Coaches and Directors

Coaches and Directors
Coaching Staff
Ian Carpenter Head Coach

Ian serves as the Head Coach of Gold's Aquatics Club. Leveraging his extensive background in competitive swimming, combined with his coaching experience, it has enabled him to deliver outstanding outcomes for his swimmers at Gold's Aquatics Club.

He began his swimming career at the age of nine with West Coast Aquatics in Mill Creek, Washington, where he swam for six years before transferring to Gold's Aquatic Club. He remained with Gold’s for the remainder of his club swimming days where he continued to excel and further develop his skillset. He also competed for his high school eventually becoming a standout athlete at Lynnwood High School (11’-15’), where he lettered and achieved top placements all four years.

Following high school, Ian enrolled at Southwestern Oregon Community College, where he achieved success as a freshman, qualifying for NJCAA Nationals. Unfortunately suffering from an injury he received before college he chose to no longer continue competing.

Upon his return to Washington in early 2016, Ian attended University of Washington while concurrently coaching for Gold's. He expertly guided swimmers of all ages and abilities, from age-groupers just starting their journey to seniors preparing for college swimming. Ian continues to share his knowledge and passion for swimming by creating lesson programing and working with the pre-competitive and summer swim team.

Ian is excited to share his experiences and a deep love for swimming with every athlete and family at Gold’s Aquatics Club.

Glen Hance Assistant Coach

Coach Glen grew up swimming as a family tradition and has always loved the water. Glen swam competitively as a youth but competed in Track and Field in College. After College he started teaching and coaching and still coaches 15 years later. He has coached 4 summer leagues, 2 YMCA teams, and 2 USA swimming teams over the years. He started competing in USA Masters Swimming, Water Polo, and running Ironmans. Coach Glen still participate in Masters Open Water Swimming competitions and compete in local Triathlons. He is excited to bring his lifelong experience of swimming to the pool.

Erik Wood Assistant Coach
Erik Wood is the newest Gold's Aquatics swim coach from sunny California. He began competing at 6 years old when he was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. Erik started his coaching career at 18 and has led multiple swim programs in his local area. He has over 5 years of experience coaching athletes of all ages and abilities including an American Record holding Paralympic swimmer. He's competed all over California and oversees Australia.
 
Erik achieved MVP during all four years of his high school career (2010-14). He also achieved MVP in his sophomore year at Bakersfield College (2016). He was ranked 4th and 5th in the state of California for the 100 & 200-yard butterfly, and top 10 in the 200-yard IM. After setting a few school records in the 50 fly, 100 fly, and 50 backstroke (one of the previous athletes he coached has taken his 50 fly record), he was awarded a scholarship to swim at the University of the Cumberlands with plans to redshirt his junior year. Unfortunately, a health scare in the family forced Erik back home to Bakersfield, where he began coaching again to pay for school. At age 22 he left coaching to work in Los Angeles in medical marketing and systems analytics. Several years later in early 2022, Erik pursued a coaching position for Team Santa Monica and coached a swimmer to 2 golds, a bronze, and an American Record at the Paralympic National Championships.
 

Erik believes that family, fun, and friendships are the most important things in life. His hobbies include long sword fencing, playing with his pet cat, and long walks through the woods. He is stoked to be bringing over two decades of swim experience to the program!

Board of Directors