Head Coach Todd Melton

Todd is a former competitive swimmer himself and understands what it takes to be successful at the sport of swimming. Along with his swimming and coaching experience, Todd brings with him a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Education. He has great passion for the sport of competitive swimming and sport in general and credits his own swimming career as a key contributor to achieving his personal and professional goals. His goal for each swimmer is to insure their overall growth physically, psychologically and socially.

As head coach of FSSC he is dedicated to building a successful competitive swim club that will focus on long-term athlete development to achieve success at every level, on the pool deck and off.

For the 2009-10 Season, Todd will be coaching the Performance and Devil Ray groups directly as well as overseeing rest of the programs.

Todd can reached at todd@foothillsstingrays.com

Asst Head Coach Thomas South

The 2009-10 Swim season will be makring my third season with the Foothills Stingrays Swim Club, my 16th year involved with competitive swimming, my ninth competitive season as a coach and the best year so far.

In those 16 years, I personally competed for ten and have attended every provincial and national level competition ranging from Age Group Trials to Olympic Trials and I achieved over 50 Age Group Championship medals, tow dozen medal finishes at Junior Nationals, eight years in the top twenty-five ranking, six in the top ten and two in the top three. I was selected to the 2001 Canada Summer Games Team and achieved a sixth place finish there as well as a top ten ranking in the 2004 Olympic Trials.

As a coach I have worked primarily with swimmers aged between eight and 13 and ranging in ability from beginner to age group national qualifiers. It has been my tendency to focus heavily on what I describe as "the complete athlete" and spend a great deal of time speaking about hard work, dedication and the lifetime satisfaction and success that these things can bring. I do not shy away from pushing the swimmers with whom I work but always I stress that though it may be tiring, the feeling of success in accomplishing something that you did not know you could do or have never done before is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

For the 2009-10 Season, Thomas will be coaching the Leopard and Dragon Ray groups directly as well as assisting with the rest of the programs.

Thomas can reached at thomas@foothillsstingrays.com

Asst Coach Emma Hesterman

Emma is a former competitive swimmer of 11 years competing throughout Great Britain and in Europe. Emma still trains and competes with the Okotoks Masters Swim Club. Emma has a great passion for swimming and her goal for her swimmers is excellence in stroke technique.

Emma returns to the Foothills Stingrays Swim Club for her third season as coach.

For the 2009-10 Season, Emma will be coaching the Tiger and Diamond Rays.

Emma can be reached at emma@foothillsstingrays.com

Cara Clifford

Asst Coach Cara Clifford

My name is Cara Clifford and I am the coach for our Non-Competitive swimmers in the Pearl and Blue Mini Rays programs. After coaching the Stingrays' Junior and Non-Competitive programs through out the 2002 to 2005 seasons, I returned to this great club with the 2008-09 season.

My swimming background includes competitive swimming with clubs in Ontario and Manitoba. I have been actively coaching swimmers since 1993, working with the Shilo Stingrays (MB), the South YMCA Sharks and Marlins (Calgary, AB) as well as the Okotoks Great Whites Junior Lifeguard Club and the Okotoks Synchro Sea Queens (acting as a swimming and fitness coach). In addition to my NCCP coaching certifications, I am a CALA certified fitness instructor, Lifesaving Instructor Trainer and National Lifeguard Service Instructor.

My coaching focus is on developing sound competitive swimming technique and a love of the sport for all of my swimmers. My goal is to assist my swimmers in achieving their goals in a fun, encouraging and supportive environment.

My husband Jason and I have lived in Okotoks since 2000 and have one swimmer (Kenna) and one enthusiastic supporter of other swimmers (Roan) who have both grown up at the pool with the club's members over the years.

Cara can be reached at cara@foothillsstingrays.com