Meet the Coaches
Alastair Johnson
PERFORMANCE SQUAD COACH
Alastair was appointed in November 2012 with responsibility for all coaching matters, staff development and mentoring, club development initiatives and leadership. Personal strengths include commitment, technique, athlete development and building club structures and pathways.
Alastair has a wealth of swim coaching and swim teaching experience of over 25 years in England, Scotland, Singapore and New Zealand. His professional highlights so far include National Youth Coach for Scotland, New Zealand Team Staff at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, New Zealand Team staff at the 2007 World Championships and a recipient of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Coaching Scholarship.Alastair has been awarded Gold Accreditation by Swimming New Zealand, making him one of the few coaches in the country to achieve elite status.
TARA WATT
JUNIOR ACADEMY LEAD COACH
I have been a swim teacher since 2008 and I have plenty of experience from pre-schoolers to adults. The easy access to water (sea, lakes, and rivers) in New Zealand emphasises the importance of water safety and learning to swim is a must for all Kiwis. It is particularly rewarding to engage with the young swimmers as they progress from beginner to being safe in the water. I am very proud to be the Junior Academy Lead Coach, and my goal is to help all swimmers achieve their goals and to have fun.
KATLIN DONELLEY
I have been with Swim Rotorua coming for one year as an assistant coach working with Tara and the Junior Academy. I am still attending high school and coach after school three times a week. I really enjoy coaching all swimmers in the Junior Academy and seeing them progress onwards to the Turbo or Metro squads.
SAM HARLIWICH
Swimming is my passion and has been since I was a swimmer competing in my teens. My coaching background comes from working as a swim teacher in Auckland. Having developed my skills there, I decided to become a Primary school teacher and bestow my enthusiasm for teaching and learning in a classroom. I have now been a school teacher for 27 years. Swimming is a life skill that all New Zealanders should be able to do.
A quote from Michael Phelps sums up my feelings about swimming – ‘Swimming is normal for me. I’m relaxed, I’m comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It’s my home’.
TIANA HILL
I have a big passion for swimming! I used to be a competitive swimmer and I raced at several nationals. I love swimming and I really enjoy coaching the juniors. My favourite thing about coaching is seeing the progression of the kids and watching them grow into their favourite events and strokes.
DAVID BOLES
I have recently completed my swim teacher training and help coach the junior programme. I really enjoy helping the juniors make lots of progress. I compete at a national level both in the pool and in open water events.
Bronwen Radford
Bronwen has been a Swim Rotorua coach for many years. She is the lead coach for the Turbo Squad and the Metro Squad. Bronwen is very passionate about swim coaching and enjoys spending time with so many incredible athletes. Her goal is to develop each individual athlete to help them with their personal journey towards success in sport and in life.
Bronwen also coaches our ATM Squad which caters for Adults, Triathlons and Master swimmers.
Claire Baylis
I have been coaching with Swim Rotorua since 2013, and I currently coach the Turbo and Metro Squads on a Tuesday mornings. I enjoy working with the young swimmers who are keen to improve their skills. I have completed the National Certificate in Recreation and Sport (Aquatics) Swim Education, and the Teacher of Competitive Strokes certification.
I am on the Club Scholarship Committee, and I work a lot with the local schools. On behalf of Swim Rotorua, I also manage the Making the Difference Water Safety Programme which provides water safety lessons to schools – particularly low decile schools. I would love to see every student in Rotorua to be water safe by Year 6.