Our Coaches

Squad Coaches     

Tracy Johnston (Head Coach)

- National Squad, Performance Squad, Hentschel Squad, Dryland -

Tracy was herself a swimmer before becoming a coach, and has since racked up 13 years of coaching experience ranging from coaching of junior and age swimmers, right through to masters swimmers. Whist working with Ringwood Swimming Club, Tracy also holds a Head Coach job at a private school and manages their swimming/diving team and school swimming curriculum. She also holds a degree in Business and Sports Management, Human biology and has coached and swum at Masters level. Tracy holds a Bronze coaching license with views to complete her Silver qualifcation in the future.

Tyrone

- Target Squad, Development Squad -

Bio coming soon

Phil Darbyshire

- Splash Squad, Ryan Squad -

Phil has been involved in the sport of swimming for 15 years.  Through learn to swim, swimming at state level and now coaching. Phil has been coaching for 8 seasons now and in his time has coached swimmers to State and National Level. Phil has also been one of the assistant coaches for the Junior Development squad 2004 and was on the Australian Teachers & Coaches Swimming Association Board in 2004 and 2005. Phil holds a Bronze coaching license.

Here at Ringwood Swimming Club Phil was the Boys Captain from 2000 - 2004 and was ranked 10th in Victoria for the 1500m Freestyle (2 years in a row).  Phil has also attended the annual District trips to Canberra as a swimmer and also as a coach. Outside of swimming, Phil has a degree in Sociology and Human Resource Management. Phil has recently completed his Bachelor of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) through Deakin University and is teaching grades 5/6 at a local primary school.

Sophie FitzGerald

- Splash Squad, Ryan Squad -

Sophie, who joined the coaching staff at Ringwood in 2007, is a former State swimmer with Monbulk Aquatic Club and a National Accrecited Green Licence Coach. Sophie has 8 years experience as a competitive swimmer, and over the past 3 years has coached swimmers ranging from young beginners up to seniors striving for state times.  

Outside of swimming, Sophie is undertaking a Bachelor of Media and Communication at Deakin University, and has recently completed her Austswim certificate.

Emily Fitzgerald

- Fry Squad, Novice Squad -

Emily has recently joined the coaching staff at Ringwood Swimming Club. She has been involved in swimming as a sport for 8 years. Emily has competed at a state level with Monbulk Aquatic Club and was the club’s Vice Captain for the 2007/2008 season. She was deeply involved in the organization and running of events at her previous club such as Olympic Challenge Night, Club Championships and social events.

Outside of swimming Emily is currently completing year 12 at Wheelers Hill Secondary College and has recently undertaken her Austswim qualification.

Amy Kreuzer

- Pre-Squad -

Amy has been involved in swimming since a young age and is currently competing at state level and aiming for nationals. Amy has used the many years of swimming knowledge she has acquired to complete her Austswim course and become a swim teacher and coach. She coaches Level 5 (pre-squad) with Meg at Croydon Leisure and Aquatic Centre. Outside of swimming and teaching, Amy is studying at university.

Meg Lane

- Hentschel Squad, Pre-Squad, Learn to Swim Program -

Meg has been involved in swimming for around 12 years now.  She started in the learn to swim program and gone through to a state level and now coaching.  She was the Club Captain here at Ringwood for the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 seasons and has competed in two state relay finals. Meg holds an Austswim qualification.

Marianne Fry

- Learn to Swim Program -

Marianne has over 30 years experience as a swim teacher and currently runs our Learn to Swim program at Croydon Special Development School. Marianne is also a life member of Ringwood Swimming Club and holds an Austswim teaching qualification.

Mark Hayes

- BOP program (SWD Swimmers) -

Mark is a green licence coach who has accumulated 10 years of experience in swimming through competing at state level, teaching, and coaching. He competed for Nunawading Swimming Club for 7 years where he specialised in butterfly and backstroke. Over the past 2 seasons Mark has been excited about his pivotal role in developing the technique and skills of Ringwood Swimming Club's most junior swimmers, and this season Mark has taken on the coaching of a number of Performance Squad sessions.  

Outside of swimming Mark is completing a Bachelor Science/Arts double degree at the University of Melbourne, where he hopes to complete a quadruple major in Chemistry, Medical Microbiology, German, and Classics and Archaeology (Latin and Ancient Greek languages). He hopes to study medicine to become a paediatric surgeon, or to pursue a career in medical drug design. When not buried in books Mark likes to strap on his 5-string bass and jam with his mates. 

Katherine Fitzgerald 

- Fill in coach -

Katherine is a green licence coach who has over 10 years background in competitive swimming. She competed for the Monbulk Aquatic Club where she was the Club Captain for 3 years before joining the Ringwood Swimming Club as both a competitive swimmer and coach in 2005.  During her time involved in swimming, Katherine has been a national level swimmer, ranked in the top 50 Australians for the 50m breaststroke. She was selectad as a Swimming Victoria Scholarship coach with the Target 2006 development squad in 2005/06 and has, for the past  5 seasons has coached a range of swimmers from beginners through to state level at Ringwood Swimming Club.

In addition to her swimming and coaching, Katherine has completed a Bachelor of Science, with a double major in anatomy and physiology, as well as a Bachelor of Nursing Science through Melbourne University She is now working as a Division 1 nurse at a local hospital, while undertaking her Graduate Certificate of Nursing (Critical Care).