Brian A Bolster
Head Coach/Aquatics Director
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Brian is the founder, Head Coach and CEO of Osprey
Aquatics. Brian is a native of San Jose, grew up swimming
locally and was a Junior National qualifier before accepting a
swimming scholarship to SDSU. Brian has been coaching for 26
years. He has been the Head Coach of Osprey Aquatics since
the fall of 1996. The team started with 26 swimmers and 2
coaches, it now has around 160 year round with 6 coaches.
During his career, Brian has worked with swimmers at every level,
from cabana swimmers, to beginning age groupers to Far Western
Champions, Olympic Trials swimmers and a Para Olympian, Jacque Mox.
Brian is known as an innovator and stroke technician in our
sport, having invented the Bolster Swim Paddle which is sold
worldwide. Under water speed is one of his specialties.
Linnea Mack won short course Junior Nationals in the 100 fly in
2013, in large part because her UW speed was world class.
Brian’s has coached numerous swimmers ranked in the top
ten Nationally. He was named a 2014-2015 National Junior Team
Coach for USA Swimming after Linnea Mack made the team. Forty
five times his swimmers have won individual or relay events at Far
Westerns. They have broken 5 Pac Swim records, won CCS, been
named high school All Americans and won individual events at
Sectionals, as well as received college scholarships to Division 1
programs.
Brian has been published in NISCA Swim Magazine, and been
profiled in Swimming World. He was a presenter for FINIS at
the 2012 ASCA Coaches Conference and gave a talk on the topic of
Speed Maintenance as the Winning Edge, how training the ability to
maintain target length (stroke count), and target rate (tempo) is
the key to maintaining speed and winning races at the highest
levels.
Brian specializes in helping swimmers improve their mental
approach and mindsets through mental training. He is fond of
saying, “We are what we think about most. Thoughts
become belief and belief becomes behavior.” Mental
training is something the Osprey do all year round, not just before
the big meets. Developing a positive self talk narrative is
critical to success. Winners find reasons why they can, not
why they can’t. The senior group does the most of this work,
and all of his swimmers have a working understanding of what it
means to compete in and how to enter a flow state when
racing.
Brian is a Level 4 ASCA coach.
Shannon L Mackin
Head Age Group Coach/President
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Shannon will be coaching the Gold and Copper groups this
year. As the team’s longest tenured coach after Brian,
she begins her 18th year this year. In addition to being an
administrative and organizational whiz running the day to day
operation of the team, Shannon is an expert coach, understanding
all facets of our sport.
She has coached nearly every level on the team from SOAR to the
Senior 2. With CCS consolation finalist as well as Far
Western Finalists. Shannon is an ASCA level 3 Coach
Oliver M Mackin
Assistant Sr. Coach
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Oliver coaches the Pre Senior and Varsity Groups. This
will be his 11th full year of coaching after 5 additional summers
spent coaching during his college years. Oliver has developed
into an exceptional coach who understands the stroke mechanics,
energy systems, dryland, and sports psychology in a manner that
sets him apart from most other coaches. He is also capable of
insightful observations and suggestions that not only benefit him,
but our entire staff as well. Oliver has trained a CCS
finalist, nationally ranked swimmers and many Far Western Finalists
over the years. Oliver also manages our swim lesson program
and has been a big part of it’s success. Oliver is an
ASCA level 2 coach.
Ian J McAlister
Age Group Coach
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Ian is one of our home grown coaches. Ian started swimming
with the Osprey in 2003 and swam for 6 years. As a swimmer he
was a Far Western finalist and swam on the Western Zone team in
2007He began his coaching with us in 2009. Ian now coaches
the Bronze and AGE (Age Group Elite), however he has coached most
all levels leading up to his current position. Ian has a
swimmers knowledge of the sport and is becoming a good
motivator. Ian is an ASCA level 2 coach.
Julie Watkins
Age Group Coach
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Coach Julie grew up and swam on the east coast in Northern
Virginia. For the past 25 years she has either been teaching kids
to swim or coaching young swimmers. She joined the Osprey coaching
staff in 2014. She has a degree in elementary education.
Julie has an unmatched patience and is able to realy work well with
our youngest swimmers. Julie is a Level 1 ASCA coach.
Samuel A Esbenshade
Age Group Coach
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OAQ is pleased to announce the addition of Sam Esbenshade to our staff. Sam currently attends West Valley College. He swam for the Osprey for 11 years, the last 4 were with Brian in the Sr. group, where he had success and made finals in the 200 breast at short course Far Westerns. Sam knows our system very well, has a good eye for stroke mechanics and has demonstrated exceptional ability while teaching young people in our swim lesson program the past 3 years. He has been a life guard for several years, and is coaching Masters swimming on the side. Sam’s intelligence, growth mindset, integrity, work ethic and understanding of the sport will serve him and the team well. Sam will coach the JV, and the Silver groups. Sam will receive the same support, guidance and mentoring from Brian, Shannon and Oliver that has benefited all our assistants coaches in the past and helped us be successful.
Alisabeth T Bacon
Age Group Coach
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Alisabeth started swimming for the Osprey in
2005. She continued her swimming career in college at
Concordia University. She also continued with us by coaching
on our summer team for 6 years. After completing her
bachelors degree she returned to us as and joined our staff as a
year round coach. Alisabeth is working on a credential to
teach in California. She is a welcome asset to our staff.
