Head Coach

Coach Tom has been part of the GGST family since 1998. Tom grew up in San Jose and participated in high school swimming and water polo as well as wrestling and soccer. He was a CCS finalist in the 100-yard free in high school and was a San Jose City College All-American for 2 years in swimming and for 1 year in water polo. At San Jose State University he played on the Nationally #2 ranked Spartan water polo team. Tom received his B.S. degree in Human Performance in 1973 from San Jose State . Tom has been coaching swimming for over 25 years and before he joined us here in Gilroy , he was the Head Coach of Morgan Hill Swim Club for over 13 years. While there he coached 9 Jr. National Qualifiers, 2 All-Americans, 1 Olympic Sports Festival Athlete, 1 English Channel swimmer, seven top 3 CVAL finishes and 3 CVAL Championship Finishes. Many of his former swimmers have gone on to college with swimming scholarships. Tom enjoys snow skiing, hiking, and tennis in his spare time as well as playing with his dog Stitch. Coach Tom is a great teacher of swimming technique, and has a critical eye to discern what is effective and efficient in the water and what is not. He prides himself on swimmers being able to have fun while also learning the fundamentals that are instrumental in building a long and rewarding swimming career for each of his athletes; regardless of their ability. Tom coaches the Senior Group and Junior Group here at GGST.

Coach Karen Bair joined the  Gilroy Gator Coaching staff in June 2005.  Prior to coming to the Gilroy Gators, she coached on the Morgan Hill Swim Club for 4 years. In addition to her 6 years experience as a swim coach, she has spent hundreds of hours on the pool deck (as a parent of a swimmer, and as a master’s swimmer herself).  Karen is a Level 2 ASCA Coach, and as a Masters Swimmer, enjoys swimming the distance events, like the 400IM and the 200Fly, and encourages her swimmers not to be afraid of the distance events!  She has also competed in many ocean and lake swims and local triathlons.  Coaching with the Gilroy Gators is truly a family experience for Karen...when her own daughter started swimming, she swam with Coach Danielle (they are the same age!!) .  Coaches Jaime and Diane were in high school, and swimming for Coach Tom,!!  So, she has known Tom, Jaime and Diane and Danielle now for many years, which makes coaching for the Gilroy Gators very special.

Coach Karen works for the Morgan Hill Unified School District, and in her free time, enjoys running, working on projects around her house, and spending time with her two children.

Coach Diane has been a member of GGST since June of 1996. She has been swimming for 23 years.  Diane swam for four years at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where she received her B.S. in Kinesiology in 1999.  She earned her teaching credential and Masters of Education from San Jose State.  Diane has been coaching swimming for 13 years and currently coaches our Crocodile and Mini-Gator groups along with Coach Jaime. Together they are always looking for fun and creative ways to teach our youngest swimmers the fundamentals.  Diane is currently teaching 1st Grade at Barrett Elementary School in Morgan Hill.  Diane is married and has one daughter.  In Diane’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and doing a variety of activities: skiing, snowboarding, SCUBA diving, white river rafting, traveling, gardening, baking, and swimming.