Janusz Kaczmarek has been the Head Coach of the West Vancouver Otters Swim Club since 2001. He brings to the Otters a wealth of coaching experience from National and International levels with teams in Poland, Switzerland and Canada. His Canadian experience is extensive as he has been Head Coach for three major swim clubs in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. In his day, Janusz was a fierce competitor in the pool, setting a number of national records and winning titles for the Polish National Team. As a coach, his accomplishments include:

• 2013 Canadian Youth Coach of the Year
• 2013 BC Youth Coach of the Year
• 2014 BC Junior Coach of the Year

Janusz’s swimmers have won gold medals in the European Championships, placed in finals in the Olympics and captured gold medals and established a world record time in the Para-Olympics. Notable swimmers and their accomplishments include:

Relay – Ben Christie, James McQuade, Daniel Russell and Craig Brazier

• 4 x 100 Free LC – Canadian Age Group National Record
• 4 x 100 Medley SC – Canadian Age Group National Record
• 4 x 50 Free SC – Canadian Age Group National Record

Brenna McLean

• 2008 Victor Davis Memorial Award recipient
• 2009 – Age Group National Record in 200 Fly SC
• 2011 Canadian Summer Nationals – Gold in 200 Fly
• 2013 Canadian World Championship Trials – Bronze in 200 Fly
• 2013 US Open – Bronze in 200 Fly
• Captain of the 2013 Indiana University Hoosiers Women’s Team

Emily Overholt

• 2012 – 13-14 Age Group Record in 400 IM LC
• 2013 Canadian Summer Nationals – Gold in 200 Fly
• 2013 World Junior Championships – Bronze in 400 IM (Junior World Record)
• 2014 Commonwealth Games – Silver in 4x200m Free Relay
• 2014 Pan Pacific Championships – Bronze in 4x200m Free Relay

Michelle Zeng

• 2022-2023 Swim BC Female Provincial Swimmer of the Year
• 2023 BC Record in 400 IM short course
• 2023 BC Record in 400 IM long course
• Ranked first for 12 year old females in Canada for the 2022-2023 season in 21 events (11 long course and 10 short course)

Head Coach Janusz coaches the Youth and Senior National swim groups.

Norman Ng is the Assistant Head Coach of the West Vancouver Otters Swim Club and has coached professionally since 2005.

Before joining the Otters, Norman was Senior Assistant Coach at the Hyack Swim Club and was part of the coaching staff that helped the team earn the 2012 Long Course Provincial AAA Championship title. With the Otters, Coach Norman and his swimmers earned the 2014 Swim BC Development Club of the Year.

Norman swam competitively for 11 years. As a swimmer, his accomplishments included achieving his Age Group Nationals and SNC Western times in multiple freestyle events.

“Working as an Assistant Head Coach has been a goal of mine for a long time. I’m hoping that my experience and passion for the sport of swimming will help improve the performances and successes of all Otter swimmers."

His notable swimmers and their accomplishments include:

Nathan Clement

2015 Speedo Can Am Para-swimming Championships – Silver in S7 50 Fly, Bronze in S7 50 Free

2015 Parapan Am Games – Bronze in S7 50 Fly

2016 Canadian Olympic & Para-swimming Trials – Canadian Record S6 50 Free

2016 Paralympic Games (Rio de Janeiro) - 7^th in S6 50 Fly (S6 Canadian National Record)

Coach Norman is extremely excited to be part of the Otters coaching staff. He believes he can help swimmers reach their maximum potential and make all the sweat and tears worth it in the end.

Having begun her swimming journey with the Otters at the age of 9, progressing through the groups to the AA group, Haley brings a wealth of experience both in and out of the water. With a deep connection to the club, she is passionate about fostering the same love for swimming in today’s athletes.

Since 2016, Haley has worked with the District of West Vancouver in various aquatic roles, including swim instructor, lifeguard, and aquatic leader.

Her professional qualifications include NCCP Swimming 101, National Lifeguard Pool, Waterpark, and Waterfront certifications, Lifesaving Instructor, and CPR-C/AED.

In 2023, Haley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with honors from Capilano University. Haley has spent the past 2 years with North Shore Disability Resource Centre working with people in the community with disabilities to develop skills to gain independence.

Haley is excited to be leading the LMR Red and Gold groups and assisting with the OSA groups another year! She aims to create a positive environment to promote an interest in learning, enjoyment of the sport, and confidence in and out of the pool.

Karim brings a wealth of experience and passion to his coaching, backed by his NCCP Level 1 certification and current National Lifeguard and Standard First Aid credentials.

He swam competitively with the Canadian Dolphin Swim Club for 10 years, specializing in backstroke. This extensive background in the pool informs his coaching philosophy, which is built on a deep understanding of athlete development.

With four years of coaching experience across all levels from beginners to provincial, national, and master's swimmers; Karim excels at crafting fun, engaging, and effective practices. He is deeply committed to nurturing talent and fostering a supportive, motivating environment where every swimmer is empowered to reach their full potential.

Karim is passionate about using the sport to develop lifelong skills, inspiring his athletes to excel not just in the pool but also in teamwork, confidence, and discipline.

He is thrilled to be leading the OSA groups for his first season and is excited to contribute to the team's success.

Leila is the newest addition to our West Vancouver Otters coaching team, bringing a strong foundation in competitive swimming, particularly in breaststroke. She competed at the collegiate level for Colorado State University, where she also earned a bachelor's degree in psychology.
 

Leila began her swimming career with the West Vancouver Otters at the age of 10, where she quickly developed a passion for the sport. Over the years, she achieved multiple club records, laying the foundation for her success as a collegiate athlete and now as a coach.
 

As a coach, Leila is passionate about developing swimmers’ skills, boosting their confidence, and nurturing a lasting love for the sport. With her deep knowledge of swimming and experience working with young athletes, she is excited to bring her expertise to the West Vancouver Otters coaching team.

 

In addition to coaching, Leila works as an Education Assistant at Rockridge Secondary School, where she is dedicated to supporting youth development. She looks forward to inspiring young swimmers both in and out of the pool, using her expertise to guide each athlete toward reaching their full potential.

John Melnikow is a past Olympian that swam for Ukraine and the Soviet Union. He
was a member of the youth and senior national teams of both nations. In university,
he studied human kinetics and graduated with a bachelor degree. John was the head
coach of Chena Swim Club for a number of years; he occasionally provides coverage
for some of their groups. Presently, John is working with international and national
triathletes in the North Vancouver masters program. He is qualified for NCCP Level 3
in swimming. He is looking forward to working with the OSA and LMR groups.