Coaches

Brian Ford ~ Senior Head Coach

Brian has been the Head Coach of the Traralgon Club since 1997 and a Traralgon Swimming Club member for the over 40 years. Brian is a Silver License Coach who was the Victorian Target 2008 Squad coach in 2004 and 2005, the Victorian Country Squad Coach many times from 2006 to the present, and has been a presenter at the ASCTA(V) Conference on numerous occasions. Brian was a member of the Australian Elite Breaststroke Camp team in 2008 and Coach for the Junior Australian team in the Duel in the Pool against Japan in 2009.

A Life Member of the Traralgon Club and Gippsland Swimming, Brian has an extensive personal swimming background having been a National Age swimmer in 1974 and 1975, a State, Country and local swimmer, and has had a long involvement in Masters Swimming over the years. A believer in discipline and strong communication, Brian leads his swimmers and our Club by example.

Brian’s believes that: “The Traralgon Swimming Club offers every swimmer the opportunity to compete at a level, be it Gippsland, Country, State or National. This is achieved by having a structure in place with coaches, programs, strength and conditioning and a positive culture which allows this to occur. Athletes crave discipline, energy and a sense of belonging to a team environment and we at Traralgon always put TEAM first. Maximum encouragement and enthusiasm is directed to the swimmer’s individual achievement, however it is their contribution to the team result which is a true reflection of the club’s success. Together Everyone Achieves More – T.E.A.M. is the benchmark of the Traralgon Club.”

Brian is the recipient of the Herb Jeffery Award for contribution to Country Swimming in 2012 and the Victorian Government Sport and Recreation Community Coach of the Year Award 2012.

Brian is the facility owner/manager of the Ford Swim Centre with his wife, Michelle and they share a life-long commitment to the development of junior swimmers in the area.

Email : tsccoach@traralgonswimming.org.au

Dean Gooch ~ Head Performance Coach

Dean has been a full time coach with the club since January 2012 and has excellent planning, organisational and communication skills and a high degree of technical knowledge.

Dean is a Silver Licence Coach who is in charge of our National program. He works closely with Brian in planning, implementing and delivering a program matching any in the metropolitan area.

“Just because we are a country club does not mean swimmers should have any lesser standards or achievements than our city counterparts. We are proud to have one of the best programs in Country Australia and our history of producing National medal winners for well over nearly two decades is testament to this.”

Dean has attended a number of overseas and Australia-wide high performance camps and clinics and his direct coaching has placed one of Australia’s top Multi-Class swimmers (and Traralgon’s own) Emily Beecroft on the Australian 2016 Paralympic team for Rio.

Cameron Juha ~ Performance Coach

Cameron has been with the club for over 20 years as a swimmer, Club Captain and now Performance Coach.

He has a Bronze Licence and liaises closely with Brian and Dean as mentors to ensure that the next wave of swimmers continue the culture of success both in and out of the pool.

Cameron has a degree in Sports Management, is well organised, disciplined and has a wide knowledge of both in and out of water training requirements. He is a passionate and enthusiastic member of the coaching team.

“The Traralgon Swimming Club has shaped my life in many ways and provided opportunities that other sporting clubs may not be able to do. I want my coaching to reflect the energy and drive to success that is in all of us.”

Cameron is also heavily involved in producing young swimmers from learn-to-swim into the club with his new role, since January 2019, as part owner/manager of the Ford Swim Centre.

David Vercoe – Senior Development Coach

David was a National swimmer in his teens and coached in South Australia before joining the club a number of years ago as the father of two swimming boys. His passion and enthusiasm for the sport is on display when he coaches and he has a real drive to make his athletes better in and out of the water. “My philosophy to swimming is simple – work hard, get fit with good technique and finally, have fun! We all must enjoy what we do.”

Renee Cargill – Junior Development Coach

Renee’s background as the Learn to Swim Coordinator at the Ford Swim Centre places her at the forefront of bringing our new Junior Development swimmers into the Club and eventual competition.
Renee has a passion for improvement, and enthusiasm to burn, so her role as one of our coaches for the junior swimmers is paramount to the future success of the Club. Renee also has three high performing swimmers in the Club so she is fully aware of the journey and excitement her young proteges need to take to have a successful and enduring swimming career.

Molly Cargill – Junior Development Coach

Molly has been in the Club for over 10 years as a high level National competitor. Whilst still competing and training, Molly has turned her swimming passion into coaching the Junior Development swimmers.

As a Club leader, Molly is a well organised, committed and disciplined and we are proud to have another senior swimmer join the coaching team.

Sam Fenton – Strength and Conditioning/Nutrition

Sam is our long standing strength and conditioning coach who has been with us for over 20 years – so the fruit of his labours show in improved physical condition and stamina. Sam not only works with the swimmers on land training and gym work, but on hydration, diet and general physical and mental preparation.