Coaches & Directors

Peter D. Malone

Head Coach & General Manager

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Head Coach & General Manager, Peter D. Malone, is a graduate of the University of Toledo in Business Management and also has an Education Degree. Before coming to the KC Blazers, Pete coached the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club from 1968-1975. Some of Coach Malone’s many accomplishments/positions include:

Inducted into the American Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame, September 2009

USA Swimming’s Top 25 Most Influential People in the History of Swimming. Click here for full article...

American Swim Coaches Association Board of Directors 1991-1994, 1995-2011
American Swim Coaches Association Gold Award for Coaching Excellence for 20 years of placing swimmers in Top 8 at Nationals

2001 USA Swimming Award Winner - for outstanding contribution to the United States and to the Sport of Swimming

Olympic International Division Member 1984-2012
Head Coach, USA Women Women’s 2004 Short Course World Championships

Head Coach, 1999 Pan American Games Women’s Swim Team

Central Zone Director, 1982-1988 and 1992-1996

Member, USA Swimming Board of Directors, 1982-1986 and 1992-1996

USA National Steering Committee, 1992-2008

Chairman, USA Swimming Senior Development Committee 2004-2008

Chairman, National Time Standards Committee, Member of Olympic International Division 1981-2004

Consulting coach to the 1988, 1992, and 1996 USA Olympic Teams

Assistant Coach, USA National Team, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1991 & 1993

Coach, USA National Team, 1994 World University Games

Head Coach, 1996 USA National Junior Team

Awarded Certificates of Excellence by American Swimming Coaches Association in 1977 through present, including the Gold Certificate Award for over 20 years of National level coaching achievement

Missouri Valley Swimming, Age Group Chairman, 1977-1980

Missouri Valley Swimming, Senior Chairman, 1981-1983

Missouri Valley Coach of the Year, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 & 2001

Sectional/Region VIII Team Coach of the Year, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008

Sectional/Region VIII Team Champions, 1981-1995; Won titles, 1997-2008

Missouri Valley Team Champions, 1978-2008

National Top 16 Age-Group ranking in the USA by swimmers, 1969-2008

Scott Bliss

Head Administrative Coach

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Originally from the Kansas City area, Scott joined the Blazers staff in August of 2008.  After his college days in Lawrence, Kansas, Scott purchased a local downtown business and started coaching.  Realizing that coaching was his love, he decided to make it his full time career.  Having spent a decade coaching high school and the Lawrence Aquahawks, Scott has returned to Kansas City.  During his career, Scott has had the privilege of developing and working with excellent age group and elite level athletes.  Among his accomplishments:

Coached numerous Top 16 individuals and relays, Central Zone record holders, Junior and Senior Nationals qualifiers

Coached multiple league and state champions at the high school level

Named 2004 Missouri Valley Age Group of the Year

Head Coach for Missouri Valley LSC Zone Team 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008

ASCA Level 4

Mike Lewellyn

Head East Side Coach

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KC Blazers East Head Coach, Mike Lewellyn, is from Milwaukee, WI where he swam for the Milwaukee Central YMCA and the Wauwatosa Swim Club. He attended Evangel College in Springfield, MO where he swam for the Springfield Swim Club under Coach Jack Steck and the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee where he swam for Coach Paul Bergen. Some of Coach Mike’s many accomplishments and positions include:

·          KC Blazers East Head Coach, 2001 to Present

·           Missouri Valley Age Group Chair 2008 to Present

Missouri Valley Senior Swimmer Vice-Chair, 1989-1998, 2002-2008

·          USA Swimming, Sport Development Coordinator, Colorado Springs, CO,
2001-2002  Representative to Central Zone Clubs

·          Liaison to Education and Age Group Planning Committees

·          Development Team Level 1 Coach Education Program

·          Author of articles in Splash Magazine and Coaches Quarterly

·           Mission Viejo Nadadores, Head Age Group Coach, Mission Viego, CA,
1998-2000. Responsible for new coach education and facility coordination of all events

·          Presenter - 1998 National Age Group Coaches Conference

·          Committee Chairman - Southern California Swimming Age Group

·          Coaches Representative -  Orange Section of Southern California Swimming

·          Kansas City Blazers, Head Age Group Coach, Shawnee Mission, KS,  1987-1998

·          North East Texas Swimmers, Head Coach & General Manager, Tyler, TX,1985-1987

·          Space City Aquatics, Head Age Group Coach, 1983-1985 and Assistant Age Group Coach, 1981-1983, Clear Lake, TX, 1981-1985.

·          Kenosha Youth Foundation, Head Coach, Kenosha, WI, 1977-1979

·          Cudahy Swim Club, Head Coach, Cudahy, WI, 1976-1977

·          Florissant Aquatic Swim Team, Head Coach, Florissant, MO, 1974-1975

·          West Allis Swim Club, Head Coach, West Allis, WI, 1972-1973

Henry Morrow

Head Site Coach Shawnee Mission North

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Coach Henry Morrow was award the "Outstanding Leadership in Coaching" award by COMVAC and JCPRD. He was nominated by one of his swimmer’s parents. Here is the letter below that explain why Henry is so great:
My son has only been on the Kansas City Blazers Gold Team for a few months, but the improvement I have seen in him mentally and physically have been incredible. Coach Henry made my son feel welcome and a part of the team from the first day he came to try out. He encouraged the kids who were already a part of the team by his actions and personal leadership to welcome my son into the group. Coach Henry intentionally creates an atmosphere in which growth of the individual and growth of the team as a whole occurs on many different levels simultaneously. This growth is accomplished by the very positive manner in which he interacts and instructs each swimmer under his care. You can tell by the natural actions and reactions of his swimmers that they love being around Coach Henry. He has earned the respect and loyalty of his swimmers through his ability to inspire them to achieve more than they thought possible. Interaction with the parents has been very positive as well. He is always ready to discuss how we can help our kids improve their swimming ability, including action items that can be accomplished outside of their time at the pool.

Thank you Henry, for your outstanding leadership in coaching, and congratulations on this award!!



Henry Morrow began his tenure as the North Head Site Coach in September 2004. In addition to his energy and enthusiasm for swimming, Henry will bring his 24 years of experience with SwimAtlanta in Atlanta, Georgia and five years of experience coaching in North Carolina.

In his career at SwimAtlanta, Henry helped develop four satellite locations including the current Roswell and Sugarloaf sites and has coached dozens of national Top 16 Age Group swimmers many of whom have gone on to be National Finalists as Senior Swimmers. In 1983, he was Age Group Chairman for Georgia swimming and helped develop a regional swim meet in the southeast that has evolved into an Age Group Sectional meet.

Henry holds two degrees, a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Masters in Physical Education - Physiology of Exercise, both from East Carolina University.

Derek Shipp

Head Site Coach Blue Valley West

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Congratulations to Derek Shipp for receiving the "Outstanding Leadership in Coaching" from COMVAC/JCPRD. Derek was nominated by one his team parents, here is the letter below:

Derek is an enthusiastic coach and role model. Most know that Derek has been battling illness for quite some time, but he has not let this dampen his dedication to his team. He has been on deck at times when perhaps he shouldn’t have been, but that is because he truly loves what he does. My son has been involved with two great organizations in the past five years – the Blazers and the Boy Scouts. For all the value there is in scouting, Derek’s rapport with the kids he coaches and the leadership he has exhibited have helped my son mature more than any other organization he has been a part of.

Thank you Derek, for your outstanding leadership in coaching, and congratulations on this award!!



Derek Shipp was brought on board the Blazer staff as Head Site Coach at Olathe and Head Coach of the KCB Masters team in December 2003. Derek is a 1990 graduate of the University of Georgia, where he swam four years and finished as team captain. Five days after his graduation he began his coaching career with SwimAtlanta, where he coached on National Age Group Top 16 swimmer and was named Fulton County Swim League Coach of the Year in 1993.

In 1994 Derek moved to Virginia Beach to assume the position of Head Age Group Coach of the Old Dominion Aquatic Club, where he coached to NAG Top 16 swimmers and two Top 16 relays. While in Virginia he served on the Zone coaching staff four times, twice as the Head Coach. He also served as Secretary of the Virginia Swim Coaches Association, Camp Director and Head Coach of the USA Swimming Red Camp, and various Age Group and Zone committees in Virginia Swimming.

Derek and his family relocated to Kansas City in 2001, where he worked with the Blazers as a deck coach while pursuing non-swimming related employment. In 2002 he was the Meet Director of the Kansas City Kid for Kids Meet to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He began coaching the KCB Master team on technician and coach. Derek is a gifted video game player, an expert on music that was popular before his time, and eerily accurate imitator of sirens.

Marjorie Sherard

Head Site Coach Blue Valley North

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Marjorie has been affiliated with the Blazers since 1979 when she began swimming for the team.  She has continued her involvement with the team as a deck coach in the 1990s and again for the last 3 years at the Shawnee Mission North site with Henry Morrow.  Her children also swim for the Blazers, so Marjorie has a unique perspective on the Blazers since she has worn many hats as a Blazer.  

While her husband served in the United States Marine Corps, Marjorie started coaching professionally in the San Diego, California area where she spent 5 years with the Escondido Swim Club.  She has also coached several summer swim programs in the Kansas City area, including the last 8 years at Homestead Country Club.  She has been a teacher for the last 8 years at Notre Dame de Sion (lower school.)  She has a degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Kansas.  Coaching with the Blazers full time now is an opportunity for her to give back to a team that has meant so much to her.

Marjorie prides herself on having high standards for the swimmers, putting an emphasis on the team, and treating people with dignity and respect.  She is thrilled to be working with the swimmers and their families! 

Marjorie and her husband Jackson have been married for 20 years and have 2 children, Spencer (18 years old) and Dana (16 years old.) 

Maggie Kroemer

Elite Assistant Coach

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Maggie joined the Blazer staff in May of 2009.  She is originally from Milwaukee, where she swam for the Schroeder YMCA swim team.  Kroemer also swam at Valparaiso University.  While at Valpo, she earned academic all conference honors and was a 6 time Mid Continent Conference finalist. 

Prior to coaching at the Blazers, she was the graduate assistant coach at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.  While at UTPB, she helped coach her swimmers to 31 new school records and 5 swimmers to NCAA Division II B cuts.  She has also coached for both the Schroeder YMCA Swim Team and Nicolet High School in Milwaukee, WI.
  
Kroemer received her BS in education from Valparaiso in 2005, and her MS in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise physiology from UTPB in 2009.

Megan B Pittman

Head Site Coach - Olathe Cal. Trail

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Prior to coming to the Blazers, Megan coordinated the elite age-group development program with Columbia Swim Club.  Under her direction, the CSC age group program grew into a well-known and respected contender on local, regional and national levels.  In 2008 and again in 2009, Megan was honored by her coaching peers as the Missouri Valley’s Age Group Coach of the Year.  Megan continues to serve as a driving force in Missouri Valley Swimming (MVS) by directing all training camps and technical clinics.  As Age Group Chair, she is responsible for all age group programming and coordinates the All-Star Teams and Zone Teams for annual competition.  Recently, Megan was selected to complete a year-long fellowship with the American Swimming Coaches Association.  The Fellows program is a year-long coach mentorship program aimed at identifying and developing the future leaders of our sport.

Previously, Megan gained valuable experience as a coaching intern with AFOX Swim Club (Phoenix, AZ) under the tutelage of Bob Gillett, former national team director and recent Hall of Fame inductee.  She has also coached with the Amherst Tritons Swim Team (Amherst, MA) and the McDonough County YMCA Dolphins (Macomb, IL) and spent time as head counselor and waterfront director for residential summer camps on the east coast.  In college, Megan was a dual-sport athlete, competing for the University of Massachusetts as a member of the swim program and crew team.  In swimming, she was an Atlantic-10 Conference finalist and served as co-captain her senior year; she helped lead UMass Women’s Rowing to consecutive conference championships in 2003 and 2004.  Megan graduated summa cum laude from UMass with a degree in political science and subsequently earned her juris doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law.