Coaches & Directors

Brian C Benfer

Head Coach/Senior Advanced, Gold, Wavers

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Entering his fifth year with the Waves of Wilmington, Head Coach Brian Benfer has been involved at every level of the team.  In doing so he has worked to create a program that will offer something new to each swimmer as they grow up in the WOW program.  Going back to basics, Brian delivers   a program based on technique, discipline, and consistency.  While individual accomplishments provide a measurement for improvement, Brian realizes that above all we are team.  He stresses the importance of teamwork, self-sacrifice, and shared goals as a means for reaching our full potential.   In doing so WOW runs a program in which every coach is involved at every level and each swimmer is part of a greater team.   Under his tenure as Head Coach WOW has been recognized as a Bronze Medal club by USA Swimming, broken three NC State Records, produced an Olympic Team Trials Qualifer, two Junior National Qualifiers, and numerous Top-16 qualifiers.  

Bill Orton

Assistant Coach: Silver

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Prior to moving to Wilmington last summer, Bill had coached in Virginia and South Carolina, producing many Top 16 swimmers, Zone and State record holders. He brings with him a firm commitment to technique, consistency, focus and intensity at practice, as well as the belief that the group as a whole creates and experiences the rewards and enjoyment of improvement every day at practice. He is excited about becoming a member of the Waves team.

Bill’s ‘other life’ has always been in gifted education, being a teacher and administrator of gifted programs for many years. He spent this past year as the teacher for gifted students at Mary C Williams in New Hanover County Schools, and is currently planning to open a gifted elementary school here in Wilmington.

Bill received his doctorate in Education Administration with an emphasis in Gifted Education from the College of William and Mary.

Jessica Brampton

Assistant Coach / Bronze, Copper, Wavers

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In Coach Jessica’s second full season with WOW she will be heading up the Copper and Bronze groups, as well as assisting with the Wavers group.  As a seasoned veteran of the pool deck, Jessica brings over 11 seasons of coaching experience at the high school and summer league levels.  As a former WOW swimmer herself, Jessica stresses the importance of proper stroke technique and strives to encourage personal and team growth through hardwork, dedication, and a passion for the sport of swimming.

Clayton Fritts

Assistant Coach: Senior I

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Coach Clayton Fritts comes to the Waves of Wilmington after spending the last four years coaching in Pinehurst, NC, and will be working with WOW’s Senior I group this season.  Clayton worked both as a head summer league coach and as an assistant with the Sandhills Sandsharks.  In his tenure with the Sandsharks Coach Clayton worked with all levels of the program, from age group practices, to assisting head coach Taylor Cooper with thier top Senior Group.  Clayton is an excellent stroke technician, and a strong motivator.  His enthusiastic approach to coaching  is sure to draw the focus of each of his swimmer’s and everyone on deck. 

Hillary Lane

Assistant Coach / Bronze, Copper, Wavers

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Entering her third year with WOW, Coach Hillary will be working with the Bronze and Copper groups this season.  She received a BA in Biology from Emory University, and is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Marine Biology at UNCW.  While at Emory, Hillary swam all four years, being recognized as co-captain her senior year, and was a 16-time Division 3 All-American.  She coached age groupers for 4 years while at Emory and has been with the Waves of Wilmington since January of 2006.  Coach Hillary is passionate about the sport of swimming and is committed to providing her swimmers with a strong foundation based on stroke mechanics and a love for the sport.

Megan Green

Assistant Coach: Copper

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Former swimmer and current UNCW student, Megan will be assisting Coach Jessica with the Copper and Bronze groups. Megan is a former WOW swimmer and is a senior at UNCW working on her degree in Athletic Training. Megan has experience coaching summer league as an assistant with the Cape Fear Country Club swim team since 2004. She enjoys teaching all levels of swimmers to focus on learning proper stroke technique and having fun in competitive swimming.

Caitlin McKinstry

Assistant Coach: Copper

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This is Coach Caitlin’s second year coaching with the Waves of Wilmington and she is very excited to be assisting Coach Jessica with the Copper Group.  She swam competitively from age 9 through high school, where she was a team captain.  Caitlin graduated from UNCW in May with a major in Marine Biology and a minor in Art History.  She is currently pursuing her masters degree at UNCW.  Coach Caitlin believes in proper stroke work, endurance, and above all fun as the keys to swimming success.