• BA in Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• UCLA Kinesiology Certification
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health Fitness Instructor (HFI)
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor
• 31 years of Coaching experience
• USA Swimming National Qualifier in Multiple events 1979 - 1986
• As the Head Swimming Coach at Marlborough High School, he coached championship teams, winning thirteen out of the last fifteen seasons. In 2010 & 2018, he coached his team to a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championship and was nominated as High School Coach of the year across all sports by the California Coaches Association. In 2015, his team was the CIF runner-up.
• Develops college recruited National, Junior National, Sectional, and Junior Olympic athletes
• Life motto: Strive for Excellence
• Coaching Philosophy: “The more a swimmer swims, the more fun they have. This combined with a firm but understanding disposition, helps athletes know that I care. If they know I care, they will work hard for themselves and their coach. I pay close attention to how the group is doing which holds them accountable.”~ Coach Lambert
• Coach Lambert is very passionate about the sport of swimming and had the honor to coach both of his kids Alex and Emily to great college swimming programs.

• BA from Setan Hall University
• 12 years of Coaching experience
• After being part of Southern California swimming, decided to join the successful program BLAST has to offer its athletes
• As a youth, Coach Hide swam under Gary Anderson
• Has developed Junior Olympic & National level swimmers
• Coaching Philosophy: Let student-athletes enjoy swimming and create opportunities to experience college-level swimming and beyond 

• More than 15 years of experience
• Started swimming at a young age and is a BLAST Alumni
• Graduated from the University of the Pacific and swam D1 for 4 years Intercollegiate. Competed against schools like Stanford and UCSB
• Coaching for 5 years
• Favorite Quote: "Expect the unexpected"
• Favorite part of coaching: Discovering a hidden talent a swimmer never knew he/she had.
• Coaching Philosophy: Put in the work and the results will show
• Coach Michael is excited to be with BLAST and looks forward to showing his skills and talents not only as a coach but also as a D1 swimmer.

• Home Location: Los Angeles
• Sport(s) Coached: Swimming
• Professional & Educational Background: Sophomore at Santa Monica College. High school diploma in the US and Japan.
• Sports Participated in/ Awards Won: I have participated in Swimming, Basketball, and Track&Field. I have always loved playing a variety of sports and had the chance to compete in Track/Basketball for my high school in Japan. Playing multiple sports helped boost my athleticism and have a better understanding of body/muscle mechanics.
• Awards/ Achievements:
  • Junior National Qualifier in Japan
  • 5th place at Tokyo Junior National Qualifiers
  • Santa Monica College Most Valuable Swimmer
• Years Coaching: 6 months (with many more years to come)
• What Got Me Started in Swimming: Long story short, I was forced to start swimming since my brother wanted to start swimming. Although I did not enjoy it in the beginning, I started to find the sport more fun every single day that I swam. The friends that I have made, the work ethic built up, and the feeling of accomplishment after a hard workout were some of the many things that I fell in love with.
• Favorite Quote: “I say if it’s ever hurting real bad to remember after 2 hours, it’s going to be over with.” Lenny Krayzelburg
• Biggest/ Favorite Coaching Moment: My Favorite coaching moment was my first time coaching at Santa Monica College. I was coaching one of my close friends who was a water polo player. We trained hard, worked on his technique, and he ended up dropping over 6 seconds on his 100 breaststroke in one season (1:07->1:01)
• Coaching Philosophy: Being a “bad practice swimmer” is an excuse for not working hard. People who work the hardest will eventually get the most out of this sport. 

Coach Dom brings both experience and passion to the BLAST Swim Team family. A proud former BLAST swimmer himself, Dom grew up in Burbank and knows firsthand the positive impact this program can have on athletes. Now in his second year of coaching, he is thrilled to be giving back to the team and community that shaped his own swimming journey.

Dom attended the University of Southern California, where he studied psychology and competed as a member of the Trojan swim team. During his time at USC, he was recognized as both the Most Inspirational Swimmer and the Most Improved Swimmer. He achieved an Olympic Trials cut in the 400 freestyle and helped USC qualify for the NCAA Championships in the 800 freestyle relay.

Dom believes strongly that “a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer.” He emphasizes that while swimming is one of the most challenging sports, genuine enjoyment and passion are the keys to long-term success. He lives by the motto: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

As a coach, Dom is motivated to help his athletes chase big goals—his dream is to guide a swimmer to a Junior National time standard. His biggest inspirations include legendary coach Dave Salo, mentor Jameson McMullen, and his dad, who has always been a source of support and encouragement.

Whether he’s on deck at our West Hollywood site or connecting with swimmers one-on-one, Coach Dom’s love for BLAST and excitement for the future shine through in everything he does.

BLAST is proud to highlight one of our nation’s premier distance swimmers. Team USA's Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist in the 1500-meter freestyle (15:41.41) and a U.S. National Champion in the Olympic-distance 10K (2021), she has made her mark at the highest levels of international competition.

Her journey is decorated with accomplishments: a standout at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, she placed top-10 in multiple distance events, and earlier claimed the USA Swimming Junior National Open Water 5K title in 2017. She went on to secure podium finishes at the USA Swimming National Open Water Championships, including junior and senior titles, and earned the prestigious USA Swimming Open Water Achievement Award in 2018.

Originally training with the Sandpipers of Nevada in Las Vegas, she continues to embody the BLAST spirit — relentless, fearless, and committed to excellence in and out of the water.

• Home Location: Burbank
• Professional and Educational Background:
  • High School Diploma
  • Currently at Pasadena City College for a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Kinesiology
• Sports Participated in/ Awards Won: Swimming - Student-Athlete of the Year.
• Years Coaching: 5 months with many more years to come:)
• What Got Me into Swimming: I’ve always loved the water! Ever since I was a little kid, I would always try to get into a pool. A close family friend said I should try out swimming, and I started competitively swimming at 10. I am a Blast Alumni.
• Favorite Quote: My favorite quote is from Rocky Balboa, which I watched every night before a big swim meet: “The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are. It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
• Biggest/Favorite Coaching Moment: My favorite moment is watching one of the swimmers I coached drop 12 seconds in a 100 after never having swam long course and then drop another 10 in his next event!
• Coaching Philosophy: Practice makes progress. The only way to improve is to show up and put in the work!

• Home Location: Manhattan, NY
• Sport(s) Coached: Swimming
• Professional & Educational Background: Graduated from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and a Master's in Marine Conservation and Policy. Achieved high school Diploma at School of the Future, NY
• Sports Participated in/ Awards Won: Participated in Stony Brook Swimming and Diving for 5 years and was nominated for Female NSCA All-American Year in 2023.
• Years Coaching: 2 years and many more to come!
• What Got Me Started in Swimming: I’ve loved being near the water since I was young, which sparked my passion for swimming. It helped me find friends and create a positive, welcoming environment wherever I go.
• Favorite Quote: “But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” - Professor Dumbledore (Harry Potter)
• Biggest/ Favorite Coaching Moment: When fellow swimmers cheer for their friends and teammates.
• Coaching Philosophy: Finding the little things that make swimming joyful for you personally is key to maintaining passion and dedication.

• Name: Chappie DeHaven
• Home Location: Culver City
• Sport(s) Coached: Swimming, Water Polo, Open Water
• Professional & educational background: 
  • Graduate of University of Southern California 1991, BA in Communications. MBA from Loyola Marymount University 1995.
  • I worked in the Entertainment business for 25 years as a production manager and product manager, initially managing the production of DVD's and Blu-Ray discs, then moved onto creating and delivering digital media files to various studios (i.e. ABC and Fox), and finally managing the creation and launch of digital channels to distribute content on multiple platforms (i.e. Amazon Prime, Roku, XUMO, Tubi TV). 
  • I worked as an LA County Ocean Lifeguard for 26 years (1997 - 2022), and I was a Clinical Instructor at the UCLA Prehospital Care Center EMT Program from 2005 - 2012.
• Sports participated in/awards won: 
  • Began swimming at 9 years old with Valley Aquatics, then with CLASS Aquatics.  Swam at Crespi High School.  Achieved All-American honors in the 200 Free, and Honorable Mention All-American honors in the 100 Backstroke. In 1986 finished 4th, and in 1987 finished 3rd at CIF Championships in the 200 Free.  Junior National Qualifier in the 200 yd Free and 100 m Backstroke, and competed in the 1986 US Senior Nationals in Santa Clara as part of CLASS Aquatics 800 Free Relay. 
  • Also was Honorable Mention All-CIF in Water Polo. Was recruited by and swam for the University of Southern California under Coach Peter Daland and Dave Salo, swimming all four years and competing in the 1990 and 1991 Pac 10 Championship Meets.
  • After graduation, in 1997 became an Ocean Lifeguard with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and was a member of the LA County Surf Racing National Team from 2005 - 2015. In 2005 was an Age Group National Champion in the Rescue Race, and was a part of multiple USLA National Championship winning teams with LA County.
• Years coaching:
  • Began coaching in 1995 at CCAT, then as the Assistant Coach for the Palisades YMCA Swim Team, and most recently I was Head Age Group Coach at Westside Aquatics.
  • For the past 5 years worked as a Masters Swimming Coach for Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ) Masters team.  I've also taught ocean swimming clinics for beginner triathletes for over 20 years.  This included individual triathletes as well company sponsored triathlon teams (i.e. Disney Triathlon Team).
• What got you started in swimming: I played baseball and golf very early on, then at 9, decided to dedicate my efforts full time towards swimming and water polo.
• Favorite quote: If you reach for the stars, you may only get to a light pole, but at least you got your feet off the ground.
• Biggest/favorite coaching moment?:  Any time a swimmer (young or old) finishes their first race...hits a best time...make that first "Cut"...overcomes an obstacle that was in their way. Seeing that smile...that look of satisfaction and accomplishment on their face...those are the moments that makes coaching totally worthwhile and most satisfying.
• Coaching philosophy: For kids, my goal is to not only make good swimmers, but also good kids...building their confidence and instilling "life skills" that they can take with them and use for the rest of their lives. And to really hammer home the fact that hard work will lead to success...in any endeavor. For adults, its instilling the belief that no matter what age you are, you never stop improving and succeeding in your endeavors.
• Anything you would like to share?
  • Taught American Kenpo Karate from 1994 - 1998.
  • Was promoted to Black Belt in January 1998.
  • Mom was a Marriage and Family Therapist...Dad was a fighter pilot in World War II, becoming a 2x Fighter Ace, then later was a test pilot at Edwards AFB, and was head of Test Flight at Hughes Aircraft Company.