18 & Under World 100s
Gulf Swimming
Level 4
Excellence 200

TWST Coaching Staff

Jarrod Murphy Head Coach
Coach Jarrod is in his 8th year with The Woodlands. Since joining TWST in 2015 his athletes have achieved achieved success at every level.
  • 20+ National top 10 rankings including 3 #1 rankings
  • Multiple TAGS Champions and record holders
  • GULF LSC record holders
  • Numerous TWST record holders and TWST historic top-10 performers
  • Speedo Sectional qualifiers
  • USA Swimming Futures qualifiers
  • USA Swimming Junior National qualifiers.
  • 2019, 2022 Junior World Championship qualifiers
  • Olympic Trial qualifiers
Coach Jarrod has served the Gulf LSC as part of 2 TPC committees and is the current Gulf TAGS committee rep. Selected Head Coach of the 2018 Gulf LSC Select Camp, and has been nominated for ASCA Age Group Coach of The Year twice in 2017 and 2018.
 
Prior to joining TWST Coach Jarrod worked with First Colony Swim Team (FCST) from 2007-2015 where he was a lead senior coach from 2009-2012 developing numerous sectional and NSCA qualifiers and working with numerous US Olympic Trial qualifiers, USA national junior team and USA national team athletes. In 2012, coach Jarrod relocated to Beaumont, TX where he started a satelite program to FCST which was the most longstanding USA swimming entity in Beaumont and the most successful. In 2 years Beaumont saw numerous TAGS qualifiers and finalists, Sectional qualifiers, and Futures qualifiers. High School State Qualfiers and top 8 finalists. While with FCST coach Jarrod was also selected as part of the ASCA Fellows class in 2008, Gulf All-Star Team staff in 2009, and the North American Challenge Cup team Associate Head Coach in 2013.
 
From 2005-2007 Jarrod served as the Head Age Group Coach for Badger Aquatic Club in Madison, Wi. During this time BAC won 2 12 and under State Championships and 13 and over State Championships. Individually, he had athletes with national top 10 rankings and numerous relays with national top 10 rankings.
 
Prior to 2005 Coach Jarrod worked with athletes of all ages in Iowa City with the Iowa City Eels. During his year in Iowa the Eels saw tremndous growth and success taking home Iowa swimming championships at both the 12 and under and 13 and over state meets. The team saw numerous state champions, team records, sectional, and NCSA qualifiers. Coach Jarrod also worked with local middle school and high school teams which saw numerous Iowa state meet qualifiers and finalists.
 
A native Ohioan, coach Jarrod grew up competing for the Dayton Raiders swim club. A Junior National qualifier and HS All-American he went on to compete for the Kenyon College Lords from 1998-2002 where the Lords continued their dominance at the DIII level winning 4 consecutive national titles. He graduated in 2002 with a degree in Psychology and concentration in Neuroscience. Coach Jarrod is married to his wife Anne who is an HR manager at ExxonMobil and has 2 daughters Lila and Ava who both swim with TWST.
Matthew Sanspree Head Age Group Coach
Coach Matt is currently an ASCA level 5:4 certified coach and a member of the International Swim Coach Association who brings over 13 years of experience from several of the best clubs in the country to The Woodlands Swim Team. Coach Matt sits on the Board of Directors for Gulf Swimming and has served as Head Coach for two All-Star teams for Gulf Swimming.
 
Coach Matt Sanspree comes to The Woodlands from Eagle Swimming Association where he served as Head Coach since 2018. He worked with swimmers who achieved US Open, Juniors, Sectionals, Tags, and Age Group Champs cuts. He helped swimmers achieve their goal to swim at all college levels, Division I, II, and III.
 
Before his position at ESA, he was the Head Site Director / High-Performance Coach for Santa Clara Swim Club. As site director, Coach Matt handled the day-to-day operational tasks needed to run a large club effectively. While at SCSC, he coached every level, from learning to swim to Junior National swimmers and Olympic Trial Qualifiers. Coach Matt has helped numerous swimmers who have competed at NCAA Division 1 Championships, Olympic Trials, Nationals, and Junior Nationals and was a Lead Coach to a National Age Group Relay Record. Apprenticing under great coaches helped lead to a nomination for ASCA Age Group Coach of the Year.
 
Prior to Santa Clara, coach Matt served as an age group coach with Dynamo Swim Club for three years, coach Matt was on staff for two Junior National titles as an assistant coach. During his time at Dynamo, he became a part of a Gold Medal Club that eventually put three athletes on the US Olympic Team in 2016. 
 
Coach Matt’s coaching philosophy is simple. He believes that setting a high standard is the best way to help teach student-athletes. He thinks that positive reinforcement about swimming technique and also hard work, dedication, and dealing with success and failures is the best way to help athletes succeed.
 
Coach Matt was born near Gulf Shores, Alabama, and then moved to Carroll County, Georgia. After graduation from Villa Rica High School, he went on play soccer at Atlanta Christian College. In addition to his time on deck, Coach Matt loves to spend time with his two Great Danes (Barkley) (Sully) and three cats (Aubie Bo and Suni), all named after his favorite football team Auburn University. 
Heather Jorris Head Developmental Coach

Heather’s 25+ years working in the fitness and coaching industry and her numerous athletic endeavors have created in her a lifelong passion for fitness and coaching.  

In Pennsylvania, Heather was the Director of Competitive Aquatics for the Tri-Hampton YMCA/USA Swim Team (THY), overseeing the Age Group and Senior Teams.  Prior to this she was Head Coach of the Age Group Team and assisted in founding the Age Group component of THY in 2009.  Heather was also the Head Coach for The Lower Makefield Township Summer League team for 7 years and grew the team to 360 swimmers ages 4-18 of all levels, beginner to Junior National.   Prior to this, she was an assistant specializing in the 8 and Under age groups. 

Heather’s additional age group coaching experience includes coaching a summer league team in Northern Virginia during her high school and college summers, coaching for the Pennsbury Aquatic Club in Fairless Hills, PA and beginning a learn to swim program on the island of Guam.  She has also coached Masters swimmers in Honolulu and at the Newtown Athletic Club, and directed/coached triathlon/cycling/ run training programs for over 15 years.  Prior to living in Pennsylvania, Hawaii was home to Heather for 10 years. In Honolulu, Heather was as a Personal Trainer, Fitness Center Director, Personal Training Director, Triathlon Coach, Marathon Coach, and Group Exercise Director for the largest fitness club in Hawaii.

Heather graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science and was a member of the Varsity swimming team for 2 years and cross country team for 1 year.

In her spare time, Heather raced and traveled extensively as a professional triathlete from 1998-2008 and now competes as a masters triathlete, specializing in the Ironman distance.  Heather has competed in 17 Ironman competitions, to include The Hawaii Ironman World Championship 8 times, where she was an Age Group Champion and 2 time Top 25 female finisher. 

Heather and her husband, Pete have two boys who swim on The Woodlands Swim Team and relocated to The Woodlands from Yardley, Pennsylvania in August 2012.  Heather finds coaching the swimmer of any age or ability a truly rewarding opportunity and is thrilled to be back in the water working with the Nemo, Shark & Dolfin Groups.  She hopes to foster the discipline, fitness, memories, skills and friendships that the sport of swimming can offer.

Jennie Shamburger Coach/Meet Director

Coach Jennie coached at TWST from 2008-2018 and came back on deck with the team in Fall 2021.  This season, she is working with the WHITE 1, WHITE 2 and BLACK 1 groups and in the office as Logistics Director. Jennie has coached all levels from National to beginner with this and previous teams, and also developed a learn-to-swim program. With over 25 years coaching experience here in the Gulf LSC, some of her accomplishments include:

  • Named to the ASCA 2008 Fellows Class
  • Coached eight Gulf Zones Teams; head coach of the 2007 and 2011 Zones Team and team manager in 2008.
  • Coached six Gulf Allstars Teams; head coach of the 2009 Team and team manager in 2011
  • Coached two NACC Gulf Teams; head coach of the 2016 team
  • Won first place in the Doc Counsilman Creative Coaching competition at the ASCA World Clinic in 2007
  • Developed numerous age groupers to Gulf, TAGS and Top 16 Records
  • Two-term Age Group Vice Chair for Gulf Swimming 2010-2014
  • Secretary for Gulf Swimming 2015-present
  • Recipient of Gulf LSC Phillips 66 Outstanding Service Award 2016
  • Named to the USA Swimming Diversity and Inclusion National Committee for 2015-present

Jennie has been involved in this sport for a very long time. She began swimming when she was 10 years old, and started coaching summer league while still a swimmer with her high school and summer league teams in Baton Rouge, LA. She went to Lousiana Tech and majored in pre-med before switching to theater.  She has numerous commercial voice-over credits in The Woodlands/Spring area.  She coached summer league for Shenandoah Sharks for 17 years and helped grow their team from 49 to 300+ swimmers during her tenure as head coach.

Jennie has completed her ASCA Level V testing certifications. She enjoys attending coaching conferences and clinics and bringing what she learns back to her swimmers.  She strives to make practices both challenging and creative. Jennie makes a point to take a real interest in each of her swimmers, celebrating their accomplishments not only in the water but on deck and in school.

When not coaching, Jennie enjoys family time, movies and music. Jennie and her husband live in Shenandoah, where they raised their four children, all of whom were swimmers (summer league, USA, high school and collegiate level).  She is now the biggest cheerleader for her grandchildren!

Ken Grey Coach

Ken started swimming at the age of 5 (in Puerto Rico) and soon realized that swimming was his sport. Ken swam with the likes of Jessie Vasallo and his brothers and soon found his way from Puerto Rico to Southern California and soon became a member of the well know Mission Viejo Nadadores. From swimming to coaching, Ken began as a grad assistant at the University of Kansas and soon became Head coach of the Wichita Y Neptunes. From there, Ken followed his path back to California to become the Head Age Group Coach of the Mission Viejo Nadadores where he served his position well for 9 years. From there, Ken went to Conejo Simi Aquatics in Simi Valley then to The Woodlands from 97-99 as Head Age Group Coach. From here, Ken found his way back to California first as Head age group coach, then Head Coach of the Buenavenura Swim Club. After a 5 year stint in Ventura Ken made his way back to Southern California as Head Age Group coach of the Irvine Novaquatics for 5 years. The time was right to come back to Texas and as a Senior Coach with TWST (2011-2017). Ken’s coaching journey has since taken him to Katy Aquatics for a stint and most recently as Head Coach for the San Antonio Wave Swim Team. I am truly excited to have Ken back on deck with TWST! Coach Ken will be working with our performance groups and leading a challenge group. 

Ken has coached several swimmers to National Rankings, 3 to elite status as National Age Group record holders as well as getting the first 50+ year old swimmer to break 10 minutes in the 1000! Ken has been selected as one of the Age Group Coach of the year recipients in Southern California by ASCA and has served on 9 Zone teams, 4 as age group assistant and 5 as the Head Coach. Ken was also the first Head Coach on record to win the Olympic Festival in Southern California. 

Ken’s passion as a coach is to not only find ways to improve the mechanics of the stroke in the water but to also find ways to be better underwater! The lessons learned as a swimmer should carry well beyond their years in the pool, but throughout their life! Ken continues to stay in touch with his former athletes as well as old team mates from his “younger” years on his FB page. Ken was born in Caripito Venezuela and remains fluent in Spanish. Ken enjoys cooking, fine wines, and an occasional 2-step! 

Katie Pope Strength Coach

I have had a love for sports, fitness and nutrition my entire life. I played volleyball and ran track growing up and continued playing volleyball through college. I took this passion for fitness a step furtherin 2013 when I became a certified personal trainer. I currently hold certifications in Personal Training, Group Fitness, and Pre/Postnatal Fitness  I also have specialty certifications in Youth Fitness & Nutrition, Orthopedic Exercise, Fitness Nutrition and Sports Performance Specialtist.

I lived in Malaysia for 6.5 years where I taught water aeroibics, strength training, HIIT training, and ran a running boot camp. When I moved back I joined a F45 gym and immediately knew it was for me and I am currently a Head Group Training Coach at F45 Woodforest. While I love training adults and sharing my passion for fitness, I have have 2 children and have always wanted to work with youth athletes to help them achieve their goals.  
Nathan Skidmore Coach
Coach Nate comes to us from Omaha, Nebraska where he most recently served as Assistant Head Coach for the Aquatic Club of Elkhorn.  During his time with ACE he worked with every age-group and athlete on the club. 

He has coached Sectional Finalists, Futures Qualifiers, LSC Record Holders, Zone Medalists and National Top-10 athletes.  Former athletes from his time at ACE have matriculated to attend and compete with: TCU, GW, Coast Guard Academy, Missouri State, Drury and Wheaton.

Coach Nate was voted Head Coach of the Midwestern Swimming Zones team from 2016-2018. He has also served on multiple All Star, Zone and Open Water teams.  

Nate is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. His degree is in exercise science with a focus on strength, conditioning and physiology.

In 2018 Nate was voted the Midwestern Age Group Coach of the Year.
Mitch Berta Coach
Coach Mitch joins us from our hometown of The Woodlands. From the very young age of 6 he started his swim journey and in 2008 joined TWST. After his first stint with TWST, Mitch dabbled with soccer for 2 seasons and rejoined TWST after realizing swimming is where his true passion was. In 2012 Mitch started his second stint with TWST, and started summer league as well with The Woodlands Hurricanes. Moving up quickly, in 2013 he made most improved swimmer in the 2013 season for summer league, and made his first senior zones team his very first long course season. In 2014, he moved up to TWST's Gold/National group, and that same season obtained Sectional cuts in the 100 and 200 fly.
 
Throughout his second stint with TWST until 2017, he obtained NCSA cuts and competed at multiple junior national championship meets, as well as Sectionals and senior Zones meets.

Coach Mitch also coached summer league for The Woodlands Hurricanes for 2 seasons before
starting his coaching journey with TWST, and is proud that TWST is the only team he has competed on year-round. He believes that hard work will always pay off, and that having a strong mentality is what keeps good swimmers from being great swimmers.

Coach Mitch is now at Sam Houston State University, pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Business.
In his spare time, he enjoys racing his car at autocross and track days, and enjoys watching NFL football with his favorite team the New England Patriots.
Candice Loebsack Coach
Coach Candice developed her interest, as a swimming competitor, at the age 8, with USS Swimming, in Ohio; and continued to swim through high school in Varsity Swimming, qualifying in the Ohio Districts championship in 100 fly and 100 back.  She continued her competition into College at Denison University.  She graduated from Ashland University with a Bachelor's of Science. Then, she joined the Ohio State Buckeye Masters swim team soon after college competing in the 200 fly and 100 fly.
 
Coach Candice has worked in the field of education for 9 years years both as a Special Education Inclusion Teacher and a First Grade ESL/GT teacher.  She has 15 years of coaching/swim instruction experience.  She is returning to TWST where she previously coached the developmental groups with Coach Heather.  Most recently, Candice worked as a Level 2 instructor at The Swim Labs.  Prior to that Candice worked as a swim school instructor for Aquamobile Swim School and as a Private swim Instructor.  She moved from the Cypress area where she coached age group USA Swimming and was the Swim School Director for Texas Terrapins swim team.  She spent one year as The Stonegate Gators Head Coach.  Candice began her coaching career in NWAL summer league as a Head Coach for the Steeplechase Stallions Swim Team.  Candice is excited to be back at TWST leading the Blue Group.  She plans to help the swimmers grow both as individuals and swimmers, and to help them to develop a lifelong love of the sport.  She hopes that she can help swimmers achieve competitive goals by creating a bridge to link swimmers to other competive groups Black and Green groups.  She believes it is important to install the importance of hard work and determination for the intention of individualized goal achievement.
Janeice Hodges-Thomas Assistant Coach/Wet Shop

Coach Janeice is the team’s Wet Shop Coordinator and is the assistant coach to Coach Mitch for AGF. In her youth, she developed a love of sports by being an athlete herself. She believes sports are an important part in the development of happy, healthy children into happy, healthy adults.

 

Janeice hails from Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri, where she joined the Navy in 2001. She worked as an Aviation Electronics Technician in the calibration lab and became a plank owner by helping to commission the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) before being honorably discharged in 2006.

 

She moved to Texas in 2007 with her awesome daughter and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston-Downtown. Her degree is in Political Science with minors in International Politics, Communication Studies and Public Policy & Administration.

 

She was the Pool Director at the Girl Scout Camp Agnes Arnold for GSSJC, and that is where she discovered her love of teaching children to swim. She has been a swim instructor for over 5 years and a developmental swimming coach for 3. Coach Janeice joined TWST in the Spring of 2019 as a PreTWST instructor and transitioned to an assistant Developmental Coach in the Fall of 2019. In November of 2021, she transitioned to Blue group to continue helping swimmers develop skills to not only compete in the water but in life. In the summer of 2022, she joined Coach Mitch in the AGF group to continue to help children realize their potential.

 
Alexis McCormick Coach
Megan Rubino Assistant Coach

Coach Megan currently works with our Foundations Groups. 

Yoheily Toro Assistant Coach
Christine Rojas Assist Coach

 

Coach Christine joined TWST in the fall of 2017 as a developmental coach. She has been involved in swimming since the age of 9. She grew up swimming with TWST and started coaching shortly after she graduated high school. She has coached with numerous summer league teams for over 15 years.
 
Christine graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2005, and she is a teacher in Conroe I.S.D. She is also the assistant swim coach for Caney Creek High School.
 
Christine and her husband, Joe have 3 kids who swim with TWST. Christine is passionate about coaching swimmers of any age or ability, and she is happy to be back in the water working with the developmental groups.
Monika York Business Manager
Mita Desai President
Rahman Khan Vice President
Jarrod Murphy Head Coach
Staci Stephens Secretary
Jennifer FitzSullivan Treasurer
Eilaf Egap Director At Large
Tully French Driector At Large
Ann Marie Ronsman Director At Large
Kyle Fenter Director At Large