Kerry O'Brien
Head Coach
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Coach Kerry came on as interim coach of Walnut Creek Masters in October of 1980. In February of 1981, he was hired as the team's second Head Coach, commenting during the interview process that he could see himself committing to the position for 5 years. The rest, as they say, is history. Kerry is a Level 5 ASCA Masters Coach, 1987 USMS Coach of the Year, and 1992 Pacific Masters Coach of the Year. As catalyst and lead coach of the WCM Intensive Training Camp starting in 1988, it is nationally recognized as the longest running and most successful swim camp in United States Masters history. Kerry enjoys sharing is enthusiasm for teaching and mentoring with others, and throughout his tenure has lead Camps and Clinics across the country. In 2009, United States Masters Swimming initiated the Kerry O'Brien Coaching Award to honor others who share his passion and dedication to the profession of masters coaching.
He also tries to lead by example, and is very active in competitive pool events, finding the personal challenge and "team" component much to his liking. Kerry's wife and fellow WCM member Charlene O'Brien has been registrar for Pacific Masters Swimming since 2013. Coach Kerry is on deck Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
"It's the people that make Masters Swimming great, and nowhere is that more true than on Walnut Creek Masters"
- Coach Kerry
Micheal P. Heaney
Assistant Coach
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.Mike Heaney has been coaching for WCM since 2003 and the Aquabears since 1988. A graduate of Ygnacio Valley High School, he grew up swimming at Clarke Memorial Swim center and now lives in Pleasant Hill with his wife Trish, son Logan, 15, and daugther Payton, 12. Mike won WCM's Member of the Year award in 2014 for his tireless work with the Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation, a nonprofit formed and incorporated in 2014 to shape the physical improvement and management of Clarke Memorial Swim Center in the next few years as it transitions from City of Walnut creek operation. "This is a pool I grew up in, so it's important to me and to the community members who want to learn how to swim here and keep swimming here." Mike is on deck Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Debbie Santos
Assistant Coach
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Debbie has been an assistant coach at WCM since 2003. She has over 20 years of swimming coaching experience including Summer Rec, USS and High School. She also coached High School Water Polo as well as Summer Synchronized Swimming for the city of Novato. In addition to on deck coaching she enjoys giving clinics which she does both locally and nationally. She and her husband, Olympic swimmer Roque Santos, both maintain their love of swimming and still compete and enjoy giving breaststroke clinics together. Debbie has been a Pacific Masters Record Holder and PMS age group Swimmer of the Year multiple times. She is a USMS All American logging over 100 national top ten swims. She has been involved in the sport of swimming for most of her life. Growing up in Marin County she began her career at age six as a summer league swimmer then moved on to year round swimming with the Novato Aquanauts and later Indian Valley Aquatic Club. She competed in college for the University of Arizona where she graduated with a degree in Psychology. After college she went on to receive her teaching credential and taught sixth grade for 10 years. She and husband Roque have four daughters – Shaila, 11 Shelby 9, Siena 7, and Skye, 2 - plus four cats. Debbie is on the deck Wednesdays and Fridays.
Stephen A. Stahl
Assistant Coach
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Coach Steve Stahl has been with WCM in coaching capacities since 1994 and a team member since 1989. He grew up swimming on Piedmont swim teams from ages 6 to 12 and also played basketball and tennis in middle and high school. After "having had it with tennis," he swam for Dartmouth University for three years - becoming captain senior year - along with holding the top 10 times in all freestyle events (50 through 500) by the time he graduated. He has been a Pacific Masters age group record holder and has been as Member of the Year in 2000. He lives in Walnut Creek with his wife Katherine and daughters, who also swim. Toria, 14, is an Aqua Bear, and Amity, 11. a rec swimmer. "To their dismay, they are constantly reminded to work on their kicking and streamlines." Coach Steve is at the head of the pool for all 5 Thursday workouts.
Lisa A. Ward
Assistant Coach
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Lisa Ward has been an assistant coach with Walnut Creek Masters since 2011. She is also a part-time physical education instructor at Diablo Valley College, where she has been working since 2003. At the United States Aquatic Sports Convention last year, Ward won the Kerry O'Brien Award for coaching and other many accomplishments, including coaching the Swimming Saves Lives program and piloting it for WCM's Rossmoor members. She has received age group Swimmer of the Year five times and Open water age group Swimmer of the Year three times. Lisa lives in Martinez and has been married to her husband, Steve, for 24 years. She is excited to be an empty nester with three grown children on their own and nearly completing 500 hours of a professional Yoga program. She plans on starting a Yoga for Swimmers program for the team.
Harold O. Boscovich
Team Manager
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Harold "Bosco" Boscovich
Bosco has been the Team Manager of Walnut Creek Masters since 1987. As Team Manager, he is an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors with no voting rights. He is responsible for maintaining the registration of all members and responsible for the day to day business operation of the Team.
He was employed as a police officer in Oakland for almost 9 years and then for over 33 years with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. He retired from the District Attorney's Office in 2004, as the Director of the Victim/Witness Assistance Division, a program he began in 1974, as the first of its kind in California and one of the original eight such programs in the Nation. His retirement was short-lived however, as he was asked to return to work on various projects and he continues to work for the District Attorney's Office as a retired annuitant. He is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the Alameda County Family Justice Center, Oakland, a non-profit, one-stop location for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, and elder abuse, and their families. Bosco competes in the 70-74 age group.
