Daniel France
Head Coach, Senior & Senior Prep
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Head
Coach Dan France has been at the helm of LCAT since 2017, bringing
with him a wealth of experience both in the pool as a swimmer and
on the deck as a coach. Within just his first year and a half as
head coach, Dan produced 5 individual state champions, 3 relay team
state champions, and numerous Age Group Zones, Senior Zones, and
Sectionals qualifiers. Prior to joining LCAT, Dan was Head Coach of
the Men’s and Women’s teams at Adams State University
from 2011-2017 and an Assistant Coach at Colorado Mesa University
from 2008-2011. During his time at Adams State, Dan led the team in
breaking all 46 school records, produced 4 conference champions and
2 NCAA Division II qualifiers, and was the Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference Coach of the Year in 2013. While at Colorado Mesa, Dan
helped recruit over 90 student athletes and his swimmers broke all
38 school records. Dan grew up in a military family and had the
opportunity to live all over the world, swimming competitively in
South Korea, Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, Hong Kong, Sweden, and
Great Britain. His swimming accomplishments include Junior National
qualifier, high school All-American, multiple time Colorado Age
Group State Champion, Division II National Qualifier and
All-American, and broke multiple records at Air Academy High School
and Metropolitan State College of Denver. Dan sums up his coaching
philosophy with these quotes: “Kids don’t care
how much you know, until they know how much you care!” and
“When it comes to the work, Show me! Don’t tell
me!”
Rick Pratt
Team Owner
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Rick Pratt is the Team Owner and Director
of LCAT. Meanwhile, he continues in his Head Coach position of
the New Mexico State University Women’s swimming and diving
program. Since taking the reins at NMSU in 2005, Rick has guided
the Aggies towards becoming one of the premiere teams in the
Western Athletic Conference. During his tenure at NMSU, Rick has
coached 2 Aggies to compete at NCAA Championships, his swimmers
have set or broken more than 60 school records, he was named
Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 4 times, and he
continues to push the program to greatness. Prior to NMSU,
Rick was an assistant coach at University of Nevada, Las Vegas for
two years and helped coach the men’s and women’s teams
to their first ever Mountain West Conference titles. Rick
previously was an assistant coach at Rutgers where he worked with
swimmers who lowered 22 school records during the 2002-03 season.
As a competitor, Rick was a two-year letterwinner and captain of
the University of Alabama swim team until graduating in 2001. While
swimming with the Crimson Tide, Rick was the recipient of the
Marshall Shoemaker Award for efforts in practice. He also competed
in the 1996 Canadian Olympic Trials. In his spare time, Rick enjoys
playing the guitar. Rick, a native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and
his wife, Melissa, have two children, Jacob and
Olivia.
Christopher Jesse Chavez
Gold, Silver
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Chris Chavez joined the LCAT coaching staff
at the beginning of the 2018 short course season. He quickly became
a valued member by coaching multiple groups throughout the year.
Prior to LCAT, Chris was an assistant coach and later head coach
for the Aggie Outlaws swim team in Las Cruces from 2015-2018. Chris
grew up in Roswell, NM and was a competitive swimmer from ages 8
through 13. He later renewed his passion for being in the pool and
began swimming again in 2018, learning from and being motivated by
LCAT Owner and New Mexico State University Head Coach Rick Pratt.
Chris graduated from NMSU with a Bachelor’s degree in
agricultural economics and agricultural business. He stays
connected to his hometown by raising fish in Roswell and using
their droppings to fertilize some fantastic greens and
herbs.
Noah Lambert
Bronze, Pre-Bronze
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Noah Lambert joined the
LCAT coaching staff at the beginning of the 2020 short course
season. He coaches the developmental groups, but uses his vast
experience in the water to assist at all levels. Noah has a
long-time connection to the team, having competed for LCAT as an
age-group swimmer. He earned several New Mexico State Championship
high point awards and currently holds 13 LCAT team records. He went
on to swim all four years as an NCAA athlete while a student at
Grand Canyon University, where he was named all-WAC second team in
the 200 butterfly, was a member of the 2019 WAC championship team,
and competed in the U.S. Open. Noah returned to Las Cruces after
graduating from college and is currently enrolled in New Mexico
State University’s School of Nursing. He also is a P.E. coach
at Acton Academy and serves as the Head Coach for the Las Cruces
High School swim team.
Rachel L Judge
Substitute for All Groups
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Rachel Judge has been a member of
the LCAT coaching staff since 2014. She has coached all levels,
including special needs and masters, as well as served as Head
Coach from 2016-2017. She currently coaches all LCAT groups on a
substitute basis. Rachel is also the Associate Head Coach for the
Women’s Swimming and Diving program at her alma mater, New
Mexico State University, where she has been coaching since 2013.
Under her coaching assistance, the Aggie women have broken 10
school records, produced 6 conference champions, 2 conference
freshman of the year, and 1 conference swimmer of the year, and
earned the Western Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Award. Prior
to joining NMSU, Rachel was the assistant and later head coach at
Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, AZ from
2011-2013, while also teaching 6th grade science and social studies
at Desert Canyon Middle School. Rachel grew up in Williston Park,
NY and Scottsdale, AZ. Her high school swimming career included
serving as team captain, being a 4 year letter winner, and winning
two state championships, two district titles, and a regional
championship. She went on to swim at NMSU, specializing in distance
freestyle and butterfly. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
elementary education, as well as earned the 2010 Linda Schroeder
Academic Award and was named the 2010 Community Service Athlete of
the Year. Rachel enjoys music, crafting and being outdoors.
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