Head Coach Jennifer Gil Smetana swam competitively in Texas from an age grouper through her college years at the University of the Incarnate Word. Jen started teaching swim lessons at the age of 15, helping her local summer swim league team, which allowed her to develop her coaching skills from a young age. Her mother famously said, “she never had swim lessons but has always been a fish”.

Jen has a true love of coaching and teaching and tries to make each individual swimmer feel seen and wanted on the pool deck. This mentality is what she instills in her staff and is what helps make the San Antonio Wave have that family-like feel.

Jen is married to Joshua Smetana, who before they were married use to attend as many swim meets as possible just to spend time with her. After several years of marriage, Joshua still makes an appearance at all the Championships meets. Now they share a young son, JJ, who makes appearances at swim practice and meets. They are all members of Holy Spirit Episcopal church and actively give back to their community.

Favorite Stroke(s): Freestyle and Butterfly

Coaching experience:
*Head Coach- San Antonio Wave 2022- Present
*Assistant Coach- San Antonio Splash Summer League Team 2017-Present
*Assistant Coach- TMI– The Episcopal School of Texas Upper School 2016-Present
*Head Coach- TMI– The Episcopal School of Texas Middle School 2016-2021
*Assistant Coach- San Antonio Wave 2014-2022
*Head Coach- Hunters Creek Summer League Team 2014
*Assistant Coach- Tuloso-Midway Summer League Team 2009-2012

Travel Team Coaching:
*2020 USA Swimming National Diversity Camp Assistant Manager - Olympic Training Center
*2018 STX Select Camp Coach
*2018 STX Zone Team Coach
*2016 Open Water Festival Coach

Personal Swimming Experiences:

*Tuloso-Midway HS Corpus Christi, TX
*Bays Edge Aquatic Team (BEAT)
*University of the Incarnate Word

Personal Swimming accomplishments:
*HS All South Texas Team
*HS All Regional Team
*HS All State Team
*Collegiate Conference Team
*Collegiate Travel Team

Education/ Certifications:
*DEI South Texas Board Member 2021-Present
*University of the Incarnate Word
*Bachelor of Science in Biology
*ASCA Level 1, 2, & 3 Certified
*American Red Cross certified in CPR, First Aid, and Coaches Safety Training

Things I enjoy, when not on the pool deck:
Spending time with my husband of three years, two small dogs, and our adorable son. You can catch us watching sports, especially the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Cowboys! If we are not watching sports, then we outside running, hiking, and playing sports.

Favorite Quote(s):
“No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.” -P.T. Barnum
“I literally had one goal tonight, and that was to have fun, and I did that. I’m not happy with the time or the place, but I’m happy that I had fun, and that’s literally all that mattered.” — Elizabeth Beisel

Goals or things that sum up what it is for you to be a coach:

Real relationships drive real motivation. If you don’t take the time to get to know the swimmers you coach, how can you know the best, most effective ways to teach, lead, and motivate them?

Coach Kelly is in her 8th season with the Wave.  She grew up near Erie, PA, but has called SA home for 10 years with Rick, her husband retiring from the Air Force in 2017.  She began competitive swimming when she was 8 years old with the YMCA. She began teaching swim lessons in her early teens and developed a love for stroke technique through years of attending and working at swim camps. She had exceptional examples in coaches who taught, encouraged, and fueled her desire to coach.  Kelly has coached 10 & under age groups for Chartiers Valley Swim Club in Pittsburgh PA, Eifel Sharks in Germany and Elmendorf Penguins in Alaska. She is very excited to continue focusing on the Developmental program, while assisting Age Group Coaches to train and encourage all young swimmers to enjoy their sport and take it as far as they can. She is also excited to be part of developing a swim lesson program for Wave. 

Favorite Stroke(s): Butterfly and Distance Freestyle

Coaching experience:
*Chartiers Valley Swim Club, Sewickley PA
*Suisun City CA YMCA (swim instructor)
*Eifel Sharks Swim Team,
*Elmendorf Penguins Swim Team
*Great Hearts Middle School/HS Assistant Coach
****HS district Champs Boys/Girls
****HS Girls Regional Champs
****HS State Qualifiers

Personal Swimming Experiences:
*Corry Area High School, PA (4 years)
*Corry Pennsylvania YMCA (10 years)
*Grove City College (4 year letter) 

Personal Swimming accomplishments:
*Presidential Athletic  Conference (PAC) Championship 1991 MVP award
*Top Ten record holder Corry YMCA/ Corry HS
*HS District qualifier, District 10 Championship Team
*District/State YMCA repeat qualifier
*Presidential Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Team 1991:1993, GCC Team Captain

Education:
*Corry Area Jr/Sr High School, Corry PA
*Grove City College, Grove City,  PA - BA Elementary Education 

Things I enjoy, when not on the pool deck:
Time with my Husband Rick m.1993, Daughters: Emily, Lizzy, Natalie, & Holly.  Walking the dogs, traveling, going to estate sales.

Favorite Quote(s):
"One of the keys to success is the discipline to do the things you should even when you don’t feel like it"   - unknown
"Small disciplines repeated with  consistency  every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time."  - John C. Maxwell.
"No man drowns if he perseveres in praying to God and can swim."  - Russian Proverb

Goals or things that sum up what it is for you to be a coach?
I have enjoyed teaching and coaching swimmers for over 30 years.  Watching young swimmers improve technique, competitive skills and gain the confidence to reach their goals over time is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching.  I hope to help swimmers along the way to reach their goals and use this fantastic sport to learn the value of hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, and the fun of being part of something bigger than themselves.

Coach Christina believes great swimming is, the result of a strong coach-athlete relationship.  Hard work and effective coaching are two of my goals every day, regardless of an athlete’s age or stage in the sport.  Coach Christina makes it her mission to make the best impact possible on all athletes; both as a coach, and a mentor for the next wave of swimmers.

Favorite Stroke(s): Butterfly

Coaching experience: 
 *Golden West Swim Club (2017-2019)

Personal Swimming Experiences:
*Mount Carmel High School 4 yrs
*MESA Swim Club
*Piranha Swim Team
*Golden West College swim team 2 yrs

Personal Swimming accomplishments:

*2016 CCCAA Qualifier 
*CIF Qualifier 

Education:

*Communications major at GWC

Things I enjoy, when not on the pool deck: 

*Running, Hiking, Puzzles, Baking, Community Service

Favorite Quote(s): “Good, better, best. Never let it rest.  ‘Til your good is better and your better is best.” -St. Jerome

Favorite Stroke(s): Butterfly

Coaching Experience:
* Harmony Hills Cabana Club– Assistant Coach
* Intern Assistant Coach (2020-2021)
* Volunteer Assistant Coach (2016-2021)

Personal Swimming Experience:
* Lee Highschool (4 years)
* HHCC– Summer League (13 years)
* Streamline Aquatics

Personal Swimming Accomplishments:
Academic All State– 1st Team
Swimmer of the Year– HHCC
Team Captain– 2x

Education:
Rehab Science– Pre-Physical Therapy Major at UIW

Things I enjoy, when not on the pool deck:
An ideal day not on deck includes spending time with my family and friends, a trip to lululemon and a
Chick-fil-A run.

Favorite Quote(s):
“Today’s practice can make the difference between achieving your goal or falling short” (Nathan Adrian).

Coach Kellie better known as 'Coach K' is in her 2nd season with Wave.  She began her swimming career at a local summer swim league as middle schooler, having moved to San Antonio and left her dance shoes behind and picked up a pair of goggles and a swim cap.  She progressed into club swimming and learned more technical aspects of swimming like what short course and what long course was.  From there she moved into high school swimming while doing club swimming along with learning the sport of waterpolo.  Once college happened she focused on her studies in Hospitality Management earning her degree from The University of North Texas.

Favorite Stroke(s): Breaststroke and IM (Individual Medley)

Coaching Experience:
* Private Swim Instructor 2010-Present
* San Antonio Wave 2021-Present

Personal Swimming Experience:
* AAAA 2001-2010
* O'Connor High School Waterpolo 4 years
* O'Connor High School 4 years

One of many Favorite Quotes:
Be the person that not only inspires yourself, but others as well. - unknown