GIST Coaching Staff - Golden Isles Swim Team

GIST Coaching Staff

GIST USA Swimming Certified Coaching Staff

Head Coach Daniel Yancey

Masters & Senior Teams

Daniel began swimming competitively when he was 11 and swam until he was 18 under Coach Buddy Baarcke, an Olympic Gold Medalist in Butterfly. Daniel graduated from Frederica Academy, where he swam for the high school and was the only male scoring swimmer for the team in the butterfly and freestyle events. Daniel attended UGA and received a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and now teaches Math at Brunswick High School. He has coached Master's National Champions, Several Georgia State Championship Age Group Teams, Southern Zone Champion, and Sectional level medalists, and several Sectionals level Qualifiers. Daniel was also selected as a Southern Zone Coach. He is a USA Swimming Certified Coach.

Mike Irish, Associate Head Coach

Gold, Silver & Prep Teams

Coach Mike has many years of experience coaching the Juniors and the Prep teams. He has also helped with the Masters Swim Team, as well as being a member of the Master swim team in the past. During the school year Coach Mike helps with the Kinderswim Program. Prior to coming to Brunswick he swam in junior and high school in Enfield, Ct. Coach Mike joined the Coast Guard in 1982 and when he returned home he was asked to help coach the town swim team, the Enfield Dolphins Swim Team, where both of his children started to swim. He was the assistant coach for four seasons and head coach of the USS swimmers and the Senior Recreation Team. During Coach Mike's tenure with the Enfield Dolphins he had two swimmers qualify for the U.S Open. While coaching here in Brunswick Coach Mike has helped lead several Age-Group swimmers to State titles and Age Group Team Championships. He is also a USA Swimming Certified Coach.

Lou Stephens

Assistant Coach

Masters

Lou has had a long history of swimming having captained her Florida high school girl's swim team which placed first at the 1961 state swimming championships. She went on to earn a B.A. in education and PE, M.A. in physical education and health from the University of Georgia, and a second M.A. in special education from Georgia Southern. Lou was elected teacher of the year at Glynndale Elementary School before taking early retirement in 2004. She has been involved in the Master's swim team and helped coach the team. Lou has also placed nationally at the US Master's National Meet for several years. She is also a USA Swimming Certified Coach.

Joan Cordle

Assistant Coach

Bronze & Prep Teams

Coach Joan has always loved to swim and wants to share this love with people of all ages and skill levels. She has been an instructional swim coach to children and adults for over 6 years in both NW Cobb County Brunswick. She is ARC certified as a Lifeguard, Lifeguard Trainer and Water Safety Instructor and Trainer. Joan especially enjoys working with the beginner swimmers: from teaching them to blow bubbles to helping them develop fundamentally strong strokes as the foundation for future competition or fitness swimming. This summer Joan can be found in the pools of SSI Health and Fitness Club and with our very own GIST Prep Teams. She is also a USA Swimming Certified Coach.