Coach Sheila joined the Typhoons coaching staff in 2024, bringing over 15 years experience with swim clubs that include USA swimming, rec league, high school, and Masters programs. She fondly recalls her first coaching position with the Oahu Club in Hawaii-Kai, HI, where she had the honor to be hired by, and observe the coaching skills of, Olympian Rowdy Gaines. While coaching in Hawaii, she also coached the Kailua Masters team and was a frequent award winner in open water racing, triathlons, and biathlons.
During her 14 seasons as assistant coach at Burnsville high school in MN, the team produced 10 All-Americans, over 20 Academic All-Americans, and two State Championships: the girl’s team in 2002 and the boy’s team in 2007. As head coach at California High School in 2010 and 2011, her swimmers achieved All American status in the girls 200 Medley Relay, Team North Coast Section Distinguished Scholastic Awards, and honored 9 Academic All-Americans. Coach Sheila took over as Head Coach of the San Ramon Aquacats team in San Ramon, CA in 2011, where she led her team of over 200 swimmers, ages 4-18, to two consecutive Most Improved Team awards and a Division B 1st place finish.
Coach Sheila has been swimming competitively since she was 10 years old. She is a 4-time All-Conference high school award recipient, team captain, and proudly recalls her achievement as the first swimmer in her school’s history to qualify for the State Meet (50 free), making finals and finishing 10th. She also recalls holding every school record until her sister came along and broke all but one! Who is her sister? Our own Coach Kelli! Coach Sheila is a former triathlete, qualifying for USA Triathlon Nationals in 1999. She still trains and competes in United States Masters Swimming where she has achieved 22 Top 10 finishes and 5 Relay All-American honors.
Coach Sheila feels swimming is a lifelong activity and hopes to instill in the team’s swimmers all of the positive benefits of participating in this amazing sport: comradery, building a strong work ethic, appreciating the rewards of hard work, making lifelong friendships, and most importantly, having fun while building these wonderful skills.
