Coaches and Directors
Rob as been a valuable
part of COOL Swim Team for 9 years, the last 5 as our Head
Coach. He directly coaches our Lightning and High School
groups, leads our coaching staff of 14 part-time coaches, and
works with the Board of Directors to provide vision and
direction for our team. In
2019, Rob
was voted the Missouri Valley Senior Coach of the Year, after
also being nominated for the same award in 2017.
He is ASCA Level 2 certified.
Rob's experience both in
the water as a competitive swimmer and on deck as a coach is
impressive. He began swimming competitively at age 12 and continued
through high school, receiving several offers of full swimming
scholarships. Rob has coached swimmers of all ages and abilities
for the past 12 years. His roles have included head coach for
the St. Charles Barracudas, novice and age group coach for the
Warrensburg Pirahannas, and head senior coach for Team
Dolphin.
Rob's swimmers had a record year in the pool during
the 2018-19 season. Two of his swimmers qualified for
Speedo Winter Junior Nationals and Speedo Summer Junior Nationals,
and one earned a U.S. Open cut. All of these
were firsts in our team history. Rob also had
a record number of athletes qualify for NCSA Junior
Nationals and Speedo Sectionals this year. From last year's
graduating class, he has 4 swimmers and
1 rower on college scholarships.
Rob also runs his
own company, Aquatic Solutions, that operates in the Kansas City
area.
Ty has a well-rounded swim background, bringing over 16 years as an aquatic instructor and as a four-year letterman swimmer at Chaska HS (MN) and Blue Valley West. Ty was the Head Coach for the Olathe Cyclones last summer, a Johnson County summer league team. Still not finding that to be enough time around water, Ty is also the assistant swim coach for the Olathe Northwest boy's and girl's swim teams. He is overflowing with enthusiasm for the sport and a genuine love of teaching!
Kristin began her swim career in Manhattan, KS competing with the Manhattan Marlins from age 10 to 18. She also lifeguarded and taught swim lessons for 5 years. Kristin brought her enthusiasm for coaching and love of the sport to the deck in the summer of 2010, and has coached all levels for COOL. Kristin is currently the site coach at Blue Valley Southwest, as well as the Assistant Head Coach for the Olathe South boys' and girls' swim teams. Additionally, she is the head coach for the Nottingham by the Green Gator swim team in the summer. She and her husband have 3 children, all who swim for COOL around their fall and spring sport schedules. Kristin is ASCA Level 2 certified.
After a career in graphic design and marketing, Coach Mueller chose to become a high school teacher and coach. This fall, he will be entering his 19th year of teaching Art and 22nd year of coach the varsity swim teams at Bishop Miege High School. Coach Mueller has been involved in USA Swimming for a total of 15 years as both an assistant head coach and a head coach with area swim clubs. As the head coach for Bishop Miege hisboys' team won the state title in 2014 and was runner-up in 2018. Hisgirls' were state champs in 2017 and runners-up in 2016. His teams have been in the top 5 at State for the last 5 years. Coach Mueller has helped over 30 swimmers obtain Speedo All-American status and helped over 50 swimmers receive scholarships for colleges ranging from NAIA to Division 1. In 2014 he was the Kansas High School Swim Coach of the Year. His swimmers hold multiple state records individually and in relays for Kansas.
Coach Mueller’s philosophy is to encourage swimmers to achieve their best through positive reinforcement no matter what their swim level may be. Technique training has been a major key to successfully developing swimmers. The success he has achieved is because swimmers know that he cares about them in and out of the pool.
Laura began her swimming career at the age of six months at a YWCA in Upstate New York. From a military family, Laura swam in pools around the world, most notability in South Korea and Hawaii. Her specialty was distance freestyle and any event that people complained about being "too hard" (like the 400 IM). In college, she swam with the Emporia Aquatics Club until she needed to focus on her studies (BSE in Elementary Education, Middle School English and English Language Learners, 2002). Currently, Laura holds a Level 2 ASCA certification, with continuing education credits in sports pyschology.
An
educator, she loves combining education and swimming. She began as
a volunteer coach in South Carolina and eventually worked as a deck
coach in Bonner Springs and was head coach
at the Olathe Family Y (2008). In 2014, she joined the Kansas
City Blazers as a deck coach before joining COOL in 2017. She has
coached two summer league teams, including COOL's own Marlins, and
taught swim lessons at the J.
Laura is also our Private Lesson Coordinator and the Safe
Sport Coordinator for our team. She lives in Overland Park
with her husband, four children and two
dogs.
After a 30+ year career in the Hotel/ Hospitality/Casino world, while working for the “Titans” of the Industry (Marriot, Hyatt & Hilton) in event planning & casino management, I enhanced my swimming education, practice and coaching through part time employment as a Supervisor, Instructor and/or Manager, employed by the KC Parks & Recreation Dept & the Greater KC Red Cross, and as a Pool Supervisor as well as at Milburn Country Club as Manager, and as a Head Coach or Assistant Coach for The Jewish Community Center, Lifetime Fitness, The Boys Club and the KC School District. I have been involved in USA sanctioned Swimming/Coaching for 4 years now. I am currently a Level 2 American Swimming & Coaching Association (ASCA) Coaching member. Also, a National Federation of High School Coaches member as the former Head Coach of Central Academy of Excellence in 2019. I have been an attendee of one (1) USA Swimming Regional, in 2018, Wichita, Ks. I’m an American Red Cross Certified Instructor in the following areas: Aqua Fitness, Lifeguard Instructor & Water Safety Instructor. As the Head Coach of the LifeTime Fitness, I coached, trained and qualified several swimmers, for USA Swimming sanctioned “Districts” & “Championship” events in Wichita, in 2017. I am currently the Head Coach of the Olathe Community Center Team. My family & I are members of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers and I am also an Assistant Instructor of Scuba Diving since 2007 and a diver since 1992. I am the father of three (3) grown & successful daughters with 2 grandchildren who are a part of my Aquatic inner-circle who travel & dive together with me throughout the Caribbean since 1992.
Dave started his coaching career in 1983 as the assistant head coach for the Renton High School Men’s and Women’s Swim Teams, located in Renton, Washington. After 3 years as assistant coach, in 1986 he replaced the retiring head coach and continued on as head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach until 1996. During the late 80’s through 1996 Dave was also the precompetitive head and assistant age group coach with the Greater Renton Swim Club which later became ORCA Aquatics. Dave currently is a board member of the Olathe Cyclones Summer Swim Club. He has been involved in aquatics in one form or another since 1975.
Dave and his lovely wife Jennifer moved to Shawnee, Kansas from the Seattle area in 1996, they currently reside in Olathe. He has two outstanding sons Jacob and Daniel. Jacob is a former Cool swimmer and Olathe Northwest Swim Team Captain; he currently attends William Jewell College on a Division-II swimming scholarship. Daniel currently is a member of COOL and of the Olathe Northwest High School Swim Team.
Dave currently is a faculty member at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Ashton has been swimming since the age of
8, first for the Olathe Lightning and then for COOL. She was a
varsity swimmer all four years at Olathe South High School,
and was also a varsity cross country runner.
She really enjoys working with young swimmers and coaching for
COOL! In addition to her responsibilities for our team,
she is a supervisor at Blue Valley Recreation, where
she works as a certified lifeguard and swim
instructor.
Sydnie is excited to be a part of the coaching staff for COOL. She grew up in the Kansas City area and most of her family is from here in KC. She has been around the sport of swimming since a very young age. Sydnie has enjoyed participating in swimming as well as teaching it. She enjoys not only the competitive side of swimming and meets,but also the fun and life-long qualities of recreational swimming. She also enjoys equipping kids to swim so they are not afraid of the water.
Sydnie graduated from Olathe South High School where she swam for the Falcons all four years. Curently she is a student at Johnson County Community College where she is pursuing an Associates of Arts degree with an emphasis in paralegal studies. Sydnie also currently works at a law firm as docket support.
Lauren was introduced to swimming through summer league at the age of 8, and fell in love with the sport. She decided to start swimming year round and joined the Team Dolphins in Kansas. She continued swimming as her primary sport throughout middle school, on the Wheaton Swim Club, competing in Illinois regional and state meets. In high school, she was a 4-year varsity swimmer at Blue Valley Northwest, competing and medaling at EKL and KSHSAA every year. She received the award of 2nd Team All-State her senior year.
Lauren swam on COOL Swim Team under Coach Rob year round during her high school years. She is extremely excited to come back to the COOL family, working with both the swimmers and coaches!
In addition to the sport of swimming, she has had an extensive aquatic work history, working as both a lifeguard and swim instructor for over 6 years. Most recently, she was an Assistant Coach for the Nottingham Forest South Neptunes summer swim team for 3 years.
Lauren is a recent KU graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, and a concentration in Business Analytics.
Janis is very excited to
be a part of the COOL coaching staff!
She loves swimming and it has been a part of her life as long
as she can remember. She started with swim lessons and then swam
competitvely in elementary school for her local summer league team.
She continued her love for water by becoming a lifeguard,
Lifeguard Instructor Trainer, and swim instructor. She took a
break from teaching after college, but after a 10 year career in TV
News and 3 years as a fashion buyer, she moved to Kansas City and
returned to her first love, the water.
Janis became a Water Safety Instructor Trainer and starting
coaching her gym's Pre-Compete team and also assisting the
head coach in the competitive program. Since then, she has worked
as an assistant coach at Blue Valley West and become a
certified stroke and turn judge, before joining COOL in
2017.
She loves working with young swimmers and seeing them learn and
grow as they become better swimmers and teammates. She
believes she will never stop learning to be a better
coach.
Madison is a senior at KU this year, studying Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology. Her goal is to go to Medical School and one day serve the community as a physician.
Madison has coached for the Olathe Cyclones for 3 years and is looking forward to her second season as an assistant coach for the women's team at Olathe East.
She is beyond excited for the opportunity to coach for our team, and looks forward to being a part of the COOL community!
Dylan started swimming competively
when he was 11. He swam all four years at Olathe East
High School, mainly swimming the freestyle events. He was a two
time top 8 state finalist in the 100 and 200 freestyle, claiming
2nd place in both his senior year. He currently holds records for
the 100 free and the 200 freestyle relay at Olathe East.
Dylan went on to swim all four years at William Jewell College for
their swim team. He made finals every year in their conference meet
and competed in the NCAA Division 2 National Championships in 2017
and 2018, assisting his team in making finals in the 800 freestyle
relay in 2018. In 2019, he was named an Honorable Mention
All-American Swimmer and awarded CSCAA (College Swimming Coach's
Association of America) 1st Team Honor. He graduated in May of 2019
with a degree in Business, and an emphasis in
Mathematics.
Dylan fell in love with the sport of swimming, and knew one day he
wanted to coach and train kids in something he enjoys. He
has coached every summer of his college career with Nottingham
by the Green's Gators team, and has taught swim lessons since he
was 17.
Currently he works in the construction industry as an
estimator.
Gavin Hagar started coaching in 2015 with the Parkway Swim Club in St. Louis, MO. He started swimming competitively at the age of five in Omaha, Neb., and he achieved AAA and sectional times throughout his career as a 14 and under.
Hagar attended Creighton Prep High School in Omaha, Neb. where he was part of the State Championship swim team all 4 years. From that, he earned an athletic scholarship to attend Saint Louis University where he swam for coach Jim Halliburton through his senior year. Throughout Hagar's time as a swimmer and a coach, he's achieved countless personal goals and more importantly, made relationships that will last a lifetime.
2021 will be his 23rd year in the sport of swimming, including six years at the club level and three years assisting at the college level. As a coach, Hagar prioritizes the detail of stroke-technique and his relationships with the swimmers by maintaining an open and honest dialogue. Hagar's mission is to better his swimmers by preparing them to succeed both in and out of the pool.








