Coaches & Directors

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.

Coaching Staff

Jon Carroll

Head Coach

Jon Carroll hails from Philadelphia, PA. He swam Varsity for three years and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of PA. He earned a Masters degree in Education from Drexel University before migrating to California in January of 2004, Jon coached for four years under legendary coach, Richard Shoulberg, at Germantown Academy (GAAC). He was able to watch from the deck at the 2000 Olympic Trials as GA swimmer Maddy Crippen made the 2000 team. In his years of coaching, John has worked with every age group from beginner to Masters. He finds joy in bringing out the best in every swimmer. Coach Jon is currently the Programming Chair of the Pacific Committee of Southern California Swimming.

Alex Tungland

Head Age Group Coach

Originally from Phoenix, Alex Tungland graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2005. After completing high school, she began coaching the 8 & Under group for her home club team, Desert Thunder Aquatics Club, before moving to Los Angeles for college. At Loyola Marymount University (LMU), she competed all four years, and served as captain for her last two seasons. Coaching with TSM since 2005, Alex has been selected as the 11-12 girls team coach for the North American Challenge Cup (NACC) for three consecutive years. She also coaches masters for Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ) and is currently getting her Teaching Credential and Master’s in Education from National University.

Tim Murphy

Sr. Assistant Coach, SMSC

Tim Murphy was born in 1980 in Cincinnati, Ohio and aquatics made their presence known almost immediately. His father was a swimmer, his mother a diver, and they, too, are honored to have served their sports as coaches. Due largely to the enthusiasm his parents have always demonstrated for the water, Tim treasures the time he spent in the pool and is particularly grateful for the many lasting lessons and friendships that aquatic sports have provided him.
As an athlete, Tim was fortunate enough to represent such Cincinnati area clubs as Oak Hills Swim Team, the Cincinnati Marlins and M.E. Lyons YMCA, but it was his experience as a state champion and All-American at Cincinnati's St. Xavier High School that cemented his passion for the sport. After graduating from St. Xavier in 1998, he competed as a Kenyon College Lord in Gambier, Ohio and was awarded All-Conference honors. In 2002, he achieved a B.A. in History from Kenyon.
Tim has many years of coaching experience, including summers at Hyde Park Golf & Country Club in Cincinnati, some time as an undergrad assistant at Kenyon under the watch of renowned coach Jim Steen and one season at the high school level with Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, CA. He also teaches History and PE part-time at Harvard-Westlake and coaches the athlete-members of Southern California Aquatics, a U.S. Masters Swimming club. Tim is currently enjoying his third year as a member of the TSM family.

Christopher Pelant

Sr. Development Assistant Coach, SMSC

Coach Pelant has been a competitive swimmer since the age of 6. A Southern California native, he began his swimming career, after having an operation on his legs, to avoid permanent wheel chair inhabitance. While re-learning how to walk, Christopher found comfortability in the water and began a love of sport that has lasted for over 25 years.
Christopher had a highly successful swimming career. He was the fastest swimmer in the United States, multiple times in numerous events. He broke four Southern California Swimming Records, qualified for Jr. Nationals at 14 and USA Nationals by the young age of 16. Pelant represented the USA in Paris, France as Captain of the USA National Jr. Team. His commitment to age group swimming was rewarded with a full scholarship to the Division I Southern Illinois University Swim Team. There, Christopher was a multiple MVC Champion & Record Holder, named Conference All-Centennial, SIU All-American, Varsity Captain, MVP and given the Spirit Award. Other swimming achievements: USA Olympic Trials, Olympic Festival Captain & Featured Athlete; USA Nat’ls Finalist; Jr. Nat’l Champion; World University Games Qualifier; ESPN, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Swimming World, & Splash Magazine Featured Athlete.
As a coach, Pelant has developed every category of swimmer from beginner to the national level. His niche is his authentic coaching enthusiasm while instilling proper technique and creating specific, practical training regiments that cater to the individual and/or group’s experience and training goals.

Morgan Finley

Age Group Coach, SMSC

Morgan Finley hails from Arizona and completed her studies in English and Art History at Loyola Marymount University where she swam and served as a team captain. At the 2007 Pacific Coast Swimming Championships (PCSC), she placed 3rd in the 200br (2:23.50) and set an LMU school record. In addition she was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She began her aquatics career as a swim lesson instructor at a local YMCA. From there she progressed to be an assistant coach of the Y swim team, and has also spent time with Sun Devil Aquatics (SDA) and the Harvard Westlake Boys Swim team as an assistant coach. Morgan has also spent time working for the UCLA Athletic Department as a Assistant Academic Counselor.

Erin Robertson

Age Group Coach/Silver Coach, SMSC

Erin Robertson is a graduate from California State University at Northridge (CSUN) where she studied to become an elementary school teacher. Erin has been involved in aquatics for the past twenty years, beginning her swim career at MSJA and continuing on to her high school team. Erin began teaching swimming fundamentals with Swim America and has now been with Team Santa Monica for over two years. She is the coach for the pre-competitive group; swimmers aged 5-10 and learning proper stroke technique. She also coaches the silver group, ages 12-17; mastering strroke technique and proper racing strategies.

Kristina O'Briant

Silver Group Coach, SMSC

Kristina O’Briant is the newest addition to the Team Santa Monica coaching staff. Kristina will guide the Silver group at the Santa Monica Swim Center, taking over for Erin Robertson who will continue with the Pre-Competitive program and head the new Pre-Competitive Silver group at Lincoln Middle School. Kristina brings an extensive swimming background to the staff having been a Nationally ranked breastroker and individual medley swimmer. She has trained under the tutelage of legendary coaches such as Paul Bergen and Eddie Reese, and has been coaching consistently for the last ten years. If you have a moment please extend a warm welcome to Kristina and her daughter Erica as we look forward them becoming longstanding members of the TSM family.

Monique Shelton

Head Site Coach, CCP

Monique Shelton began her swimming career with Phillips 66 in 1970. When she was 12, Monique’s family moved to Arizona and she began to participate in other sports. Monique was an All-State athlete in Basketball and Track. In the summers she began Coaching Parks and Rec. programs, High Schools, and Managing pools for the City of Tempe.

When She finished her undergraduate degree, she went right into Div. II collegiate coaching and teaching. Monique made her way back to the west coast and took a job at California State University San Bernardino where she was the Men’s and Women’s assistant coach. She also started a feeder program called Streamline Aquatics. This program produced Junior and Senior National level athletes and one Olympic trials qualifier in the 7 years she was Head Coach.

Finishing her graduate degree in Education, both her parents were ailing, so she took time off from the sport to help out with family matters. 8 years later she found herself in the middle of it again, coaching EDGE swim club.Coaching Highlights: Produced two Top-16 athletes, Junior & Senior National-qualifiers, Two National Age-Group Records, US-open and Olympic-Trials Qualifier.

Ryan Mushin

Age Group Coach, CCP

Ryan was raised in Stratford Connecticut. He swam for the Stratford YMCA where he competed in both summer and winter nationals. During High School he was named All-state in the 100 butterfly and the 50 free style his junior and senior years. He also held the conference record in both events. Ryan swam for Central Connecticut State University for two years until the program was retired due to Title IX. Before coming to California he was Head Age Group coach for the Fairfield Fly Fins (2004-06). Ryan coached for Edge Swim Club (2006-2008) and is now coaching for Team Santa Monica (2008-present).

Mary Mitchell

Age Group Coach, CCP

Mary Mitchell is a graduate of Culver City High School in Culver City, California. She will be attending Loyola Marymount University where she would like to major in political science with a law emphasis and eventually obtain a law degree. She started swimming when she was 7 years old at the Plunge with one of the first recreational swim clubs in Culver City. She continued to swim with different club teams over the years and at 12 found a home with Edge Swim Club. She swam with Edge for 2 ½ years until she started high school and chose to swim and play water polo. In the summer of 2006, she returned to the Edge family as an employee. She currently teaches the Pre-Competitive group . In 2006 she was employed as a swim instructor at the Culver-Palms family YMCA.