our coaches

    Ballarat Swimming Club enjoys a committed and highly qualified coaching team

    Jan Victor

    Head Coach
    2021 – present

    Silver- Advanced Level Coach. Holds full ASCTA bronze accreditation , and holds a Diploma in Sports Management

    Jan joined the Club from the Albany Swimming Club in WA where he was Head Coach. Prior to this position, Jan was Head Development Coach at Henley and Grange Swimming Club in South Australia for more than 10 years.

    Jan has an impressive 20 years of swimming coaching experience, and is a compassionate, caring, yet and incredibly disciplined Head Coach who will lead the Clubs swimmers in achieving their goals and flourishing as swimmers. One of Jan’s goals is to reach, with swimmers, “those moments when you look into a swimmer’s eyes and see them grasping a concept and starting to believe in themselves… “

    Jan’s vision is to work with the members and broader community “to grow the Club to the point of being the envy of other clubs, where excellence is a by-product of fun based on results – and hard work, because it is fun”.
     
    Jan invites all swimmers to get in touch with the Club, and come along and try the wonderful sport of swimming with us.

    Wendy Mathews

    Assistant Coach
    2021 – present

    Teacher of  Competitive Strokes

     

    Wendy has been a swim teacher for nearly 5 years with licences in: Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety; Teacher of infants and babies (6 months to 4 years old); Teacher of Access and Inclusion (special needs and disability); and 1st year qualification of Autism Swim. Recently completing teacher of Competitive strokes in January 2022
     
    Wendy has been involved with the Ballarat Swimming Club for 9 years, on the Committee for 6 years, 4 of those years as Club Treasurer. Wendy is a parent of swimmers, so has experienced swimming from many angles. 
     
    Wendy started as the Juniors Coach at BSC in November 2021. 
    Wendy is also an amazing bookkeeper, and is currently completing a Certificate IV in bookkeeping and accounting. 
     
     

    Zac Meakin

    Assistant Coach
    2019 – present

    Teacher of Competitive Strokes

    Zac has been a member of BSC for over 10 years and completed his Teacher of Competitive Strokes in 2021.  Zac takes great pride in the achievements of the Junior swimmers he has been coaching since 2019.  Personally in 2022 Zac qualified for the National Age Championships for the first time in the event of 200 breaststroke.

    Mikaela James

    Assistant Coach
    2022 – present

    Teacher of Competitive Strokes

    Mikaela has been swimming since she was 7 years old and has been coaching with the junior and intermediate squads for the last 2 years. 

    Mikaela is most proud of competing at the 2-23 National Age Championships in the 50 metre breaststroke. Her favourite part of swimming with BSC was getting to swim with with some of her best friends everyday.

    Jason PRITCHARD

    Assistant Coach
    2022 – present

    SCTA Development Accrediation

    Jason is an ex national age swimmer who remains active in the sport. Jason holds SCTA Development accreditation and is in his final year studying to become a secondary school teacher. Jason’s involvement in the youth is extended to him being a fulltime boarding house master. To cap his repertoire, Jason is a qualified strength and conditioning coach and runs our S&C program. Jason coaches our development squad.

    Kelly Rieniets

    Assistant Coach
    2024 – present

    SCTA Foundation Accreditation

    Kelly is a swim parent to three young swimmers and a qualified AustSwim teacher where she works at Shayne Reese Swim School. Kelly holds SCTA Foundation accreditation and coaches out Junior Squad.

    fioana thomas

    Assistant Coach
    2024 – present

    SCTA Development Accreditation

    Fiona has been involved with Ballarat Swimming Club for decades, having swam for the original Ballarat YMCA Swimming Club (prior to becoming Ballarat Swimming Club) and enjoying success at local, state national and world meets over many years as age group and then masters swimming. 

    She ‘retired’ from competitive swimming in the early 90s to become a mum, but continued to swim for fitness.

    After having a break from coaching she is now thrilled to be back as an assistant coach with the development squad. 

    mark urquhart

    Assistant Coach
    2024 – present

    SCTA Development Accreditation

    lara riddle

    Assistant Coach
    2025 – present

    SCTA Foundation Accreditation

    mark o'callahan

    Assistant Coach
    2025 – present

    SCTA Development Accreditation

    Mark first trained with BSC in 1993 whilst completing his B.Ed (PE) at the University of Ballarat. He first qualified as a coach in 1992 and is currently a development coach. 

    During his competitive time he has raced with a number of clubs, winning medals at country championships and world masters.  Mark is a member of the Lorne Pier to Pub Shark Bait Club, swimming the event for 30 years. 

    He now enjoys working with all levels of swimmer and is a parent of swimmers at the club.

    CLUB LEADERS

    Ballarat Swimming Club congratulates our 2025-2026 club leaders who have demonstrated they understand what it means to ‘be your best’, and thank them for leading our swimmers this year.

    AVA CANDY

    Age 16

    Ava has been a competitive swimmer with BSC since age seven, which includes representing the club at multiple Age Nationals events and earning medals at Age State level.

    She is passionate to encourage her fellow swimmers and mentor the younger swimmers.

    TOM URQUHART

    Age 17

    Tom joined BSC in 2024 at the beginning of short course season. Tom has represented the club at both State and National championships in both pool and open water swimming.

    Tom enjoys training and pushing himself to the limits in training as we as making jokes and having fun.

    Tom’s favourite part of swimming is going to local meets and seeing everyone racing and having a crack.