Coaches and Directors
Coach Ken serves as Head Coach and Senior Coach. He has been coaching swimming and water polo since the age of 17. Ken swam competitively in Southern California and for his mentor, Ro Davis, who gave him the opportunity to work with a new group of developmental swimmers forty-two years ago while a prep swimmer with Fairfield High School and Solano Aquatic Club. Except for a two-year hiatus he has been coaching ever since. Ken is also a Special Education teacher (29 years) for Salinas Union High School District. In the last forty years he has coached swimming and water polo at Fairfield High School, Solano Aquatic Club, Peninsula Family YMCA and Chula Vista High School, San Diego, Reno Aquatic Club, Bishop Manogue High School, Washoe County School District, League Champions Seaside High School (20 years) and the Dolphins (24 years). Coach Ken’s swimmers have won high school league championships, Junior Olympic and Far Western Championships, and finished top eight at numerous, CCS, Sectionals and Futures Championships. He has also developed numerous High School All America swimmers, nationally ranked age group swimmers, and Junior National and Senior National Qualifiers. Ken has served many years as Head Coach for the Pacific Leadership Camp, Assistant Coach for Pacific ALL Star Team, and Assistant Coach for Pacific Swimming Distance Camp at Colorado Springs. Ken is married and lives in Seaside, his children Molly and James are also coaches for Seaside Aquatic Club.
Santiago Maciel grew up in the bay area and swam locally since he was 8 years old. He swam competitively for 10 years on the local Gilroy Gators Swim Team, swam in high school all four years qualifying for CCS every year and retiring with Club and High School Records, some of which still stand today. Later he swam for 2 years while atending Cabrillo College. He found his way back to swimming through coaching which he has been doing for the past 9 years. Santiago has further shared his passion for swimming with others as a guest coach at many Swim Camps and All Star meets held by Pacific and USA Swimming. He follows ASCA/USA Swimming recommended Developmental Progressions for Age Group Swimmers and believes in developing a strong foundation with healthy life habits in and out of the pool.
Travis is very excited to be the new coach for the Dolphins-Hartnell group this year. He just moved to Salinas from Huntington Beach to pursue a career as a school counselor and wanted to continue his coaching career as well. His competitive swimming career began when Ihe was in 3rd grade and lasted until he graduated from Chapman University in 2016. He has coached high school and club swimming for the last 3 years in southern California. He is looking forward to helping the Dolphins become the best swimmers they can be. His coaching philosophy is simple, he believe's every athlete can succeed and it is the coaches’ job to help every swimmer achieve their own goals as well as develop their passion for the sport. He hopes to get to know every swimmer as an individual and have as much fun as they can.
I was born in Southern California. I grew up in the pool but didn’t do competitive swimming until I moved to Chowchilla, CA at the age of 10. That is when I joined my first swim team and I when fell I love with the sport. After moving to Soledad, CA I then started swimming with the Soledad Aztecs under Jess Hogg. After graduating High school in 2013 I had the opportunity to become an assistant coach under my mentor Jess Hogg. That same year I started workinf for the Soledad Mission Recreation District where I taught swim lessons and I became head coach of the Soledad Sharks until 2016. Now I’m returning to my position as head coach. My favorite part of coaching is seeing my swimmers grow and accomplish their goals in the water. And seeing all of them fall in love with the sport just as I did as a kid.
Julius was born and raised in the Philippines and started swimming at the age of 9 amd swam in college in one of the American Universities in the Philippines- Silliman University. He was a breaststroker during his swimming days and earned a Sports scholarship from Elementary School until he graduated college from the University. He started coaching and teaching at the age of 17 when he was a college freshmen and coached throughout his college years. He taught all age groups from toddlers to adults and working with childdren with disabilities, including autism. He coached in Shanghai, China at the British International School, Concordia International School together with Shanghai American International Schools.he is curretnly a Special Education teacher at Alisal Union School district.
Katie is originally from Southern California and has spent the last decade in the Monterey Bay area. She started competitive swimming at the age of four and swam throughout high school and also played water polo all four years. She attended California State University Monterey Bay where she played water polo for the first year. She has taught swim lessons and has coached on her age group swim team and has experience lifeguarding and was a Junior Lifeguard Instructor. More recently Katie has become a certified Group Fitness Instructor and has her Yoga Instructor Certification as well. She has competed in several triathlons and continues to race in open water swimming competitions. She is very excited to give back to the sport that has given her many opportunities and inspire kids to enjoy the sport of swimming and achieve their goals. Some of her other hobbies include hiking, cooking and traveling. She is currently working at California State University Monterey Bay in International Admissions.



