Daniel France
Head Coach & Senior Group
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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 Director & Senior Prep Group
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Team Director Rick Pratt expanded his role at
LCAT by joining the coaching staff in the Fall of 2018. 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 58 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.
Chris Chavez
Gold, Silver & Pre-Bronze Groups
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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 Director 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 hometown by raising fish in Roswell and using their
droppings to fertilize some fantastic greens and
herbs.
Matthew Gormley
Bronze, Pre-Bronze & Special Needs
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Matthew Gormley joined the LCAT
coaching staff in early 2019 and quickly hit the ground running by
leading the team’s new Developmental Program. He brings
enormous experience having grown up as a standout swimmer. He grew
up in Las Cruces and began competing at the age of 6. Matthew went
on to swim throughout college, as well as a Masters athlete. In
high school, he was awarded Scholastic All-American. Outside of
LCAT, Matthew currently teaches at Centennial High school and plans
to teach elementary education in the near future. In his spare
time, Matthew enjoys spending time with his dog Kona, visiting
aquariums, and anything tech.
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.
