Richard Judson Clark

Puma Head Coach/Owner

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Coach Jud is enjoying his 15th year as the Head Coach and owner of the Puma Aquatic Team! Puma is his passion and the program has been develped based on the importance of goal setting. Jud received his MS Kinesiology degree from Cal Poly in 2011 and his BA degree in Engish and Education from the University of Redlands in 1993.

"If you're not willing to work hard today, how will you be prepared to work hard tomorrow" Coach Jud

"Where you invest your love, you invest your life"  Mumford & Sonds

Karen A Neil

Atascadero Site Leader

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This is Coach Karen’s  12th year with the PUMA Ohana. Karen grew up swimming competitively in Southern California. She studied kinesiology at UCLA and  Human Resources at LMU and UCDavis. Coach Karen has completed her ASCA Level 4 education.  She was first certified as a USS coach in 1990, when she became the head coach of Sierra Nevada Penguin Swim Team. The Neil family moved to the Island of Kauai in 1997, where they enjoyed surfing, swimming and paddling outrigger canoes. They relocated  to the central coast in 2004.  Coach Karen has a love and passion for teaching and inspiring swimmers of all ages and abilities.

Rich j Firman

Arroyo Grande Site Leader

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Coach Rich retired from Cal Poly in 2006 after 19 years coaching the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs. He came out of retirement in 2008 to join PUMA. While he was at Cal Poly, Rich coached many Big West champion swimmers and divers and twice earned Big West Coach of the Year. Check out the announcement of Rich’s retirement to learn more about his career. In 2011, Rich was nominated and voted Age Group Coach of the year for the Coastal Section of Southern California Swimming.  

Mario Augusto Esola

San Luis Obispo Site Leader

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Coach Mario began coaching with PUMA in October of 2012.   Competitive swimming and swimming instruction has always been a big part of his life.  His swimming career started at age 8 with the Forest Park Flyers summer recreational team and continued with the Terrapins Swim Team through high school.  While at Cal Poly he swam for 4 years with Coach Rich Firman and was a volunteer Assistant Coach for a year, also with Coach Firman.  Upon graduating with a degree in Architectural Engineering he continued to train and compete at the Master’s level.  He taught swimming lessons through Forest Park Swim Club, the City of Concord Parks and Recreation Department, and the Terrapins Swim Team for 5 years.  His two sons are also PUMA swimmers and he is privileged to be able to share his love of swimming (and the pool deck) with his wife, Coach Christina.  As a PUMA coach he is focused on developing your child’s stroke technique, contributing to their overall fitness, and helping them to set and achieve their goals.  Creating a life long athletes is Coach Mario’s desire for your swimmer.

Christina m Esola

San Luis Obispo Puma Cub & Gold Coach

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Coach Christina is in her fourth year coaching with Puma and has many years of experience with competitive swimming and instructing.  She swam for 4 years under Coach Rich Firman while at Cal Poly, and upon graduating with a biology degree, she continued to swim and compete at the Master’s level.  She taught swim lessons for 6 years, and coached summer swim team for 2 years.  She is married with 2 boys and still has the opportunity to get in and challenge herself in the pool.   Now coaching with Puma, she loves watching the children, as well as her own two sons, develop into amazing swimmers with a great pride in themselves.

Jake S Hammack

San Luis Obispo Silver Coach

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Mitch A Emerson

Avila Bay Club Site Leader

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Coach Mitch began swimming competitively at age 6 and continued until college at Cal Poly when he joined the San Luis Obispo masters swim team.  He coached age group swimmers and adults throughout his many years at Cal Poly until he graduated and moved to the Bay Area to work at Cisco Systems.  After spending far too long in the technology industry, he moved back to San Luis Obispo in 2006 and started coaching again.  Swimming has been a significant part of Coach Mitch's life, and he loves helping others to find the same passion for the sport as he has.