Coaching Staff

Coach George brings a proven record of athlete development, leadership, and competitive excellence to Thunderbird Aquatic Club.

Prior to joining Thunderbird, Coach George coached in Illinois, where he played a key role in developing age‑group swimmers into high‑performing athletes. As a Senior Assistant Coach and Lead Coach for the 13–14 age group, he helped guide swimmers to qualification at the Illinois Age Group Championships, Illinois Senior Championships, and NSCA Junior Nationals from 2016–2018. In recognition of his coaching potential and commitment to athlete growth, Coach George was invited to participate in the prestigious USA Swimming National Select Camp in 2017.

Coach George’s foundation as both an athlete and leader was built at Southern Illinois University, where he competed as a walk‑on before earning a scholarship in his senior season. While swimming, he completed two bachelor’s degrees in Sport Administration and Recreation Management and was selected as team captain during his junior and senior years. His development was shaped under the guidance of elite mentors, including former USA National Open Water and Egyptian Olympic Coach Rick Walker, Olympic Trials qualifier and 1992 U.S. Open finalist Deryl Leubner, and through training alongside four Olympic representatives from around the world. Coach George brings this high‑performance perspective, combined with a passion for long‑term athlete development, to every swimmer he leads.

Naomi Sullivan: Assistant Age-group Coach

Coach Naomi brings a global perspective and a deep passion for athlete development to the pool. She grew up swimming competitively on an international stage, training in both Saudi Arabia and England, where she built a strong technical foundation shaped by diverse coaching styles and competitive environments.

Her coaching experience includes working with age group swimmers in Sasebo, Japan, guiding athletes through every stage of development. This background allows Coach Naomi to connect with swimmers of all abilities and tailor her coaching to support both skill progression and personal growth.

Coach Naomi emphasizes strong technical fundamentals as the foundation for confident, emotionally steady athletes. She focuses on helping swimmers trust their training, race with confidence, and grow beyond just results—building resilience, self‑belief, and a lifelong love for the sport.

Originally from San Luis Obispo, California, Coach Adelynn grew up surrounded by sun, sea, and a lifelong love of swimming. She stayed in SLO for college, attending Cal Poly, where she competed for four years while earning a Bachelor of Science in Food Science. A dedicated swimmer for fifteen years, she specialized in butterfly, IM, and distance freestyle, and now enjoys swimming for fitness, fun, and lifelong performance.

After graduating and completing an internship, she made the move to Anacortes. While working in industry, she quickly realized how much she missed being on deck and giving back to the sport that shaped her. She’s thrilled to return to coaching with TAC, sharing her passion for swimming, technical knowledge, and enthusiasm with athletes of all levels, and to be part of the vibrant swimming community in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Coach “Jelly” brings nearly a decade of competitive swimming experience and a genuine passion for youth development to the TAC coaching staff. He has been swimming with TAC for nine years and spent four years competing on the Anacortes High School swim team.

Beyond competition, Jelly has found a real passion for teaching and mentoring young swimmers through swim lessons over the past few years. He truly enjoys working with kids, helping them build confidence in the water, develop strong fundamentals, and recognize their growth along the way.

Jelly is especially excited to work with the Bronze Development group and looks forward to supporting swimmers as they continue to develop both skill and love for the sport. His energy, relatability, and enthusiasm make him a great role model for the next generation of swimmers.