Our Staff
Glenbrook Aquatics employs a staff of full-time and part-time aquatic and management professionals. Additionally, as a school district program, Glenbrook Aquatics offers employment opportunities to high school and post-high school students with a demonstrated interest in education, swimming, diving, and water polo.
All employees of Glenbrook Aquatics are approved by the Board of Education of Glenbrook High School District 225 and participate in ongoing professional development activities. In addition, on August 23, 2021, the Board of Education approved an updated organizational chart for Glenbrook Aquatics.
We encourage current and prospective families and program participants to reach out to our coaching staff at any time. Coaching staff contact information is included in the profiles below.
Additionally, please feel free to contact members of our leadership team at any time:
Kelly Brown, Glenbrook Aquatics Program Director
(847) 509-2468 | [email protected]
Callan Heidkamp, Glenbrook Swim Club Head Coach
| [email protected]
Bob Pieper, Glenbrook Aquatics District Liaison
(847) 509-2425 | [email protected]
Matt Purdy, Glenbrook Aquatics Assistant District Liaison
(847) 509-2589 | [email protected]
Dr. RJ Gravel, District 225 Associate Superintendent
| [email protected]
Coach Kelly has entered her 31st year of coaching and could not be prouder of the fact that she was instrumental in the formation of the Northbrook Spartan Swim Club, now known as the Glenbrook Aquatics Glenbrook Swim Club. Glenbrook Swim Club has consistently finished their state team performances within the top 25 teams, many times in the top 15 teams in Illinois at the Age-Group Championships and Senior Championships for the past 18 years! Glenbrook Aquatics has also developed many state champions and top 16 state finishes as well as junior and senior national qualifiers and zone qualifiers. She is an American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) level 4 certified coach as well as a proud member of the Age Group Committee for Illinois Swimming.
A year round club swimmer herself from age 6-18 with the Arlington Alligators, she is convinced her heart and soul are within the pool and furthermore coaching the wonderful sport of swimming! After finishing a four year Varsity swimming career at Saint Viator High School, she chose to embark on coaching rather than competing while studying for her college degree. After receiving a BA in Criminal Justice and having no luck at obtaining a position within the court system, the idea of full-time coaching presented itself and she instantly jumped at the chance. After trying a brief stint in the corporate world, she has found that coaching, especially with Glenbrook Aquatics has become such a intricate part of her life, career and dream.
She looks forward in continuing to promote the positive club philosophy and enviroment which produces great swimmers that stay in the program for the long haul as well as developing into amazing individuals both in and out of the pool. Alongside a remarkable and supportive Glenbrook Swim Club coaching staff, the athletes are all bound and determined to become well-rounded and respectful athletes. Glenbrook Swim Club is proud to offer "something for everyone" within all of our aquatic programing!
Kelly has two beautiful girls, Dayton & Tacy that are active in many sports and specializing in making me a proud and tired mom. She and husband Brian (who also coaches swimming) reside in Palatine and are very busy these days with coaching, raising the girls and playing with their crazy dog, Lainey!
Coach Callan grew up in St. Charles, Illinois. He started swimming competitively at age 7 with the St. Charles Swim Team and continued swimming until age 18. Callan was a four-year varsity swimmer while at St. Charles East High School and was honored as an All-American during his tenure. Callan attribute his father, former Coach Thomas Heidkamp, as his main inspiration for coaching.
Callan started his coaching career in 2007. During the past 15 years he has helped guided many swimmers to develop the skills, technique and training needed to produce champions, finalists or qualifiers at Age Group Regionals and States, High School State, Junior/Senior Championships, Speedo Sectionals, Junior Nationals, and Senior Nationals.
Callan is entering his 1st year as the head coach of GSC, and his 4th year with GSC. Callan is excited to bring his own vision of the continued success and development of GSC. Before GSC he spent 8 years coaching GTAC. Callan then moved to Virginia to coach for The FISH Swim Team for 4 years.
Callan's favorite food is sushi and he spends his hours away from the pool cheering on my favorite soccer or (football) team, the Tottenham Hotspur. Callan has great enthusiasm and dedication to the sport of swimming that radiates to the kids whom he coaches. Go GSC!!!
Coach Leigh Tharrington is a North Carolina native whose coaching career began in 2003. She has a rich history coaching, including summer league, high school (earning Coach of the Year honors), YMCA, USA, and college club teams. Tharrington is known for her enthusiasm on deck, focus on proper technical skills, and incorporating character as a key component to fast swimming. She is also a current member of the Illinois Swimming LSC's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee.
Coach Leigh has had multiple high caliber club positions in both North Carolina and Virginia including Director of Competitive Swimming, Head Age Group Coach of multiple teams, Associate Head Coach, Head Coach, Head Technical Coach, and selected as a Zone Team Staff Member for both states (11-12 Girls in VA and 15-18 Girls in NC). Beyond that, Tharrington was nominated for Virginia Swimming’s Age Group Coach of the Year for the 2015-2016 Season. Coach Leigh has coached all levels and ages: including learn to swim and developmental, state record holders, Age Group State Champions, an Age Group NCSA Champion, USA Swimming Top 10 ranking athletes, as well as YMCA National finalists, both Winter & Summer Junior National qualifiers, and Senior National qualifiers.
Tharrington was a decorated age group swimmer as well, holding AAAA times throughout her career in multiple strokes, a Top16 breaststroker, an Age Group State Champion, YMCA National finalist, and still holds records from her former swim clubs to this day.
Leigh has a BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is excited to join the GSC coaching staff and cannot wait to see what the future has in store!
Philip Arbogast-Wilson is a lifelong water-lover and strong believer that swimming is an
incredible tool to improve every aspect of health. After a nine-year competitive career in his
hometown of Chelsea, Michigan, he moved to Rogers Park to attend Loyola University Chicago.
Philip discovered a love for water polo on the LUC Rambler Men’s club team, serving as both
club president and vice-president and traveling extensively in the Midwest for tournaments. In
2012 he began his coaching career at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston, a position he held for
three years until graduating and pursuing a sales career. After a multiyear hiatus that included
stints in several industries including home appliances, marketing services, and personal
training, Philip returned to the pool in 2021, certifying as a USA Swimming coach and working
with swimmers of all ages and ability levels. He is tremendously excited to join a dedicated team
at GSC and help all participants realize success while building the foundations for lifelong health
and well-being.
Coach Phoebe is a Northbrook native where she competitively swam for Glenbrook Swim Club back when it was named Glenbrook Aquatics for a few years. She then swam for Glenbrook North High School where she proudly achieved two back to back state records. She swam competitively for about 13 years in total. She first started coaching for GSC in the Fall of 2021 and she loves to interact with swimmers as well as work with them specifically on fixing their strokes and technique. She loves the big smiles it brings to their faces knowing they got it down correctly and are improving. Shes looking forward to working with swimmers and having a great season again this year.
She loves her work in the special education department at a local Middle School. In her spare time, she loves to workout, spend time with friends and family and watch Hockey.
