Meet our Coaching & Teaching Staff
Lucien Zucchi
Director of Swimming, Head Coach
Lucien Zucchi is the new Director of Swimming and Head Coach at Island Swimming Club starting September 2022.
Lucien arrived in Canada from France 13 years ago. He has coached various teams in Canada including The Red Deer Catalina, University of Regina and the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club.
Lucien is part of the Swimming Canada Select Coaches Group and has coached multiple national and international medalists.
Lucien's coaching philosophy is based on old fashion values (work ethic, commitment, all rounded swimmer) mixed with a good team culture and growth mindset. He's is looking forward to growing the Island legacy.
Cole Bergen
National Development Coach
Before moving from Calgary to Victoria, Cole spent his first 5 years coaching with the Cascade Swim Club, working as a head coach for age group, 10&U athletes, and summer club programs. This is Cole's ninth year at Island Swimming and is currently coaching the National Development group. Cole brings lots of energy to his practices and is constantly looking to improve as a coach and help the swimmers improve as athletes.
Wouter Terpstra
Provincial Group Coach & Island Swim Skills (ISST) Manager
Wouter returns for his ninth year coaching with ISC. Originally from the Netherlands, Wouter moved to Vernon at the age of 8 where he grew up and swam. In 2014 he moved to Victoria where he continued his swimming with the High Performance Center's Next-Gen training program. In 2016 & 2017 he spent the summer as the head coach of the Lumby Lightning (Summer) Swim Club. Wouter holds a bachelor's degree in Sport & Fitness Leadership and is a certified NCCP level 2 coach. In his free time Wouter enjoys heading into the outdoors with his dog to hike, camp, paddle, photograph wildlife and explore the island.
Kyle Bennett
Regional Group Coach
Kyle returns for his eighth year of coaching and his first as the Regional group coach. He was also part of Island Swimming as an athlete for over 10 years. Currently he is studying Kinesiology at Camosun College with a plan of taking elementary education afterwards. He hopes to use his schooling and swimming experience to help swimmers be both successful in and out of the pool.
Maddie Koropatniski
Intro Comp Group Coach (SCP)
With over 10 years of competitive swimming experience with Island, Maddie is beginning her fourth season as a coach. She holds an NCCP Level 1 coaching certification and is currently studying Recreation and Health Education at UVic. She hopes to use her schooling and swimming experience to help swimmers be both successful in and out of the pool.
Beth Primrose
Intro Comp JDF Coach
As a former Canadian professional triathlon champion and elite roadrunner, Beth understands what it takes to become a high performance athlete, and that it all starts in childhood. Her focus as a competitive swim coach is on helping children develop the proper technique in all four strokes, even though they might specialize in one as they get older. Beth has been successful with this approach to young swimmer development as a coach with the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays and Mississauga Aquatic Club.
Erin Jennings
ISST Lead Coach - SCP
Erin has been coaching with Island for 7 years now with 8 years of competitive swimming background. Currently studying Kinesilogy at Camosun College, Erin is the ISST lead coach at JDF and assists with Provincial group. She hopes to integrate her athletic background and schooling to help young athletes improve their skills both in and out of the water.
Olivia Aubrey
ISST Lead Coach - JDF
With an athletic background in high-performance artistic swimming, Olivia joins Island as the ISST Lead Coach at JDF. Entering her tenth season of coaching aquatic sports, Oliva comes with experience as a swim instructor, competitive artistic swimming coach. and is a NCCP level 3 certified coach. Outside of the pool, Olivia recently earned her Bachelor's in Elementary Education, and is a substitute teacher. Olivia is looking forward to playing a role in developing swimmers in the ISST program and hopes to assist them them with improving the skills necessary to become successful, well-rounded athletes.
Associate Coaching Staff
Maddie Koropatniski
Assistant Regional Coach
Maya Stevens
Lead C & T Coach
Shiho Chiang
Lead C & T Coach
Island Swim Skills Lessons Leads
Dan Igaz
Manager of Development Programs
Dan has an extensive background in aquatics and is responsible for developing our Island Swim Skills lessons programs and staff.
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Kate Carmichael
Lead Swim Skills Instructor
An ISC mainstay, Kate helped to develop the original Island Wave Skills program and now helps to train our next generation of coaches.
Nia McDougall
Lead Swim Skills Instructor
Nia is a former Island swimmer and one of our original Island Swim Skills instructors. Her passion for aquatics is obvious in her classes.