FMC Aquatic Club

On April 1, 2020, Dave Krotiak officially joined us as FMC Aquatic Head Coach and Director of Facility, Programs & Events for the FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park. Many in the swim community have known Dave for many years as he has had a strong presence in the local and national swim scene. His coaching experience spans over thirty-eight years with thirty-five as a Head Coach/Director. Dave is known for developing swimmers in all events at the highest levels. But Dave started out as an 8 & Under/Developmental Coach. From the beginning, he emphasized athlete-oriented coaching, excellence in skill development and soon started improving athlete’s race strategies and self-confidence. Known throughout the years as a true technician and student of the sport, Dave has presented at ASCA World Clinics, Gulf Coast TX, Napa California, and Illinois Clinics. His creative and challenging set designs prepare athletes to expand their perspective of what’s possible in training and competitions. At FMC, Dave joins a talented coaching staff that looks to create an exciting atmosphere and culture of achievement, support, fun, and surprises. All awesome teams discover many surprises while establishing tradition! He leads a staff from young to those with decades of experience. The common denominator is that they all love swimming. Dave looks forward to blending each person’s unique talent, perspective, knowledge, and experience into a cohesive coaching core. FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park will be an awesome place because of the people. Dave has long attributed his success and achievements to the commitment of his athletes, staff and parental support; a true partnership.

Coach Pierre Ruffin has over 30 years of experience as a swim coach. His bio is different than that of most swim coaches you will read because his story is markedly different than that of most swim coaches. Most notably missing is a list of Pierre’s personal experience as a swimmer. This is because Pierre does not swim. He came to swimming by a circuitous route. His four daughters wanted to participate in a sport and swimming seemed like a reasonable and somewhat accessible choice. Pierre attended their practices and events and became a student of the sport. A lifelong learner, Pierre began reading books to advance his knowledge of stroke and technique. To say that swimming changed his life, without being a swimmer, would be an understatement. His 2014 interview with Gary Hall Sr. of The Race Club in Florida is included in this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzDbjyrf9H Pierre has coached many outstanding athletes. Below are just a few that Pierre is particularly proud of: Burley Bokos Lauren Cox Jacob Furlong Jeffrey Hou Jennifer Iverson Part of what makes Pierre unique is that he can likely list the names of all the swimmers he has coached and tell you a distinctive story about each. It has been Pierre’s personal approach that has so endeared him to his swimmers. The motto he has hoped to instill in his swimmers is to “never give up”. In addition to caring about each of his swimmers, Pierre also demands excellence and that each does his/her best. His attention to excellent form at a young age has prepared swimmers to excel as they advance in the sport. His enthusiasm and passion for the sport bubbles over like a self-proclaimed kid in a candy store. He has touched countless lives and is, in part, one of the inspirations behind the creation of FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park.

Coach Barb Grosshans has been part of the coaching staff since 2005 as the team has gone from Westmont Swim Club to West Swim Club, and, now FMC Aquatic Swim Team. Barb has been in and around the pool as a swimmer, instructor, coach, meet director, parent and volunteer for many years. She enjoys coaching every level of swimmer at any age. She is committed to coaching proper technique in a positive and productive manner. Barb believes in promoting self-confidence, best effort, TEAM and FUN. She teaches swimmers to focus on the little things because they become the big things that make a difference. Barb began her competitive swimming career at age 6, following her older brothers into the water. She has been an instructor of all ages (age 5 – adult) since her teens. In addition to her age group swimming, Barb was a two-time Nebraska High School State Champion in the 100 butterfly. She placed in the top 5 in State in a variety of events all four years of high school. Barb swam as a scholarship athlete at the University of Kansas. Again, she placed in the top 5 of her events at the conference championships, with her team winning the conference title. Barb received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communication from the University of Nebraska. In addition to coaching at FMC Aquatic Swim Team, Barb swims with our early morning Masters group. She has swum around Manhattan Island in New York (28 miles, about 7 ½ hours) and swam in the freezing waters of Antarctica! Barb and her husband have three children that all swam for Westmont (WEST) Swim Club and Hinsdale Central High School. Their youngest is currently a member of the Miami University-OH Men’s Swimming and Diving Team. Barb enjoys an active lifestyle and being outdoors. She loves spending time with her family at her parent’s home in Jackson Hole, WY.