COACHING STAFF
The Phoenix Aquatic Club coaching staff is here to support you. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, and other swimming related needs, please contact your coach. For all questions related to administrative, such as joining, dues, safety, or policy issues, please send us an e-mail at [email protected].
| Don Wagner CEO / Head Coach |
Coach Wagner, is a former University of Nebraska swimmer, and served as an assistant coach at University of Arizona and University Southern California to former USA national team head coach and general manager Mark Schubert.
Coach Wagner later became the head coach at Texas A&M and University of Alabama. Before going to USC, Coach Wagner served as the head coach of Fullerton Aquatics Sports Team (FAST), where he coached 4 time Olympic gold medalist and Olympic Hall of Famer Janet Evans to her world record in the 800-meter freestyle.
He is an ASCA Level 5 coach whose accomplishments include:
- Olympic Coach at Sydney 2000
- 6 time US National Team Coach
- Assistant Coach for the Pan Pacific (1989 & 1991) and Goodwill Games Teams (1990)
- Head Coach for the World University Games (1995)
| Ryan Wagner Senior Coach |
Coach Ryan is a former Phoenix Aquatic Swimmer with multiple records. While swimming in High School Ryan won the State Championship Title in 100-yard backstroke. He attended The Ohio State University and swam for the varsity team. Ryan obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from the Fisher School of Business and minored in real estate. His academic and swimming journey continued at the Redhawks Miami University where Ryan swam for the varsity team and obtained his Master’s in Educational Psychology.
Coach Ryan has coached since the age of 15, starting his coaching career at the Stonybrook Swim Club where he coached for four years various kids from ages 5 to 18. His coaching further continued at the Greater Columbus Swim Team of Ohio where Coach Ryan worked with 10 & Under age group division. Coach Ryan brings his invaluable athletic and coaching experience to the Phoenix Aquatic Club.
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Sam Stankivicz Age Group Head Coach |
Coach Sam was an All-Ohio swimmer in HS before swimming at The Ohio State University, where he specialized in the 100 and 200 Butterfly. His best times include 47.9 in the 100 Fly and 1:48 in the 200 Fly. Academically, Sam earned his B.S. in Data Analytics, was a five-time Dean’s List recipient, and a three-time Scholar-Athlete.
After graduating Sam began his coaching career with the United Swim Association in Columbus, Ohio, where he gained valuable experience with his first USA Swimming team. There, he assisted with the Senior group, contributed to practice planning, collected and analyzed performance data, and provided technical feedback on deck. His swimmers included multiple Division I athletes and a future NCAA qualifier.
Two years later, Sam returned home to coach at Lakeshore Swim Club, first as a Senior level assistant before being promoted to Head Site Coach after two years. Under his leadership, his athletes achieved remarkable success.
Here at Phoenix, Coach Sam will be overseeing the age groups and primarily coaching the Platinum group.
| Emre Aydin Age Group Coach |
Coach Emre has been part of Phoenix and working with different age groups since 2018. Focusing on technique and fundamentals, Emre promotes a fun but challenging workout environment for swimmers to thrive on.
Growing up in Turkey, Emre swam competitively for 10 years. He also swam 3 years as part of a masters team in NYC where he competed locally and nationally.
When not coaching Emre works as a full-time computer programmer for a technology and analytics company. He also swims regularly as part of the Phoenix masters program.
| Matt Hanson Senior 2 Coach |
Coach Matt is an Assistant Coach for the Platinum, Senior, and Senior Elite groups. A former swimmer under Coach Don Wagner, he competed at the Division 1 level for Canisius College in Buffalo NY, specializing in butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle.
With a bachelor's in Fine Arts and a master's in Architecture, Coach Matt balances his career as an architect by day and a swim coach by night. He previously coached at Lifetime Fitness Swim Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Coach Matt emphasizes proper technique and creates a positive, growth-driven environment. Passionate about helping others succeed, he believes that with the right mindset, every athlete can achieve greatness in the pool and beyond.
| Tristan Tirado Age Group Coach |
Coach Tristan is the Lead Coach of the Bronze Group and assistant for Stroke Development, Platinum and Senior groups. Tristan swam all through high school and competed at the Division 3 level for SUNY Oneonta Swim Team.
Before joining PAC in 2024, Coach Tristan obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sports Management and completed an internship with his college swim program. Coach Tristan focuses on working the fundamentals of what it takes to become a great swimmer, teaching proper technique and proper sportsmanship and team values to the young athletes just being introduced to this sport. His goal works on making practices challenging and fun for the groups!
| Lisa Balban Assistant Coach |
Coach Lisa has been with Phoenix since 2022 as an Assistant Coach for the Stroke Development, Bronze, and Silver groups. A former nationally ranked 200 butterflyer, she was named Rockland County Swimmer of the Year her senior year of high school and went on to compete in the Ivy League for Columbia University.
Lisa holds an MBA from NYU Stern and works full-time in marketing. She has 3 children on the team, is a member of the Phoenix masters program, and competed at US Swimming Masters Nationals. She began coaching to share her passion for the sport and to develop young swimmers into successful athletes.
| John Park Assistant Coach |
Coach John is a father of three Phoenix swimmers and is an assistant coach for the Platinum group.
| Alice Wagner Age Group Coach / LTS Director |
Coach Alice has been coaching swimming for over ten years. She swam for Coach Mike Stauffer at the Lakewood Swim Club in Washington State. She was a Varsity letter swimmer at Lake High School. In 1990 she volunteered to work the Good Will Games in Seattle Washington. This is where she met her husband Don Wagner. They have two beautiful children in College. Savannah swam for the University of Nebraska and Ryan is currently swimming for Ohio State University.
Alice has been director of aquatics for several years running swim camps, swim meets, and Learn to swim programs. She managed the University of Alabama and Texas A&M Swim camps where enrollment increased 80% in just two years. She was the director/coach of the Crimson Tide Aquatic Swim Club and managed all operations of the club. Her skills in perfecting running swim meets increase revenue from $15,000.00 to $150,000 annually. Over the last several years she developed a learn to swim program that teaches “swim float swim” water safety swimming strategies. She coaches the stroke development and futures swimmers.
In addition to coaching, she is licensed in General and Special Education, and he holds a Master’s degree in School Building leadership from Mercy College.
| Mary Lange Team Administrator |
| Ken Henry Web Administrator |
Ken is the father of one of Phoenix’s first families to go through our program. His two kids, Parker and Alicia, started swimming with Stonybrook Stingrays over the summers. Shortly after, they both continued their swimming journey with Phoenix. Ken became a key asset for us by handling large administrative tasks and website design. The Henry family has since moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Parker and Alicia have joined the Dynamo Swim Club where both have excelled. Alicia will attend, and swim Division I, for California Berkely. Ken still helps us remotely, assisting with administrative tasks and registration.
