Coaches
Meet the 2025 Coaches!
Head Coach - Chase Knudsen
Swimming has been a part of my life for 14 years, and it's honestly one of the best things I have been ever done. I have swam on multiple teams-Lanier High School, the Wahoos, and Gwinnett Swim-and each one taught me something different about the sport. My favorite events to swim are the 100 free, 50 free, and 100 breaststroke. This is my third year as head coach, and I am super excited for the season. I can’t wait to see everyone improve and have an awesome time.
Assistant Head Coach - Allie Gertson
I'm the Assistant coach this year, and I'm so excited for a great season! My favorite stroke is butterfly. I swam with North Gwinnett High School and love swimming here with the Wahoos. Can't wait to keep growing with all of you!
2025 Assistant Coaches
Megan Dickey
I’ve been swimming since the age of 4. I started swimming at the Edinburgh marlins and swam there for many years. My brother and I then went to swim for the Wahoos. This season marks my fifth year coaching. I can’t wait for all the fun we will have this year and to watch us grow as a team!
Azuki Hattori
I am a rising Senior at North Gwinnett High School. I've been part of the team for over 12 years and have been coaching for the past two. I've always loved swimming and working with younger athletes-I even used to teach gymnastics! I really enjoy teaching in general and hope to be a teacher one day. Outside of swimming, I play flute and piccolo in the North Gwinnett Marching Band. I love hanging out with friends, eating good food, and anything pink! My favorite strokes are breaststroke and butterfly. My favorite memory is always the end-of-season party where I get to hand out awards to swimmers and see their reactions-it's such a fun and rewarding moment!
Charlie Klein
I will be a Junior at North Gwinnett High School next year. I have been doing Summer Swim Team since I was in kindergarten at the Edinburg Marlins. I have swam with the Wahoos for 7 years and I have just finished my second year at Gwinnett Swim. My favorite strokes are breaststroke and freestyle. I am very excited to be coaching agian this year!
Gabie Nelson
I am heading into my sophomore year in college at UGA, studying pharmacy. I work part-time at Publix in Sugar Hill when I am home for the summer, if you come through my line say "Hi"! I swam with the RiverMoore Riptide for 3 years, and I have been with the Wahoos for 1. This will be my 2nd with the our team, and unfortunately my last year being able to compete. What I love about this team is how welcoming everyone is and how we really work together as a team. I am excited for my first year being an assistant coach!
Noah Nelson
I will be a Junior at North Gwinnett High School next year. I have been doing summer swim team since I was 6 years old. I swam year round with Gwinnett Swim for three years and am currently swimming with Swim Atlanta. I am also on the high school swim team at North, and was on the County Team this past season. My favorite strokes are breaststroke and freestyle. I play the trombone in the North Gwinnett High School Marching Band. I look forward to football season every year, Go North and Go Georgia Bulldogs! I am excited for my third year coaching with the Wahoos!
2025 Junior Coaches
Jack Chen
I am graduating from NGMS this year and plan to attend GSMST for high school. Swimming has been a part of my life since I was 6 years old. I started swimming in order to be closer to my older brother, Iian, but eventually grew a love for it myself over the years. My favorite stroke is breaststroke while I enjoy swimming all other strokes too. I look forward to involving myself in the Wahoo community as a junior coach for the Wahoos this season. :)
Hunter Freeman
I'm going into the 9th grade at NGHS. I've been swimming with the Wahoos for 7 years now. I've done year-round swimming since 5th grade and I'm currently swimming with Gwinnett Swim. I love swimming because of the community it builds. My favorite strokes are butterfly and freestyle. I'm very excited to work as a Junior Coach for the Wahoos this season!
Chance St. Clair
I’m going into 9th grade at Buford High School after this summer. I have swam with the Wahoos for 6 years and I have also been swimming year round at Gwinnett Swim for almost 3 years. I love to challenge and push myself with difficult events and to push for faster times. My favorite strokes are butterfly and backstroke and I am excited to start my first year of junior coaching with the wahoo team.
2025 Private Lesson Information:
All coaches are willing and able to do private lessons! Every coach will charge $20 for a half-hour, or $30 for a half-hour with multiple kids concurrently. Feel free to reach out to any one of us!
Megan (College student) - (470) 573-4841
Chase (Graduating Senior) - (678) 614-2769
Allie Gertson (High School Senior) - (678) 630-6607
Applications
Applications for 2025 are now closed. Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Volunteer Junior Coach and Independent Swim Instructor. Please see the position descriptions and requirements for each position:
Head Coach
Requirements:
- 3 years/seasons+ swim team experiences
- 2 years/seasons coaching experience (this can combine junior coaching and some volunteer coaching experiences)
- Lifeguard certified (including CPR)
Head coaching responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Lead and inspire athletes to desire to improve
- Foster a love of swimming among the entire team to build a strong Wahoo community
- Balance athlete improvement and fun
- Oversee all swim practices (and fun Fridays), determining what each practice will including for conditioning and growth of team athletes
- Manage and oversee the coaching staff and volunteers by directing staff to assist in teaching, training and conditioning swimmers
- Manage the staff and volunteers schedule to maximize coaching but minimize expenses
- Oversee all aspects of the meet including meet line up, communicating with opposing team, meet exchanges, meet set up (including staffing required)
- Work with team presidents to make pertinent team decisions
- Conduct exit interviews with staff
Assistant Coach
Requirements:
- 3 years/seasons+ swim team experiences
- Participate as a Wahoo swimmer, 2023 season
- Wahoo coaching experience or volunteer experience, preferred
- Lifeguard certified (including CPR), preferred
Coaching responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Work with Head Coach to lead and inspire athletes to desire to improve
- Foster a love of swimming among the entire team to build a strong Wahoo community
- Conduct practices under the direction of the Head Coach
- Attend practices as a both a coach and a swimmer as scheduled and on time
- Participate in hands on coaching in the water with athletes to improve strokes, side breathing and flip turns
- Attend and assist at all swim meets as scheduled by the Head Coach this may include
Volunteer Junior Coach
Requirements:
- 2 years/seasons+ swim team experiences
- 1 Year Wahoo team swimmer experience
- Participate as a Wahoo swimmer, 2023 season
- 13 years or older
Volunteer Junior Coaching responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Work with Head Coach and Coaches to lead and inspire athletes to desire to improve
- Foster a love of swimming among the entire team to build a strong Wahoo community
- Assist in conducting drills and exercises at the direction of the Head Coach and Coaches
- Work with Coaches to learn coaching strategies
- Attend practices as a swimmer and volunteer as scheduled and on time
- Participate in hands on coaching in the water with athletes to improve strokes, side breathing and flip turns
- Attend and assist at all swim meets as scheduled by the Head Coach; this may include meet set up and tear down, swimmer check in, bull pen, swimmer line up, etc.
- Participate on the Wahoo Swim team, including meets
Junior Volunteer Coach Application
Independent Swim Instructor
(please see the application for more details)
Requirements:
- 2 years/seasons+ swim team experiences
- Participate as a Wahoo swimmer, 2023 season
- Wahoo coaching experience or volunteer experience, preferred
- Lifeguard certified (including CPR), preferred
Responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Communicate directly with the families to whom you give lessons
- Work with families to understand what skills need to be improved during lessons and set objectives/goals for the lessons
- Ensure all lessons do not interfere with the Swim Team
- Be dependable and timely
- Represent the Wahoo team with integrity
- Lead and inspire athletes to desire to improve
- Foster a love of swimming among the entire team to build a strong Wahoo community
- Participate in the Wahoo swim team, including meets
Independent Swim Instructor Application
