Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics : Coaching Staff

Coaching Staff

Coaches

Coaching Staff

Peter Lawrence Richardson

Head Coach

Coach Peter Richardson is currently Associate Head Coach of the University of Arizona swimming and diving program. He and his family (wife - Jonelle, kids - Gabrielle, Brooklynn, Juliette and Peter) moved here in 2019 and live in Oro Valley. Before his arrival to the Tucson area, he spent seven years as the Head Coach of the University of the Pacific Swim Program and five years as the head coach of Fresno Pacific University. During his time at University of the Pacific, he was also the Head Coach of Tiger Aquatics – the 115 member USA swim team in Stockton, CA.

As Associate Head Coach, Richardson helped the Arizona Wildcats place 2nd at the 2020 Men's PAC 12 Championships - the highest finish ever for the Wildcats. Four of Richardson's distance group athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships and were seeded to score 32 individual points before the event was ultimately cancelled. Additionally, Arizona had their first 1650 PAC 12 Champion in over ten years in 2020.

Richardson brings a decorated track record of winning and has proven to be a successful recruiter in his collegiate career. During Richardson's time at Pacific, he took the program to unprecedented heights. Under Richardson, Pacific became a consistent contender in the MSPF Conference and sent athletes to the NCAA Championships in five straight seasons; in 2018 Pacific was one of just two men's and/or women's programs to achieve an "A" relay cut without a full allotment of scholarships. In Richardson's seven-year tenure, an astonishing 73 school records were established.

Prior to spending seven seasons at his alma mater, Pacific, Richardson was the first ever head swimming coach at Fresno Pacific University, where he took the program from its inception in 2007 and turned into a perennial NAIA power in his five seasons at FPU. Richardson led the men's team to back-to-back NAIA National Championships in 2010 and 2011 and the women's team to a NAIA National Championship in 2012. In his five seasons, the men's teams at FPU finished sixth, second, first, first and second while the women's teams finished fifth, fourth, third, second and first. He won NAIA National Coach of the Year four times in his five seasons at Fresno Pacific.

Coach Peter is uniquely qualified to take Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics to new levels of success. Not only has he experienced unparalleled success as a division I head coach and associate head coach, he has also led a club team to new heights while he was the head coach at the University of the Pacific. Tiger Aquatics membership nearly doubled in his seven years as the head coach and the team had six representatives at the 2016 US Olympic Trials – up from zero in 2012.

Emma Munsch

Co-Head Senior Coach and Raptor Coach

Emma Darlington Munsch is a Tucson native who attended Salpointe Catholic High School, and swam for FORD Aquatics from 2004-2007. During her High School Career, Emma was a multiple State Champion, Sectional Champion, and JR National finalist specializing in sprint freestyle. She was also a member of the 2007 NCSA Junior National All-Star Team.

After high school she attended and swam collegiately for the University of Arizona where she received her B.A in History, minor in Psychology, and her M.Ed in Teaching and Teacher's Education. During her career at the University of Arizona she was an NCAA qualifier all four years, two-time NCAA All-American, three-time PAC-10 Champion, two-time Olympic Trials qualifier (2008 & 2012), USA Swimming National Champion, Co-Captain, and a member of the 2008 Pac-10 and NCAA Championship team. She is a member of the University of Arizona, Pima County, and Salpointe Catholic High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Emma taught AP U.S History, World History, and Psychology at Salpointe Catholic High school from 2012-2016. Emma has been with FORD as a coach since 2014 and has helped athletes achieve qualifying times for State Championships, Sectionals, Junior and Senior Nationals, and Olympic Trials. In 2018 she served as the Assistant Women's Coach for the NCSA All-American team in Dublin, Ireland. She is thankful to be able to do what she loves and work with an awesome group of kids at FORD.

When not on the pool deck, Emma loves spending time with her husband Kevin (UA Swim Alum), daughter Katherine, and her two Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

Matt Barber

Head Age Group Coach

Matt Barber joined Ford Aquatics in August 2018 working alongside Coach Austin. Before moving to Tucson, Coach Matt grew up in Houston, Texas where he started swimming at a very young age. During his swim career in Texas, he was a multiple state champion specializing in freestyle and butterfly events. He also competed on a number of different junior national teams including the 2008 World Youth Team; 2009 Jr. Pan Pacific Team; 2009-2010 National Youth Team; and 2010 NCSA All-Star team in Dublin, Ireland.

After high school Coach Matt attended and swam collegiately at the University of Arizona where he majored in Business Management with a minor in Sustainable Built Environments. During his collegiate career Coach Matt was an NCAA qualifier all four years and a three-time All-American. He also competed at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia. While at the University of Arizona, Coach Matt qualified for the second time (2008) Olympic Trials during the 2012 Olympic year.

During the day Coach Matt is the VP of Operations for a local toy design company, PlayAbility Toys. When he is not working or coaching, he enjoys the outdoors, watching NFL Football, and spending time with his wife, Sarah and dog, Stetson. Coach Matt is eager to pass down his knowledge of the sport to the hard working and passionate kids at Ford

Paige Martin

Age Group Development Coach

Paige Martin is originally from Phoenix, Arizona and has been swimming competitively since she was 8, when she started swimming with Sun Devil Aquatics. Paige swam competitively for her high school’s varsity team all 4 years that she attended, Mesa Aquatics Club and later, Scottsdale Aquatics Club until she moved to Tucson after high school graduation.

Paige has been coaching with ford since January of 2018 and has assisted with all groups at the Age Group level, ranging from the bronze and developmental groups to Silver, Gold and Elite. She is currently studying biochemistry, physiology, and math at the University of Arizona, and plans to pursue a career in the medical field after she graduates.

Jim Stites

Head Coach Masters Swimming

Jim has served as the Ford Masters coach since 1990. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he followed legendary Arizona coach, Frank Busch to Tucson when Frank first made his move to the desert. Since becoming the head masters coach, Jim has grown the program from 30 swimmers to more than 140.

Jim swam in college at the University of Cincinnati. He continues to swim, cycle, and run. Jim runs both the morning and noon workouts.