Richard McGill
Head Coach
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I am very excited to be in Fort McMurray and
working with swimmers full time once more. I have had a varied
career; starting with joining the sport at an old age(15yrs) and
starting my coaching career at the young age of 20. I then coached
for 15 years and then began my career as a
firefighter for the next 25 years. After retiring from the
fire service I was once more back on deck and loving it. It
rekindled my desire to be back on deck fulltime and a
eagerness to face new challenges. I have had a life long
passion for the sport and want to instill this in all of our
swimmers. You will hear me say many times,' it is the journey
not the destination that is important.' It was through my
particpation as an athlete, coach and student that I developed
the skills that allowed me to be successful as a coach,
firefigher and a dad (I might be biased about the dad part but
I think my kids would agree)
Jim Ericson
Assistant Head Coach
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I am excited to be in Fort McMurray. Years
ago I coached for four years in Grande Prairie as the Head
Coach, so I am prepared (somewhat) for the upcoming winter.
I started competitive swimming in 1971 and swam for eleven
years. I then went straight into coaching. I coached in
several programs as the Head Coach and have over thirty years
competitive swimming experience as an athlete and coach.
I have used my swimming background in many
aspects of my life, as an athlete, scuba enthusiast,
scuba instructor, lifeguard, swimming instructor, sailing
skipper and coach. Swimming is a lifelong sport that
provides numerous opportunities in many directions. It
is my hope that my swimmers will benefit in a similar
manner.
Kim Norris
Coach
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As a swimmer of the Fort
McMurray Swim Club at its inception and for many years, there
is a big place in my heart for the clubs continued success and
accomplishment. I was blessed with great coaches when I swam to
National level and am so excited to be coaching the Mini Mantas
this year and being able to mentor another season of coaches
and swimmers. My philosophy is to coach swimmers to have fun as
they work and play in a fair manner, to help them set and work hard
to achieve challenging goals, and to do THEIR best and be THEIR
best in everything they do.
Jo Young
MANTA Swim School Coordinator
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Coach Jo is in her second year as
the swim school coordinator. Coach Jo is no stranger to the
pool. She was a competitive swimmer for 12 years and her
favorite race was the 200 fly!!! She then went on to coach for 20
years in Kitimat, BC prior to moving to Fort McMurray.
Coach Jo passed on her love for swimming to her children,
with all 3 children participating in competitive swimming, one at
the national level. Coach Jo is well versed in the life of a
swimming parent!!
Coach Jo's goal for the MSS
program is to inspire in all the kids a great love for the sport of
swimming. But not just the sport.......... also the
sportsmanship, teamplay and the friendships that will last for
years. Lessons learned in the pool can be put into your every
day life. You can succeed at anything you try, it only takes
a little hard work and its a lot of fun along the way.
Coach Jo can not wait to get to
know all of her little swimmers again this year.
Gwyneth Norris
Coach
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Hi. My name is coach Gwyneth. I swam competitively for 4 years with
the Fort McMurray Swim Club and I enjoyed swim so much that I
wanted to share my passion with everyone else. I have worked with
lots of different age groups from 5 year olds to 12 year olds.
Swimming is such a great sport to be involved in. It teaches you so
much about team work, discipline, strength, endurance, and
achieving high goals. It’s an honour to be part of the swim
club and amazing to be able to watch swimmers grow, progress and
achieve the goals that they hoped for.
