Coach Callaghan Returns - Division 1 Excellence Meets Trident!

We couldn't be more thrilled to have Coach Callaghan back for another outstanding year at Trident! A Staten Island native who swam at Monsignor Farrell High School and Richmond Aquatics Club, James brings an incredible blend of competitive experience and elite-level coaching expertise that's simply unmatched.

After an impressive collegiate career at Ursinus College as an IMer, distance freestyler, and butterflyer (Health Exercise Physiology major with a Coaching and Education minor), Coach Callaghan dove straight into the coaching world. He cut his teeth as Assistant Swim Coach and Aquatic Coordinator at Susquehanna University before making the leap to Division 1 coaching as Assistant Coach at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights.

Now coaching at Division 1 LIU College in the NCAA, James brings that high-performance mindset directly to our pool deck! With 4.5 years of college coaching experience under his belt, he's guided national and international qualifiers - talk about knowing what it takes to reach the top level!

As one of our J3 coaches, working alongside Coach Nate from time to time, and lending his expertise to J2 and J1 groups, Coach Callaghan's return means our swimmers get to train under someone who works with elite college athletes every day. His ability to scale that Division 1 knowledge down to developing swimmers is pure gold for our program!

Coach Nate - Year Two at Trident!

Coach Nate returns for his second year with Trident, bringing several years of West Coast coaching experience to our team. During his coaching career, he's been part of programs where athletes have achieved LSC championships, Sectionals, Zones, and Junior National cut times. He has attended various travel meets including ISCA, Lancaster TYR Holiday Cup, and other regional competitions, gaining exposure to different competitive environments.

Nate focuses on providing a safe, fun, and positively challenging environment on deck for every athlete. His coaching philosophy centers on building a supportive culture that benefits each swimmer individually, believing that creating the right atmosphere is key to helping athletes reach their potential. His experience with travel meet logistics and competition settings adds to his understanding of the competitive swimming landscape.

Leading our Novice group at Wagner and serving as one of our J3 coaches working alongside Coach James, Nate brings his West Coast experience to our program. His commitment to serving the swimming community and focus on creating a beneficial culture for all athletes continues with the Trident coaching staff.

Meet Coach Connor - Eight Years of Excellence and Counting!

Coach Connor returns for his eighth incredible year at Trident Aquatic Club, bringing over two decades of swimming experience and an impressive track record that speaks for itself! A true Staten Island swimming legend, Connor swam for both Saint Peter's Boys High School and Richmond Aquatics Club before continuing his competitive career at SUNY Oneonta, where he graduated with a degree in Adolescent Education and History. Having been in the water almost his entire life, Connor's deep understanding of the sport comes from years of dedication and passion.

Connor's coaching resume reads like a who's who of competitive swimming success - his swimmers have competed at Silvers, Junior Olympics, Zones, Sectionals, Senior Mets, and Futures! His expertise was recognized at the highest level when he was selected as the Metropolitan Swimming coach at the 2023 Northeastern Zones - a testament to his exceptional coaching abilities.

As the lead coach of our J2 group with Coach Sarah, Connor combines his extensive competitive background with years of proven coaching success. But his impact goes beyond the pool - he's spearheaded our Swim Across America fundraising efforts, raising over $50,000 for cancer research in the tristate area, showing his commitment to making a difference both in and out of the water.

With over two decades in the sport and eight years of developing champions at Trident, Coach Connor continues to be the driving force behind our swimmers' success at every level!

Welcome Back Coach Sarah - A Seasoned Pro Returns!

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome back Coach Sarah for her fifth year with Trident Aquatic Club! After taking last season off to welcome a beautiful addition to her family, Sarah returns with renewed energy and that incredible expertise we've all missed.

Originally from Long Island, NY, Sarah launched her coaching career at Long Island Aquatic Club before finding her perfect home with us at Trident. As a former competitive swimmer at SUNY Oneonta who graduated with a degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education, she brings both athletic insight and educational excellence to everything she does.

Sarah's impact extends far beyond our pool deck - she's also a dedicated special education teacher and coaches the IS34 swim team, showcasing her incredible commitment to developing young athletes across multiple platforms. Her ability to work with swimmers of all abilities and learning styles makes her an invaluable asset to our coaching staff.

Now back co-leading our J2 group with Coach Connor, Sarah's return couldn't come at a better time! Her unique combination of competitive swimming background, educational expertise, and natural coaching instincts creates an environment where swimmers not only improve their technique but develop confidence and a lifelong love for the sport.

We've missed Sarah's positive energy, technical knowledge, and genuine care for each swimmer's individual journey. Welcome back, Coach Sarah - let's make this season amazing!

Coach Moe- Proven Champion and Results-Driven Leader!

Coach Moe brings championship experience and proven results to his third year at Trident! A former Baruch College standout, he won back-to-back CUNY Championships and served as captain during Baruch's first undefeated season in team history - talk about making your mark!

As our J1 Gold lead coach, Moe has established himself as a true difference-maker. Under his expert guidance, multiple swimmers have qualified for major meets including Metro Championships, Junior Mets, ISCA, and other prestigious competitions. When swimmers train with Coach Mohammed, they don't just improve - they achieve breakthrough performances that open doors to the next level.

What sets Moe apart is his incredible ability to develop both technique and the mental toughness needed for competitive success. His swimmers consistently make huge progress under his supervision, and it's no accident - Moe knows exactly what it takes to transform potential into championship-level performance.

Since joining Trident in January 2022, Moe has built a reputation for excellence that speaks for itself. His dedication to building complete swimmers while passing on his genuine love for the sport continues to produce the kind of results every athlete dreams of achieving!

Welcome Back James - Third Year Strong!

Coach James returns for his third year at Trident, bringing impressive competitive experience and natural leadership to our coaching staff! With seven years of swimming under his belt and currently competing for the College of Staten Island swim team, James understands the sport from an athlete's perspective.

As the former captain of St. Peter's Boys swim team, James knows what it takes to lead - he guided his team to championship victory and city championship placement! His three years of swim instruction experience have honed his ability to break down technique and build stamina in swimmers of all levels.

As co-coach with Coach Moe for J1 Silver at our Wagner location, James brings that championship mentality to practice every day. You'll also spot him lending his expertise to our Masters, Novice, and J2 groups from time to time - his versatility and willingness to help wherever needed makes him a true team player!

James's combination of competitive success, leadership experience, and teaching expertise makes him an invaluable mentor for our swimmers. His dedication to helping athletes reach their potential continues to make a real impact on the Trident family!

Welcome Back Coach Tara - Ready for Another Amazing Year!

Coach Tara returns for her third outstanding year at Trident, bringing over 15 years of swimming expertise and genuine passion for developing young athletes! A Mount Saint Mary College graduate with a degree in Special Education and History, Tara is currently pursuing her master's degree while working as a special education teacher.

As lead coach for our Novice and J1 Silver groups at the JCC, Tara's unique background in special education gives her an incredible ability to connect with swimmers of all learning styles and abilities. Her two years as lead coach for 12 & under with Newburgh Sharks, combined with six years of swim instruction experience across all ages and skill levels, has shaped her into a truly exceptional coach.

What sets Tara apart is her unwavering belief in building strong relationships with every athlete. She takes the time to understand each swimmer's unique needs and goals, creating personalized approaches that help them succeed both in and out of the pool. Her special education background brings invaluable patience, creativity, and individualized attention that makes every swimmer feel valued and supported.

Tara's dedication to tailoring training programs for each athlete's success continues to make her an integral part of the Trident coaching family!

Welcome Back Coach Emily - Entering Year Three at Trident!

Coach Emily is back for her third amazing year at Trident Aquatic Club, bringing four years of competitive coaching experience to our pool deck! After starting as an assistant coach and advancing to novice coach on her previous team, Emily found her perfect home with us at Trident.

As the Lead Coach for our Guppies and Pre-Competitive (developmental) groups, Emily is literally shaping the foundation of our swimmers' futures! She also teams up with Coach Tara to guide our Novice and J1 groups, making her impact felt across multiple levels of our program.

Emily's coaching philosophy centers on building rock-solid fundamentals - she believes that mastering proper technique and stroke mechanics early creates confident, successful swimmers for life. Her expertise in developing young talent shows in every practice, whether she's introducing a Guppy to their first lap or helping pre-competitive swimmers perfect race-ready skills.

Emily has an incredible gift for meeting each swimmer exactly where they are and guiding them to the next level. Her enthusiasm for watching swimmers progress from tentative beginners to confident competitors is infectious, and her dedication to safety and skill development makes her an essential part of the Trident coaching family!

Welcome Back Coach Katarina - Year Two at Trident!

Coach Katarina returns for her second exciting year at Trident! With over a decade of competitive swimming experience and currently competing at CSI while pursuing her education degree, she brings the perfect blend of athlete insight and teaching passion to our team.

As coach for both our Guppies Intermediate group (ages 5-9) and Senior 1 swimmers (12+ intermediate level), Katarina showcases incredible range! Whether she's working with energetic young swimmers or guiding older athletes through advanced techniques, she has a natural gift for breaking down complex concepts into achievable, fun goals.

With five years of instruction experience and her ongoing competitive career, Katarina brings real-time insight into what actually works in the water. Her genuine connection with swimmers of all ages creates an environment where athletes don't just improve technically - they genuinely love being at practice! We're thrilled to have her back for another fantastic year of swimming growth.

Meet Coach Kaitlyn - From Swimmer to Coach!

A true Staten Island swimming standout, Kaitlyn is a Staten Island Tech High School graduate who swam for Trident for ten years specializing in distance freestyle and butterfly before continuing at Loyola University Maryland.

With a Bachelor's in Biopsychology and currently pursuing her Master's in Occupational Therapy at SUNY Downstate, she brings both scientific knowledge and passion to the pool. After four years coaching at Great Kills Swim Club, she's back home at Trident!

As our Assistant Coach for the Novice Group at Wagner and one of our Master Coaches, Kaitlyn loves working with swimmers of all ages. You'll often see her enthusiastic presence coaching various groups throughout the team - her energy and expertise know no bounds! From first-time swimmers to seasoned athletes, Kaitlyn's journey from Trident swimmer to Trident coach makes her the perfect mentor for our next generation of swimmers.

Coach Elise - Second Year with Trident!

Coach Elise returns for her second year with Trident! A 10-year competitive swimmer from upstate New York, she's currently a senior at Wagner College where she competes on the Division 1 swimming and diving team and will be graduating this year.

As an experienced swim instructor who has worked with all age groups and swimmers with special needs, Elise brings both competitive insight and teaching expertise to our program. Her love for the water since childhood and hands-on experience with diverse swimmers makes her a valuable addition to the Trident coaching family.

Coach Carter - Year Two with Trident

Carter returns for his second year with our team as a competitive diver for the Wagner Swimming and Diving Team with 13 years of diving experience. He has been coaching diving for 6 years working with ages 3-18, including helping younger kids learn floating, become comfortable in the pool, and master basic strokes.

As an assistant coach for our Novice group at Wagner, Carter continues to create an enjoyable and productive atmosphere where kids can learn the basics while having fun. His experience working with young swimmers and focus on building comfort in the water makes him a helpful addition to our coaching team.