Coaches & Directors

Paul Smith

Co-Head Coach

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Paul has been a lifetime swimming enthusiast.  From participating, to coaching, to studying the sport, it captivates him and is a significant part of his life. 

Paul has a B.A. & M.A. in Clinical Psychology with a Coaching Minor; was a World University Games Gold Medalist and Record Holder in 1981; is a  two time Olympic Swimming Trials Qualifier; was  an NCAA Swimming All-American in 1980 and 1981; has been a two time USMS Master Swimmer of the Year recipient; is a multiple USMS World and National Record Holder;  has been a USMS All Star 5 times; is a 10 time USMS All American; and is the owner of Paul L. Smith & Associates Sales & Consulting. 

He is a very involved coach and enjoys getting to know each team member as a swimmer, and as a person.

Laura Smith

Co-Head Coach

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Laura is an Aries (but swims like a Pisces),likes long walks on the beach at sunset, thrift store shopping, and puppies (which explains Paul).

Born and raised in Arizona, she has been swimming in the Valley for longer than she's willing to admit.  She graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a Comparative Religion major, Coaching minor, and used the minor while working abroad organizing and teaching various sports and athletic events.

Upon her return to the United States, she was a Fitness Director in Vail, Colorado and acquired over 12 national certifications including Personal Training, Weight Room Specialist, Fitness Consultant, and Special Populations.  Laura is a three time USMS National Champion, and holds a few belts in Tae Kwon Do….so best not to make her angry.  She has a true passion for sports and fitness, and is excited to be a part of the Mesa Aquatics Club Masters staff.

Jonathan Shaw

Coaching Staff

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Jon Shaw comes from a long and successful coaching background. He swam for ASU from 2000 to 2004, and has been coaching Master Swimmers and Triathletes from 2004 through 2009. He was the Indiana Age Group 11-12 year old 100 Butterfly State Record Holder with an amazing time of 56.12! Yes, at the tender age of 12!!! But wait!! It gets better!!! He swam the Individual Medleys, Butterfly, and Distance Free events for Arizona State University, and was a Pac-10 Conference Finalist. His biggest accomplishment, however, was achieved outside the pool where he won over his beautiful and talented girlfriend Jen Lister. When not coaching Master swimmers and helping them become the best they can be, Jon teaches Social Studies for 7^th Graders. If asked which group is harder to manage…7^th Graders or Masters….Jon smiles, avoids eye contact, and slowly backs away. Hmmmm.

Jon has earned a huge amount of respect in the training of Triathletes and Open Water Swimmers. His credibility and talent in this field is unsurpassed!  He is a phenomenal instructor, and is available for private and semi-private lessons for those of you who really want to take your swimming to the next level.

Jon is an Aries which means that if he and Laura are on deck coaching together you may want to stay home that day, lock the doors and draw the blinds!

Sheila Arredondo

Coaching Staff

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Sheila began her coaching career assisting her father at the Lakes Beach & Tennis Club in Tempe. Over the past 30 years she has implemented comprehensive learn-to-swim programs and coached swimmers of all ages from novice to elite. She is authorized as a water safety instructor by the American Red Cross and volunteers with this program.

Sheila’s coaching philosophy — Less is More — evolved while working for U.S.A. Swimming at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Her initial responsibilities included the World Championship Tracking and National Developing Elite Athlete Testing programs. She later served as Coordinator of Sport Science Services and was responsible for conducting biomechanical, metabolic, nutritional, physiological, psychological, and technical analyses. She was also the first person to experience the internationally acclaimed flume or swimming treadmill, and conducted numerous specialized training and research studies using the flume.

The years spent studying the science of swimming and art of coaching affirmed that individualization is essential and quality matters most. Consequently, Sheila’s programs emphasize building endurance through technique and skill development as well as kinesthetic awareness, efficiency, specificity, recovery, relaxation, balance, speed, flexibility, variety, and most importantly — FUN.

In addition to being a coach, scientist, and educator, Sheila is also a swimmer. She began swimming competitively at the age of 5 and is a former Arizona age-group state champion and record holder. She earned most valuable honors throughout high school and college. Sheila graduated from Occidental College (NCAA Division III) with records infour individual and four relay events and was selected as a member of the All-America Collegiate Swimming Team in thirteen events over four years.

Sheila joined masters swimming in the early 1990s. In 1994 she won the 50- and 100-yard breaststrokes as well as the 100-yard individual medley at the U.S. Masters Swimming Nationals held at Arizona State University. In 2003 she achieved the honor of “All American Masters Swimmer” by recording the fastest times in the 50- and 100-yard breaststrokes for women ages 35-39. She also swam to three individual and three relay top-ten finishes at the 2006 FINA World Masters Championships held at Stanford University.

Sheila met her husband, Dave Faulkner, at the Olympic Training Center where he was a resident athlete and member of the U.S.A. National Judo Team. Dave continues to enjoy and coach judo at a local club. Married nearly 20 years, the couple has two daughters — Darian and Devyn (yes, they swim and play a little judo too). Sheila earned a BA from Occidental College, a MS in exercise science from the University of Colorado, and a PhD in higher education from the University of Denver. She has worked at Colorado College, Colorado State University, the University of Colorado, the University of Denver, Education Commission of the States, and WestEd.

Laurel Hill

Coaching Staff

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Laurel has been a fish forever and for a long time thought that being an Aquarius was somehow meaningful in relation to being a swimmer. Her dad gave her the love of the sport many years ago as he was also a coach.

Laurel swam for and graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln (yes, where N stands for Nowledge) with a Journalism/Advertising degree. After spending some glorious time in Ventura, CA, coaching USS, working at a law firm, and swimming, she moved to San Jose and earned her MA in Psychology Research from SJSU.

While in the Bay Area, she swam Masters and coached USS and USMS. Laurel has many USMS National Championships from the BK era (Before Kids) and was the 200 Y BR National Record Holder for 30-34. But, alas, all good things come to an end, within about 4 months in that case!

Most recently, Laurel and her family moved from Boise, ID, where she was the Women's Asst at BSU and a mover and a shaker for the Boise West Y adult swim group and Sawtooth Masters.

Laurel, likes to swim IM, BR, and Fly, but that doesn't mean she won't throw down a good Freestyle set to those who show up to the new Super Sunday workouts! She greatly enjoys coaching and teaching the biomechanics of swimming and is very happy to be able to pass along her Nowledge with the Narwhals on Sundays or during a private or group lesson!

Amy Mullaney

Coaching Staff

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Amy is the "Martha Stewart" of the Masters Swimming world, minus the criminal record, of course!  She brings style and panache to the otherwise drab concrete of the pool deck. 

In addition to fourteen years of swimming and competing in Masters and three year High School swim coaching, Amy can bust your chops with her wit.  In her spare time she is an accomplished foodie and likes to share her recipes.  She also teaches cooking, just ask her about "Thyme for Dinner".  Swimming, style and eating, that's our Amy!

Jake Smith

Mascot

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Jake isn’t really a coach... he is more of a mascot.  But a mascot that looks very fetching in a swim suit!  

indigo mouse

Web Mouster

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indigo_mouse is our resident Web Mouster... er... Master...  Not at all your common rodent, the mouse is here to keep things interesting and running smoothly.  Look for the paw print!