Coach Spano
Head Coach
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Coach Spano is a graduate of the University of Houston, with a BS in Kinesiology/Sports Administration and is ASCA Level II certified. He has been coaching in the Houston area for over 12 years, and takes great pride in developing swimmers by not only emphasizing stroke development but also educating swimmers and parents in all aspects of the sport. "My goal is to help educate young athletes to manage their lives both in and out of the water."
Coach Spano has coached swimmers of all ages and abilities, including Gulf All Stars, TAGS, Sectionals, and Gulf Zones. As an active coach within the Gulf, he was a 2009 Gulf Southern Zones coach and has been a Gulf Gold Medal Clinic volunteer coach with Olympic Medalists and World Record holders, Eric Vendt and Jason Lezak. He was also a volunteer coach for the Gulf USA Swimming "Swimposium" Clinic with Open Water World Champion Erica Rose. As a coach with the Southwest Houston Recreational Swim League, his teams sent multiple swimmers to All-Stars, achieved division championships and divisional sportsmanship awards. "The greatest feeling I have as a coach is to watch the reaction of a swimmer, as they get out of the water with a big smile, knowing they have just achieved a personal best."
Coach Spano and his wife Mary have been married for 23 years and have 3 children. Daughter Lauren is a graduate of the University of Houston where she swam as a Lady Coog, Son Geoffrey, and Daughter Molly will join us at Platinum Aquatics. When he is not coaching, Coach Spano loves spending time with his family and friends, being outdoors and watching football (GO COOGS!! and GO TEXANS!)
Coach Mary Spano
Assistant Coach/Lesson Coordinator
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Coach
Mary is
a graduate of the University of Texas where she played for 5 years
in the Longhorn Band, Hook 'em Horns! She holds a BA in
Psychology, with a minor in English, and is currently working on
her masters degree through WGU. Coach Mary and her husband Greg are
co-founders of Platinum Aquatics, a 501(c)3 non-profit member
team of USA Swimming. This is their passion
project! "My life-long love of the water drives my passion
that every child should be safe in the water." This passion
has led to the development of the First Stroke Swim
School.
Coach Mary serves as Vice-President on the PLAT
Board of Directors, she also serves as an Assistant
Coach. She has been
coaching pre-competitive swimmers and learn to swim lessons since
2002. Coach Mary holds ASCA II certification and is ASCA III
approved. "I have had the pleasure to attend clinics and work
closely with several Olympic swimmers including: Brendan Hanson,
Jason Lezak, Jessica Hardy, Tyler Clerry,
Josh Davis, RIcky
Barrons, and Cammile Adams. Prior to Olympic trials in 2016,
I had the opportunity to attend a Pro-Series meet and see Olympians
compete. I also had the opportunity to attend a
training session of the 2016 Olympic swim team - SO COOL!! But my
greatest love is to see our developing swimmers learn to love the
sport!"
"Greg and I were married in 1991. We have 3 wonderful
children and 5 amazing grandchildren. If you ask, I will be
glad to share pictures! In my spare time you can find
me
at the pool coaching, working
on a computer project, taking photos, reading a book, enjoying my
Starbucks, and spending time with my family and friends!"
Kevin Chau
Assistant Coach
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I have been swimming since I was 10 years old. I swam on
my summer league team, Sugar Land Sharks, for 8 years and also have
done club swimming. I am currently a senior iat Austin High School
where I have been on the team for 4 years. I wanted to be a coach
because I enjoy working with kids, improving their techniques, and
helping them build endurance!
This year was Coach Kevin’s first year with PLAT
as a swimmer and as an assistant coach. He has done an outstanding
job with your swimmers and we are so blessed to have him as a
member of the PLAT coaching staff. Kevin was an outstanding
student-athlete at FBISD Austin High School. He graduated in the
top 25% of his class and was a member of NHS (National Honor
Society).
Kevin was a 6A regional level participant in breastroke
and freestyle. Fall of 2020, Kevin plans to attend The University
of Houston (GO COOGS!) where he will be majoring in Civil
Engineering. Kevin is planning to coach with us while attending
school and we are very happy about that.
Maxwell Boyd White
Assistant Coach
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Coach Max, started swimming
with PLAT at age 10. He swam with PLAT until the age of 16. Max
swam breastroke, freestyle and later on he became a butterflier.
We have many memories about Max at practices and at swim
meets. Those were awesome times and a lot of
laughs.
In addition to Max’s
“PLAT-Tastic” swimming career, he was an outstanding
student at Clements. Max was an NHS member and was in the top half
of his graduating class. In addition Max became heavily involved
with the Clements choir where he did an outstanding
job.
While at PLAT, Max was an
incredible leader amongst his teammates and always set high
standards for those around him to look to for leadership. As his
coach words will never describe what an honor it was to coach him.
Now to have him on the deck coaching your swimmers along the side
of me is even more special. Max started coaching with us this past
Spring and is doing an outstanding job. We are looking forward to
having Max remain at PLAT while attending school. I/we are
extremely proud of Max and want to congratulate him on being part
of the graduating class of 2020. In the Fall, Max will be attending
University of Houston (GO COOGS!) and plans on studying
business-finance. We look forward at being a part of his success at
The University of Houston.
