp, at the University of Arizona . In May of 2007, Jessica represented Sun Devil Aquatics as an Assistant Coach at the USA Swimming Regional Select Camp in Salt Lake City , Utah .
Maxwell B Laney
Assistant Coach
Max Laney was born in Denver, CO. He started swimming for the Univ. of Denver Hilltoppers when he was 11 years old. In his high school years Max was named MVP all four years, was a two-time 5A Colorado State Champion in the 200 IM and 100 back, and earned seven All-American honors. After high school he was recruited by ASU and finished his fourth year in March of 2010. Max was the captain of the men’s team his senior year and earned the 6th all-time ASU record in the 200 back and 9th in the 100 back. He is completing his Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Studies in Math and Education currently at ASU.
Sun Devil Aquatics is Max’s first step into club team coaching. He has learned a great deal of swimming knowledge over the course of his athletic career. He is excited to use this to make all of the swimmers excel in the great sport of swimming.
Trevor C Ransdell
Assistant Coach
I grew up in Randolph, New Jersey and began competitive swimming
at age 4 for the Randolph Park Swim Team. I then swam club for 10
years with Crimson Aquatics Club in Morristown, NJ where I was a
standout age group swimmer. After moving to Arizona, I won a State
Championship with Desert Mountain in my senior year.
I started on the coaching side of the sport in 2006 when I became
Team Manager for Arizona State University under the direction of
Mike Chasson. During my 4 years with ASU, I also volunteered with
the Black and NTG groups at SDA with Patrick Nalley. I am now the
Volunteer Assistant Coach and Grad Assistant at ASU as I pursue
finishing my degree. I also bring a number of years coaching and
teaching age group with me. I started off at AquaSafe Swim School
teaching kids aged 2 to 14 how to swim. During my time with ASU I
have been a coach and counselor at competitive swim camps for many
years. I spent one summer at Sparky Swim Camp at ASU, one summer at
Nike Swim Camp at Stanford University with Skip Kenny and Lea
Mauer, and 5 summers at the swim camp at The University of Arizona
under a few coaches including current USA Swimming National Team
Director Frank Busch. I am very excited to meet all of you, and
can't wait to instill my knowledge and love of the sport in your
kids.
Andrew D Scott
Assistant Coach
Andrew Scott is from Mesa, born and raised. His club swimming career spanned twelve years and three different clubs, ending with a two-year stint in SDA's National Training Group from 2008-2010. He attended Mountain View High School and swam there all four years, and is currently the assistant coach for the boy's team. Through working with City of Mesa Parks and Recreation, he has taught swim lessons and coached summer programs for the last eight years and is pool manager as well. He has been around the sport for years in many different facets: athlete, coach, lifeguard, official, and even as a meet announcer. Go Devils!
Grant C Smith
Assistant Coach
Grant Smith was born and raised just outside of Atlanta, GA. He started swimming as an infant and was recruited to swim at ASU where he swam one year. Now he will be a junior at ASU where he is majoring in Kinesiology and plans to attend PT school. He has an overall GPA of 3.80 and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He has coached his neighborhood summer league team in Georgia, has taught private lessons for many years, and most recently worked at AquaSafe Swim School in Scottsdale. He enjoys fishing and pretty much anything outdoors, especially near or on bodies of water! His mom is moving out here from Georgia soon and his grandparents live in Chandler. He is very excited to be a member of theSDA family!
Sam Logan Foote
Assistant Coach
Sam Foote was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and began swimming when he was 4 years old. Sam got his first start to competitive swimming on the Ahwatukee Tidalwaves at age 9 and swam for them and the Sun Devil Aquatics throughout his youth.
Sam attended Phoenix Mountain Pointe high school, where he played tennis, baseball, golf, water polo, and was on the swim team. He earned four letters and was a part of the school's state swim teams. Sam graduated from Mountain Pointe in 2011, and currently goes to Arizona State University, pursuing Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communications and Political Science. Named to the Dean's List in each of his semesters, Sam intends to graduate and attend law school in the future.
Prior to coaching with SDA, Sam has had four years of coaching experience while serving as a swim instructor at the Ahwatukee Community Center. His students ranged from 3 year olds learning to swim to 16 year olds swimming competitively. Sam loves to share his enthusiasm for the sport and his knowledge of swimming with kids.
Other than swimming, Sam enjoys bicycling, surfing, Woody Allen films, listening to music and NPR, and reading.
