Paul J Stafford
Head Coach
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Paul joined the Ford Aquatics staff in October of 2014. Paul
comes to Tucson from the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern
California where he was the co-founder of Lamorinda Aquatic Club
(more commonly known as LAMO Aquatics). LAMO merged with
Concord Pleasant Hill Swim Club in 1989 to form the Terrapins Swim
Team. Paul led the Terrapin Age Group program for 24 years as
the Head Age Group coach before becoming the Head Coach in
2006. Between the years of 2009-2012 Paul placed more
athletes on the USA National Junior team than any coach in the
United States (13). Paul is also one of two coaches in the
Nation who have led programs of less than 100 swimmers to Gold
Medal Club status.
Paul's body of work over the course of 35 years in the sport
is significant, and he is recognized as one of the top
developmental coaches in the sport. Paul has placed athletes
on many USA Swimming International Teams including the World
University Games, Pan Pac Games, and World Championship
teams. His athletes have set Pacific records, National Age
Group records, and one American Record (50 meter breast held
for a total of 6 hours). All of these were accomplished with
home grown athletes that were developed under Paul’s
direction from youngsters until their graduation from High
school. Paul has 4 grown children (Sarah, Theresa,
Christianna, and John).
Emma Munsch
Senior Coach
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Emma Darlington Munsch is a Tucson
native who attended Salpointe Catholic High School, and swam for
FORD Aquatics from 2004-2007. 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 Masters
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, USA Swimming National Champion,
Co-Captain, and a member of the 2008 Pac-10 and NCAA
Championship team.
Emma has been with FORD 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.
Rick B Laing
Senior Coach
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Senior Coach Rick Laing joined
Ford Aquatics in May 2014. Before that Coach Rick was the
Head Coach of El Dorado Aquatics from November 2008 - May 2014.
Coach Rick moved to Tucson in 2000 from New Zealand, where he
earned his international coaching reputation. With over 15 years
experience on deck, coaching age groupers right up to Olympic
medalists, he coached along side his father, legendary New Zealand
coach Duncan Laing. Coach Rick mentored New Zealand star Danyon
Loader who won gold in the 200 and the 400 freestyle at the 1996
Atlanta Olympics and silver in the 200 fly at the 1992 Barcelona
games. He also coached Olympian Liz van Welie.
(Under Coach Rick, EDAC swimmers
competed exceptionally well in local, state, and regional meets.
Locally, in non-USA swimming events, EDAC won the 2010 Santa Cruz
SAAA League Championship, and placed well in high school state
championships including an EDAC 2009 state champion in three events
and two seniors, one of whom was a freshman, in A finals in 2010.
At the year-around state level, EDAC swimmers amassed three top
three high point trophies, multiple state titles and top three
medals, as well as top 5 high point winners at Arizona Age-group
State Championships in 2009-2010 seasons. Regionally, in 2010, six
EDAC swimmers went to Far Westerns, winning one title and nine top
8 medals. Coach Rick has also coached three EDAC swimmers to top 10
or top 20 national rankings in their main events.
Matt Barber
Senior Coach
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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 Coach
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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.
Brent C Zang
Development Coach
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Brent Zang joined Ford Aquatics in November 2012 and competed
until August 2018. He attended Cholla High School where he won 2
state runner up medals for the 500 freestyle and 200 freestyle in
2016. After graduating in 2016 Brent has continued his
education at The University of Arizona and competed for 2 more
years for Ford Aquatics where he competed at Futures Championships
in 2016, 2017, and 2018. During his career he obtained a Summer
junior national cut and several Winter junior national cuts.
Brent has been coaching on ford since August of 2018 and has
been working alongside coach Rick Laing with the Senior 1 group. He
is currently studying physiology at The University of Arizona and
plans on attending PT (physical therapy) school after he graduates.
When done with school he plans on continuing his coaching career.
Kirsten Ann Martin
Development Coach
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Kirsten Martin is from Phoenix and started swimming
competitively at age 7 when she joined Sun Devil Aquatics. She swam
on her varsity high school team, and later swam for Mesa Aquatics
Club and Scottsdale Aquatics Club. She will be working primarily
with the developmental groups.
Kirsten is also attending the University of Arizona to study
pharmaceutical sciences, and plans to go to pharmacy school after
she completes her degree.
Lily Anne Lukavich
Development Coach
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Jim Stites
Head Coach Masters Swimming
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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.
