This is Coach Michael's tenth year at MAX Aquatics. Before joining the MAX Coaching staff in 2009, Coach Michael competed for UC Berkeley's Men's Swim Team and Team USA’s Olympic Development Triathlon Team, giving him a wide variety of training backgrounds.

Coach Michael grew up in Glendora and trained at Industry Hills Aquatics Club, before being recruited to UC Berkeley’s Swim Team (#1 NCAA) as the second fastest distance recruit in the country. (From 2004-2008) At CAL, his senior year he captained the team that went 11-1 to finish second in the Pac-10 and helped recruit the team that later became back-to-back National Champions.

His swim experience consists of many USA Swimming Nationals, a NCAA Championship, and Olympic Trials; Coach Michael brings knowledge in the sport from the highest level. At the highest level of his success he was ranked 55^th in the world for his 1500m Free in 2006.

After 2008 Olympic Trials he retired from the sport of swimming to become a part of Team USA’s Olympic Development team for triathlon. While training, he coached directly under CAL Head Coach Dave Durden as the Grad Assistant Coach during the 2008-2009 season. Competing for tri's brought him back down to Southern California to start coaching with Jan Lopez and MAX.

Metro Committee’s Age Group Coaches Chair 2012 - 2014

Metro Committee's Diversity Chair 2015-2016

Metro Committee's Vice Chair 2015-2016

Southern California Swimming’s Diversity Chair 2014 - 2016

Southern California Swimming's Vice Chair 2015-2017

Southern Caliornia Swimming's Chairman 2017-2020

2014 Assistant Manager for CA/NV vs. Itoman Japan Team

2014 Southern California Swimming's METRO committee's Coach of the Year

2015 Southern California Swimming's METRO committee's Coach of the Year

He is very enthusiastic to bring his knowledge of the sport and continue to grow the MAX Aquatics family!

Coach Michael can always be found body surfing some waves at the beach. 

After more than 25 years in the sports of swimming, I know what it takes to swim at the highest level. I stand by MAX Aquatics because it is committed to developing the next generation of swimmers.
Under the influence of my father who was an open water swimmer, I learned swimming at early age and started swimming competitively at age 5 for Shanghai Sports Club at YMCA Headquarters.  In the 1980s, after capturing titles at the China Junior National Championships, I was recruited to the state team and competed professionally at national and international levels as part of the rising power of Chinese swimming in 90s. After the 1996 Olympic Trials, I retired from competitive swimming, and took a project manager role for Shanghai Administration of Sports in biding the Olympic Game. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunities be part of various high level sports events and projects, and started the first swimming team for the City of Shanghai Pudong. As the Executive Director and head coach, I recruited and trained both coaches and swimmers. While pursuing new career opportunities at financial industry on Wall Street, I taught swimming at local YMCA helping kids with special needs.  Later, I have been volunteering at Southern California Swimming as an official, and started training for US Masters Swimming when my kids followed my steps and became swimmers.

For me, coaching is more about participation and giving back to the local community. Swimming is a mental sport, I aim to develop strong, disciplined swimmers who have a passion for the sport. As an educator, I believe in developing creative training methods that complement each individual swimmer and encourages them to pursue their personal goals. For all of us who love this sports, it is important that we develop the next generation. My swim philosophy is always do your best and have fun!

Professional Experience
Coach                                        MAX Aquatics, Southern California Swimming   2019 - Present
Life Member Award                  USA Swimming 2019
Official                                      USA Swimming 2018 - Present 
President & Head Coach           Shanghai Pudong Swimming School 1997-
Vice Chair                                 Shanghai Pudong Swimming Association 1996-
Sr. Lifeguard Instructor            Shanghai Swimming Association
Registered Swimming Coach    CSA
Referee/Official                         CSA

Education
B.S. in Kinesiology with emphasis in Exercise Science
Summa Cum Laude Shanghai University of Sports

Highlights:
2019 FINA World Masters Championships - Gwangju Korea: 50M Fly 11th; 100M Fly 12th
2018 UANA Pan American Masters Championships - Orlando FL: 100 Fly 13 th ; 200 Fly 11th
2018 Rose Bowl Masters Meet: 200 Fly 1st; 100 Fly 2nd; 50Fly 4th
2017 US Masters Southwest Zone Championships: 100 Fly 2nd; 50 Br 4th
2001, 2000 FINA World Cup Official
1990-1996
    China National Championships Top 10
    National Southern Region Top 3
    China Workers Games Top 3
    National University Games Top 3
1986-1990
    Junior National Championships Top Qualifier
    China National Age Group Titles

My name is Steven Paing. I live in Arcadia, CA. I’ve been swimming since I was 3 years old. I’ve only swam in 2 different teams in the US, Arcadia Riptides Swim Club and MAX aquatics. Now that highschool swimming is done, my desire to nurture a newer generation of swimmers has led me to search for the job of a coach. My goal as a coach is to improve an individual athlete’s technique. Suffering from burnout in the past, I want to prevent future kids from feeling the same way I did.  I’ve had experience with a variety of coaches that taught me different values in the sport and I want to pass on my knowledge to the younger swimmers.