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Coaches & Directors

Swimmers are our focus, so coaches are the core of our program. We are blessed to have three exceptional head coaches, four other adult assistant coaches, & wonderful junior coaches.

For all questions related to swimming and safety, please contact an adult coach. During practices and meets, please let coaches concentrate on the swimmers in the pool - not answering parents' questions. If you have any questions or concerns about swimming, please speak with an adult coach prior to or after practice/meet. You may also contact coaches via e-mail.

Our coaches are professional, experienced and committed.  When it comes to swimming, their word is final! They have earned this privileged authority. At the same time, they are easy going and flexible. If you or your child have a problem, it is your responsibility to communicate!  Please do not allow a problem or any concern escalate. Respectful communication between all parties is essential for successful resolutions.

Please  NEVER  confront a junior coach. Please feel free to speak with junior coaches, but remember that they are also children (ages 13-18). Please address concerns with adult coaches only. Thank you.

Coaching Staff

Patrick O'Neill

Adult Coaches

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We are happy to have Assistant Coach Pat O’Neill, 33, back for his fourth year coaching the Waves.

“I’m back because Coach Chad threatened my dog,” he laughed. “No. No. I’m just kidding!

“I like coaching kids and helping them get better. I help with swimming because I’ve been doing it all my life, and I almost know what I am doing.”

Coach Pat was born and grew up in Warren, PA, where he swam, played football and soccer, and was an Eagle Scout. He holds two degrees from Alfred (NY) University, in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, with a minor in History. Still a soccer fanatic, he attended Japan’s shut-out victory over the United States at 2011 Women’s World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany.

He continued as a diver and a sprints swimmer in college, where he began helping run soccer camps for kids. As a fifth year senior, he coached Alfred’s diving team. He also continues to compete & coach Masters Swimming.

Coach Pat is a Systems Analyst at Serco-NA, a British outsourcing company with an office in Harrisonburg. He lives with his big hound dog, Toon, in New Market. He loves video games of strategy, and board games, mostly fantasy with dragons. He also loves his Cleveland Browns, his Cleveland Cavaliers & his Cleveland Indians! If he could, he would probably marry LeBron James!

Our swimmers love him, particularly boys, because he's funny & cool.

Zsuzsa Fox

Adult Coaches

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The Westover Waves are privileged to have back Assistant Coach Zsuzsa Fox for her second year. Coach Zsuzsa is from Hungary, where she swam competitively during her childhood. She has been invoved with swimming through Master swimming, officiating, or coaching ever since she was a child. Husband Chris Fox, a Computer Science Professor at JMU, has been a  Stroke & Turn Judge for many years. They have two daughters at Harrisonburg High -- Zoey, a graduating senior, and Andi, a rising junior. Both enjoyed contributing to the Waves' success last summer in their first season, and they will be returning this year again.  Andi also swims year round with VAST. Coach Zsuzsa and her family love to travel in Europe, and visit their relatives in Hungary. 

Cara Shrum

Adult Coaches

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After a year as a Westover Waves mom, Cara Shrum is an Assistant Coach this summer.

Like Coach Zszuzsa, Coach Cara is an accomplished swimmer. A native of Charlotte, NC, she attended Providence High, where set state records in the 500 free & 100 fly to earn MVP for the State Championships. She wound up at the University of Virginia, where she became the first UVA woman to win an NCAA title in 2000 en route to two NCAA titles, four years an All-America in a total of 11 events, two ACC Swimmer of the Year awards & ACC Championships MVPs. Wow, right!

She and her husband Phil Quagliariello have two children -- daughter Calais, an accomplished Westover Waves swimmer herself, and son Olin -- and another in the oven.

We know she will be a wonderful addition to the coaching staff.