Nothing has a greater influence on the quality of children's sports than the excellence of the coach. The Coastal Maine Aquatics staff includes five professionally trained coaches and one professional athletic trainer. Together, these coaches have amassed over 80 years of professional coaching experience.

As members of the American Swim Coaches Association, they have access to the most comprehensive training and certification programs for youth coaches of any sport in the United States. Certified coaches in USA Swimming programs possess training and experience in the physiology and psychology of adolescent development.

Our highly qualified coaching staff assures that the time your children spend in swimming with CMA will be quality time.

Leanne Gravel

Leanne Gravel, Head Coach, joined CMA in October 2002 after being an Assistant Coach with the Westbrook Seals and the Williston Northampton School. Chosen MSI Coach of the Year for 2004 and 2006, Leanne was Head Age Group Coach for the 2002 Summer Maine Zone Team and Assistant Coach for the Winter Maine Zone Teams in 2003, 2004, and 2006. In the summer of 2006, Leanne was chosen as an Assistant Coach for the 2006 Eastern Zone Select Camp in Annapolis, Maryland. Since 2003, CMA has won 9 out of 10 State Championships. Level 3 ASCA certified and having passed the Level 5 ASCA exam, many athletes have achieved Sectional, Junior National and Top 16 Qualifying times. Leanne directly coaches the National, Pre-National, and Senior groups and oversees the Dryland program. Before moving back to Portland in 1991, Leanne coached Varsity Swimming, Diving, and Softball at the Williston-Northampton School and taught several years as a Red Cross Swim instructor. Leanne holds a BA in Child Development and Classical Civilization from Connecticut College and has earned all credits for her MA in Teaching from Boston University.

Chris Brunette

Chris Brunette, Head Age Group Coach, has been a member of CMA's coaching staff since 1993 and has been coaching competitive swimmers since 1989. From 1989 to 1991, Chris coached with the Bull's Eye Swim Team in South Portland. From 1991 - 1993, Chris coached with Fast Aquatics in Idaho. In 1994 and 2000, Chris was chosen as an Assistant Coach with the MSI Winter Zone Team. At CMA, Chris is primarily responsible for the development of the Silver, Bronze and Pre-Competitive groups. Chris has extensive experience working with children ages 13 and under. With 6 years as an American Red Cross swim instructor and 17 years as a competitive coach, Chris has exhibited a strong and successful foundation in teaching swimming skills. ASCA Level 2 certified, Chris is presently working on Level 3. Chris is a Graduate of the University of Maine with a B.A. in Sociology.

Andrew Kemp

Andrew Kemp, Assistant Coach, comes to us from Tasmania, Australia where he was immersed in the swimming world for many years. Andrew swam competitively from age five to thirteen when he was then lured into the sport of water polo. As a representative on the Tasmanian State Team, Andrew competed at the national level. From age sixteen to the present, Andrew has been heavily involved in life guarding and learn to swim programs. For over twenty years, Andrew has been overseeing pools, water parks and beaches from Australia to Florida to Maine. Most recently, Andrew was an Assistant Coach with the Portland Porpoise Swim Club. Andrew coaches the Silver and Bronze Groups and assists with the National Group. Through knowledge, excitement, enthusiasm, and a wealth of experience, Andrew simply motivates everyone around him.

Sean Flaherty

Sean Flaherty, Assistant Coach, is welcomed back to CMA after coaching in Virginia for the Arlington Aquatic Club. Sean began his swimming career at CMA at the age of 8. Swimming with CMA for over 12 years, Sean set numerous state records in the distance freestyle events and also had a State Record-Setting high school swim career. A three-time winner of the noted "Peaks-to-Portland" Open Water Swim, Sean also competed at the Junior National Championships and the U.S. Open Championships. Earning a swimming scholarship to Division I George Washington University in Washington, DC, Sean was named Rookie of the Year fo the Atlantic Ten Conference and All-Conference Teams. Graduating from GW in 2007, Sean was a successful political advocate in Washington, D.C. before returning home to Scarborough. Today he is continuing his career in public service while fostering his love for coaching here at CMA. Playing an important role in the Gold, Senior, and National groups, Sean is well on his way to making a strong impact team-wide with his enthusiasm, excitement, energy, and serious commitment.

Eric French

Eric French, Assistant Coach, started swimming for the Bulls Eye Swim Club in 1988 before it merged with CMA. Eric also swam all four years for South Portland High School where he was a team captain. Eric coaches the Gold and Senior Groups and assists on a daily basis wherever he is needed. An SMSOA high school swim official for several years, Eric also coaches football at South Portland High School. Eric is a graduate of Southern Maine Community College where he double-majored in Business Administration and Hotel Management. Eric's enthusiasm and dedication is contagious, and we are fortunate to have him part of CMA's family for many years to come.

 

 

Patrick McArdle

Patrick McArdle, Assistant Coach, works primarily with our Gold and Senior Groups and assists with the Silver and Bronze Groups. Patrick comes to CMA with an extensive Aquatics background. Recently joining the South Portland Recreation Department as an Assistant Supervisor of Aquatics, Patrick has also held the positions of Assistant Aquatics Director of the Portland Country Club and the YWCA of Portland. Having served as an age group coach at the Portland Porpoise Swim Club, Patrick also coached the boys swim team at Cheverus High School. Graduating from the Southern Maine Community College with a degree in Criminal Justice, Patrick also attended Springfield College.

 

Brian Hink

Brian Hink, Fitness Trainer, works with our National, Pre-National, Senior, and Gold athletes 2-3 times a week at the Lifestyles Fitness Center in Scarborough, Maine. Brian ensures that our athletes develop their core muscle recruitment, develop proprioception and balance, develop postural alignment, develop movements to prevent shoulder injuries, and develop flexibility and mobility for increased body awareness. He has a sports medicine background in Exercise Physiology and Exercise Rehabilitation and over twelve years of experience. Brian has worked extensively with clients ranging from the professional athlete, to both pre and post surgical patients to the average person trying to loose weight. Brian was a two sport athlete in college and is currently a Drill Sargent in the U.S. Army Reserves. With his integrated scientific approach to training, his philosophy is simple: Train hard and reach goals.