Our Coaches
Michele Cateson: Evening and Saturday Coach
Michele Cateson learned how to swim when she was 5 years old at the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee in the state of Wisconsin. Once she learned the basic swim strokes, her parents had a hard time getting her out of the pool, as that was her favorite place to play. She continued to swim recreationally until 2010, when she became an American Red Cross Lifeguard and soon after a Water Safety Swim Instructor in Mississippi. She quickly realized that teaching the community how to swim and stay safe in, on, and around water was her calling. Using teaching techniques she learned from the A.R.C, USA Swimming Stroke School, and the American Swimming Coaches Association, she was able to adapt swim lesson plans and swim team workouts to almost any age group or ability. Michele holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Natural Health, as well as an AFAA Group Fitness certification, which she uses to enhance her swim workouts through dryland trainings and nutritional meal plans. In late June 2021, Michele and her husband moved to Alaska from Mississippi to start a new life and work in their respective aquatics field. She became the new Assistant Director of Recreational Programs at Alaska Pacific University.
Nell Loftin: Mon-Wed-Fri Morning Coach
Substitute Coach List
Requirements of US Masters coaches are:
- Registration with USMS
- And if coaching at APU:
- Red Cross Safety Training for Swim Coaches or
- Lifeguard Certification
- Plus First Aid and CPR - if those are not part of Coach Safety or Lifeguard Certification
If you are interested in being on our Coaching Substitute List, please contact the SWAM President.
In addition, SWAM also has Coaching Guidelines for all of its coaches.
