Dayton Raiders Swim Club : Coaches & Directors

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Coaches & Directors

The Dayton Raiders provide athletes with the highest level of coaching resources found anywhere. They work hard to bring out the best in every child and each group has coaches for their special needs. Our coaches are highly educated with college degrees and many have or are working towards advanced degrees. They have been recognized as Ohio Coach of the Year eight times. The coaches are ASCA (American Swim Coaches Association) certified and attend national and international coaching clinics annually.

The Dayton Raiders emphasize a high level technique-based program for all groups. Our groups are have more lane space and the best swimmer-to-coach ratio in the Miami Valley. Swimmers are introduced to the latest and most effective techniques available in the sport of swimming today. Practices are designed so that swimmers can learn in a stimulating environment. Our age group swimmers (14-unders) are introduced to mastery of balance, core development, propulsion, technique, starts, and turns. These critical areas are further developed in the senior groups (15-overs) so that swimmers can achieve the highest level of performance at the high school, collegiate level, and beyond. Dayton Raider swimmers achieve tremendous continuous improvement rates over their career dispelling legacy myths of "burnout" and "plateau" in the sport of swimming. The Raider coaches strongly feel that swimming is a long-term sport where development at the age group level greatly influences performance at the senior level.

**Staff Forms**
Form	Description
Coaches Checklist	Use this handy print version to follow all steps whether you are a new coach or returning coach from previous season. All safety, education, and background requirements are listed.
Coaches hourly timesheet (XLS)	Hourly coaches complete this every 2 weeks. Click here for the list of pay periods.
W4 for new coaches	Submit to the Team Registrar to get on payroll
Direct Deposit Form	Submit to the Team Registrar to receive paychecks
Raider Pre-Employment Screening	Complete upon hiring, forward to Team Registrar - this is required in addition to your Background check done through USA-Swimming and shown on the above onboarding checklist
Employment Verification	Complete prior to the first date of employment and bring to the Team Registrar.
Reimbursement Form	All staff forward this to Team Treasurer for approved expenses
Travel Policy	Travel Policy and guidelines for coaches and staff

Coaching Staff

Kevin T Weldon

Head Coach

Coach Kevin Weldon is one of the Dayton region’s most experienced competition swim professionals. With 30 years leading the Dayton Raiders, Coach Kevin has developed:

* 30 Olympic Trials qualifiers (2 Top 8 Finalists)

* 4 National Age Group record holders

* 2 Senior National Champions

* 40 State High School Champions

* 12 Ohio State High School record holders

* 1000+ Swimmers who’ve competed in the Ohio High School State Meet

The 2018 International Swim Coach Association Hall of Fame inductee has also helped his swimmers acquire more than 1-Million-Dollars in athletic scholarships over the course of his career.

Before coaching the Raiders, Coach Kevin was the head coach for the Sunkist Swim Team (1985-1989) and the KanKakee YMCA (1984-1985). He was also a University of Nebraska Men’s assistant coach (1981-1984).

Coach Kevin hopes to provide a safe and positive sports experience for all Raider athletes, and the opportunity for each swimmer to achieve their full potential. The Dayton Raiders are a 3 time USA Swimming Gold Medal Level Club of Excellence under his leadership.

Brent T Peaden

Head Age Group Coach

For more than 20 years, Coach Brent has been using a mixture of creativity, enthusiasm and innovative techniques to create one of the most comprehensive age group programs in the region.

Coach Brent has coached swimmers to hundreds of “Top 10” National Rankings. He’s also developed:

* Sectional/Junior National qualifiers

* National Age Group Top 16 Swimmers

* State Record Holders

* Zone Qualifiers and Record Holders

* Numerous Ohio Junior Olympic State Champions

Known for his high energy and smile, the former Ohio Age Group Coach of the Year is also a Team Manager for the Ohio All-Star Zone Team.

Prior to the Raiders, Coach Brent was the Head Age Group Coach for the Wright-Patterson Flying Fish at Wright Patterson AFB. He was also the Head Coach for Fairborn (OH) High School, and led the Wayne Swim Club, a summer team in Huber Heights, to winning 2 Miami Valley Swim Association Titles.

Coach Brent constantly strives to put the fun in swimming.

Dylan Allen

Asst. Coach

Coach Dylan brings a combination of laughter, innovative technique work, patience, and heart to his coaching each and every day for the Raiders.

The 2019 Graduate of Wright State University is an assistant coach for the Raider’s junior group and also a Supervisor and swim lesson instructor for the Dayton Raiders Swim Academy.

Coach Dylan has extensive training and certifications including:

* Coaching Foundations 101/102

* Lifeguard Certified

* Concussion in Sports

* Athlete Protection

An accomplished swimmer himself, Coach Dylan was a member of the Wright State Swim and Dive Team and holds some of the team’s most recent top times in the 1000 and 1650 freestyle.

Coach Dylan wants each of his swimmers to feel confident to perform their best and to know, “The only limit is you”!

Jaclyn M Helt

Asst. Coach

Coach Jaclyn has been coaching since 2008, and brings her personal experience as an outstanding swimmer from both the local high school and University ranks to the Raiders pool deck. She was a standout student/athlete at Centerville High School and the University of Miami in Florida.

Jaclyn is currently a chemistry/biology teacher at Alter High School. She prides herself in her ability to utilize her teaching skills both in and out of the pool to best teach her athletes. Coach Jaclyn believes athletes should learn what it means to work hard, but have fun while doing so. Her groups target listening skills, team building, goal setting, and more.

Coach Jaclyn hopes to develop each of her swimmers into the best athlete and person they can become.

Owen C Measel

Asst. Coach

Intense, Passionate, and Fun…just three adjectives to describe the coaching style of Coach Owen. The Dayton Raiders assistant coach and Wright State University student brings with him a fresh perspective on swimming and teaches each of his swimmers what it takes to achieve lofty goals.

Coach Owen has been with the Raiders for three years. He is also a veteran swim lesson instructor. Technique work and fundamentals are a focus area for Coach Owen. He also trains swimmers on how to effectively deal with the rigors of competition level swimming.

Coach Owen always reminds his athletes, “Talent sets the floor; character sets the ceiling”!

Maddison E Eckley

Asst. Coach

Coach Maddie brings a positive, light-hearted coaching style to the Dayton Raiders Aquatic Center each day. The former Centerville High School swimming standout teaches her athletes the importance of hard work and dedication, and how to apply strong swimming fundamentals towards fast racing.

Coach Maddie was a member of the Wright State University Swim Team and also selected as a Coach for the Ohio All Star Zone Team. She is a student of the sport and holds many certifications including:

USA Swimming Coach
Lifeguard Training / CPR
AED and a Physical Best Specialist

Coach Maddie coaches the individual swimmer to be his or her best. She knows with swimming, you get out of it what you put into it so she tries her best to make each practice a positive learning experience for the athlete.

Victoria E Swartz

Asst. Coach

Coach Vickie joined the Raiders in 2018.

The former Centerville High School swimmer was also a member of the Washington TWP Sharks year-round program and competed as a member of the West Carrollton Waves summer league team.

Bethany M Talley

Asst. Coach

Coach Bethany joined the Raider staff in the fall of 2019. Coach Bethany has been the Head Coach of the Yellowsprings Sea Dogs since 2012, helping grow one of the smallest summer clubs to a 100+ team and strong presence in the Miami Valley Swim Association (MVSA). She was also the former Head Coach for the Yellowsprings HS Swim & Dive Team. Coach Bethany began her swimming career at the Dearborn County YMCA and later was a member of the MAKOS Swim Team in Oxford, OH. Coach Bethany works as an Intervention Specialist at the Greene County (OH) Learning Center following her passion while helping students K-7 with special needs. Coach Bethanyand her husband have 3 children and one of them, Brooklyn, is a Raider.

Grace Katherine Buinicky

Assistant Coach

Coach Grace joined the Raider staff in the 2020-2021 season. Grace has recently been an assistant coach for the Greene Valley Gators Swim Club for three seasons. In the summer of 2020, Grace worked directly with approximately 100 children ages 6-16. Coach Grace also has been providing swim instructions to young as part of her ever-increasing volume of experience. Coach Grace is very excited to be coaching at a young age and desires to work with other Raider coaches to learn as much about competitive swimming. In her free time, Grace spends time reading, writing, and drawing.

Kevin J Vanbuskirk

Asst. Coach

Coach Kevin joined the Raider staff in the fall of 2019. The former Div I standout swimmers from University from West Virginia (UWV) lives in Dayton with his family and four children. His son, Stephen, swims on the Raiders. Kevin is also a key member of the Dayton Raiders Aquatic Center (DRAC) staff, ensuring the facility is modernized, safe, financially sounds, and achieves its long term vision as a premiere and privately-owned & operated Aquatic Facility.

Ken Hunter

Fitness Director / Conditioning Coach

Coach Ken Hunter is the Director of Fitness for the Dayton Raiders.

Coach Ken brings over 10+ years of experience in the health and fitness industry. His professional experience originates from Personal Training, Martial Arts, Yoga, Pilates, and Joint Pain Reduction. He has trained collegiate, elite, and junior elite athletes and effectively helped many clients reach weight loss goals and get in shape.

Ken has a genuine passion and dedication to promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging fitness for the whole family, and activating today’s youth. Ken has thoughtfully developed effective fitness programs that teach, motivate, and promote hard work while ensuring that the time is enjoyable for all. Ken’s programs encompass the true meaning of fitness.

As the Director of Fitness for the Dayton Raiders Swim Club, Ken ensures the fitness environment at DRAC to be one of learning, safety, growth, and personal development. The Dayton Raiders Swim Club Masters Fitness programs encompass innovative fitness for youth and adults.

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