Our Advisors

Coach Shoulberg has been Aquatic Director and Head Coach of the men’s and women’s swim teams at Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pennsylvania) since 1969. His Academy teams have won two men’s National Prep School Championships and five women’s National Championships, and his teams have finished in the top eight at Senior Nationals. He has had two swimmers set World Records and eight swimmers establish American records. Many swimmers in his program have set numerous National and High School Records. He has produced over 300 Prep/High School All-American swimming student-athletes from both Germantown Academy and Germantown Academy Aquatic Club, along with numerous Senior and Junior National champions and finalists.

Shoulberg has served as either a Head Coach, Assistant Coach, or Advisory Coach on over 19 National, Pan-Pacific, Pan-American, USA, and Olympic teams – an extraordinary feat befitting the strength of his coaching abilities.

Coach Shoulberg has presented swimming clinics worldwide over the years including Australia, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Russian, Spain, Thailand, Israel, Finland, and the United States. He has published numerous articles in the ASCA Magazine, NISCA Magazine, Swimming Technique, and Swimming World. Coach Shoulberg also wrote a chapter on IM Training for The Swim Coaches Bible.

Coach Shouldberg has received many of swimming’s highest honors and Professional Awards, including:

• Germantown Academy Hall of Fame (1995)
• National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association of America (NISCA) Hall of Fame Award (2000)
• Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame (2003)
• Pennsylvania Hall of Fame (1986)
• Pennsylvania Aquatic Hall of Fame (1987)
• National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association of America (NISCA) National Collegiate & Scholastic Swimming Trophy (1996)
• Coach of the Year Award, American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) (1982 & 1989)
• Women’s National Prep School Champions: 1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005
• Men’s National Prep School Champions: 1985 & 1986
• Undefeated Independent School Swimming Champions: 1983 to his retirement from Germantown Academy

During his tenure at Germantown Academy, the cumulative winning percentage for his women’s team is an astonishing 98% and his men’s team is 82%. Coach Shoulberg lives with his wife Molly in East Norriton, a Philadelphia suburb, where they raised four children (Steve, Rick, Becky, and Bert).

The PDR team gained national recognition as a premier training program, sending team members to the swimming trials for every U.S. Olympic team from 1992 to 2007. In the 1980’s, members of Ellis’s swim club had received college scholarships for their swimming skills, set national age-group records, and a few had been selected for the Olympic trials. By 2019, over 100 of Ellis’s swimming club members were estimated to have received college scholarships.

Many talented swimmers, like Michael Norment, came to swim for Ellis’ team because of his strong reputation as a coach. Norment became the first black swimmer on the U.S. national team, and later became a swimming coach himself.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ellis began swimming at the recently integrated Highland Park pool in Pittsburgh and as a youth took a position as a lifeguard there. In July, 1951, the pool had been the subject of a lawsuit filed by the Pittsburgh Urban League on behalf of League member Alexander Allen which claimed that he had been deprived of his civil rights by being chased from the pool by a group of White teenagers. The Pittsburgh Urban league won the suit, with the court noting that public pools should allow access regardless of race. By the mid-1960’s the Pittsburgh outdoor pools had hired several black lifeguards, including Ellis.

Ellis graduated from Westinghouse High School which had a large black enrollment, and was part of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. He received the honor of having his name placed on the Westinghouse High School Wall of Fame. He swam competitively in high school, and at the collegiate level for Cheney State, an historically Black University near Philadelphia, where he also studied mathematics.

After graduating from Cheney State, Ellis wanted to get a job as a teacher, but was not able to secure a position. Having previously worked as a lifeguard, he became a water safety instructor at Sayre-Morrie Recreation Center in West Philadelphia. He later became a math teacher at a high school in Philadelphia where he taught for many years. In May 2007, Ellis received the President’s Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was named to the “List of the 30 Most Influential People In Swimming Over the Past 30 Years,” selected by USA Swimming and Speedo. Ellis was inducted to the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2019.

A nationally ranked swimmer at Suburban Swim Center and the University of Iowa, Charlie uses his first-hand experience to help swimmers meet the challenges of this demanding sport. His emphasis on proper technique permeates the entire program. Over the years, many of his swimmers have achieved numerous rankings and championships: High School Champions, Jr. National qualifiers and Champions, Senior National qualifiers and Champions, U.S. Open Champions, World Rankings, World Champions, Olympic Trials qualifiers, World Record Holders, and Olympic Champions.

Coach Kennedy has served as the Assistant Coach for swimming at Swarthmore College since 1997. A swimming technique expert, he enjoys working with the multifaceted Swarthmore student-athletes. Kennedy has coached hundreds of swimmers of all ages, including standouts Brendan Hansen, a 2004 and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist, and Grace Cornelius and Corrie Clark, both individual USA National Champions.

Hansen has credited Kennedy with laying his “entire base” for his success, saying “He’s the reason I’ve been able to succeed.” Hansen often references Kennedy’s teachings and ideas in interviews. Kennedy was named the head coach for the USA Swimming Boy’s National Select Camp in 2006. Charlie is also an accomplished musician who performed with his parents Lee and Pat in the trio “The Kennedys” until 2014. Kennedy is trained in classical piano and also plays the pipe organ.

Charlie believes that PhilAquatics is a much-needed addition to the swim community in the Delaware Valley and will work with them to make the Center a reality.

Sid began his open-water swimming career in the mid-1970s as a member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol where he enjoyed a four-year undefeated streak in the Atlantic Ocean. He swam marathon races in the USA, Canada, and Egypt, and in 1979 finished the year ranked #4 globally as a professional marathon swimmer. On September 1st of that year, Sid began his full-time professional coaching career at his Delaware home club and quickly earned American Swim Coaches’ highest accreditation as a Level V coach.

Sid first moved to Florida in 1983 and started working with collegiate athletes at the University of Tampa as an assistant coach from 1983 to 1985 while serving as the head coach of the Greater Tampa Swimming Association USA Swimming Club.

Sid began to serve USA Swimming as both a coach and administrator of open water swimming in 1983. In 1991 he accepted a position to serve as both coach and swimmer on a historic English Channel Relay that to this day still claims the title of fastest ever in three categories. From 1991 through 1996 Cassidy served as the National Team Head Coach of Open Water Swimming and often led USA’s top competitors to events worldwide.

In 1996 USA Swimming asked him to move into a political position as a member of FINA’s Technical Open Water Swimming Committee to further the goal of Olympic inclusion. In 2006 Cassidy was tapped as Chairman of the Committee and his leadership is viewed as instrumental in turning the Olympic Marathon dream into a reality. In the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the very first 10,000-meter Olympic Marathon Swim took place under the direction of FINA TOWSC Chairman Sid Cassidy and it received rave reviews from the swimmers, coaches, spectators, media, and most importantly, the IOC. Sid continues his duties with FINA and is currently serving in his second stint as TOWSC Chair looking toward the Paris and Los Angeles Olympic Games.

In addition to all of his accolades and accomplishments in the open water swimming world, Cassidy has consistently coached teams and individuals to success at every level of swimming. More recently he has five times been named Florida High School Coach of the Year during his nearly two-decade run as the Head Coach and Aquatic Director at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton. Sid has coached many athletes at the National and Olympic levels and continues to do so presently.

Cassidy also coached collegiately at James Madison University (Head Coach Men 1992-93) and Florida State University (Assistant Coach 1985-92). At JMU, he was named both ECAC and CAA coach of the year in 1993. During the seven seasons coaching at FSU, Sid coached his first national open water champion and worked with more than thirty All-American swimmers. He was named Recruiting Coordinator as the school enjoyed some of its finest aquatic achievements.

Sid is married in 1992 to the former Kara Keenan, who is the owner/operator of the Florida Swim School—our much-heralded and award-winning sister company. Kara and Sid have two children who are very involved as coaches in the family business and who both graduated from Saint Andrew’s School, Quinn (’13) and Kate (’17).

In 1972, at the age of 23, he was offered the co-head coaching position with the Mission Viejo Nadadores Swim Team in California, directing a program of 55. The program grew to over 500 swimmers of all ages and abilities by 1985. Between 1972 and 1985 he amassed an AAU and USS Club National Championship record that proceeded to break Hall of Fame Coach George Haines’ Santa Clara Swim Club record of 43 national team championships. Mission Viejo won 44 team titles including 18 women’s team championships, 8 men’s team championships and 18 combined team championships.

While at Mission Viejo, his swimmers won 124 individual national championships, ten Olympic gold medals, six Olympic silver medals, one Olympic bronze medal, five individual World Championship titles, 88 American records and set 21 world records, all within a 13 year period. Schubert was named American Swimming Coaches Association, National Coach of the Year for 1975, 1976 and 1981. In 1981, for the first time in the history of swimming, his team captured all national team titles in one year, six team titles (men/women/combined), plus 15 individual national titles and 9 American records. One of his teams scored a record 1255 total points in the Nationals. His team competed internationally in Japan, Russia and other countries, conducting clinics and good will. If you add up the results of his swimmers competing in the 1979 Pan American Games, Mission Viejo would have finished 5th as a country.

In 1985, Coach Schubert moved from one Mission to another, directing the training and coaching of the Mission Bay Makos Swim Team in Boca Raton, Florida. During his three years there, his teams won another nine national team titles and placed three swimmers on the 1988 US Olympic Team, winning a silver medal.

In 1989 Coach Schubert moved to the college coaching ranks as the University of Texas women’s coach, winning two NCAA Championships during his four year tenure. His Longhorn swimmers won 12 NCAA individual and eight relay titles, and Coach Schubert was named 1990 NCAA Coach of the Year. As head coach of the Texas Aquatics Team during that time, his teams won another 10 USS national team titles. Then he was back to California, taking the reins of the women’s and men’s team from retired Hall of Fame coach Peter Daland at the University of Southern California.

Coach Schubert has placed 22 swimmers on US Olympic teams, winning twelve gold, seven silver and one bronze medal. They have broken 21 world records, 97 American records and have won 160 US national individual titles with 65 national team titles.

Coach Schubert has served on various USS administrative committees including Steering, Olympic Operations and Technical Planning as well as the ASCA Board of Directors and the College Swim Coaches Association of America Vice President.

He has been competing at local open water races since 1990, attended his first Open Water Nationals in 1997, and represented the USA in the 25K at World Championships in 2008. There may have been many swimmers out there with more raw speed in the pool, but very few could match his experience, endurance, tactics, and innate sense of finding the fastest, most efficient way to finish an open water race. From short races to marathons, flat lake swims to rough ocean or turbulent river swims, John Kenny is the most experienced open water swimmer in the United States, if not the world. Other coaches in the triathlon realm claiming to be “open water experts” do not come close.

Fenwick served as Assistant Coach on the U.S. Pan Pacific Championship Team in 2018 and was the U.S. Open Water Head Coach for the 2015 and 2017 World University Games and the 2017 and 2018 UANA Pan American Championships. Fenwick was named to the U.S. national team coaches list in 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Fenwick served as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Tennessee from 2012-17. During his time with the Volunteers, he helped coach four U.S. Olympians, guiding the team to 100 All-American selections and 36 school records.

Prior to Tennessee, Fenwick coached the Men’s National Team with the Mission Viejo Nadadores in Mission Viejo, Calif. While working with the Nadadores, Fenwick coached swimmers to 88 NAG Top 10 performances, developed 9 National Junior Team members and two US National Team Members. Fenwick served as the assistant coach for Germantown Academy Aquatic Club in Fort Washington, Pa., from 2004-07 under legendary Coach Richard Shoulberg.

Fenwick attended Germantown Academy in Philadelphia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from William and Mary and a Master of Science in Sports Management from Tennessee. He lives in Charlottesville with his wife, Hayley, his daughters, Harper and Brooklyn, and his dogs, Knox and Maximus.

He spent the majority of his NFL years with the San Francisco 49ers, where he emerged as a rookie starter during the 1994 season and achieved the prestigious title of a Super Bowl Champion when the 49ers triumphed over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. During his NFL career, Lee’s achievements included two Pro-Bowl selections in 1995 and 1997 and an All-Pro title in 1995.

Beyond the football field, Lee Woodall has established himself as a multifaceted figure. He’s a minister, community leader, sports coach, spiritual coach, relationship coach, life coach, master coach, laser coach, group coach, marriage coach, and Health and Wellness ambassador.

Currently, Lee serves as the President of the Philadelphia NFL Alumni Philadelphia Chapter and sits on the National Board of Directors for the NFL Alumni Association. He is dedicated to helping men, women, families, and former athletes rebuild their lives through community involvement, goal setting, ministry, and more.

Lee’s vision includes launching the innovative “NO EXCUSES NFL TRANSITION BOOT CAMP,” designed to guide retired NFL players, spouses, or accountability partners through the psychological aspects of transitioning, transforming it into a roadmap for life. He is also actively working on a book titled “Transitions,” accompanied by a workbook featuring insights from 10 former NFL athletes, sharing their perspectives on transitioning, perception, self-sabotaging behaviors, and more.

Lee Woodall’s championship mentality extends beyond sports. He is equally passionate about speaking to young people, providing corporate businesses with insights on teamwork, mentoring athletes of all ages, and embarking on his speaking tour known as “Dare To Be Different.”

Lee is a loving husband, married to Terri Barnett-Woodall, and he values spending quality time with God, his wife, family, friends, and his community. Lee recognizes the importance of swimming fundamentals for athletes and the multitude of benefits it offers to individuals striving for excellence in their respective sports.

Erin swam at Saint Bonaventure University, graduating in 2020 with Bachelor of Science in Sports Management. She then went on to complete her Master of Business Administration and Master of Sports Administration from The Ohio University. While receiving her masters, Erin worked as a graduate assistant in the development office for the athletic department at Ohio University.

She currently serves as an Assistant Director for Development in the Nittany Lion Club with Penn State Athletics, where she provides support for Penn State student athletes through private funding for scholarship aid and capital projects. Erin currently resides in State College and enjoys going on hikes and playing golf in her free time. She also enjoys going to different sporting events like college football, hockey, and baseball. She will also take every chance she gets to visit her nephew and family in Syracuse.

Though her resume background speaks to her passion for delivering results in the fast-paced digital landscape, she has spent the past 10 years at the helm of her own start up, The Juice Philly, focusing on functional hydration for bodies in motion. Motivated by the benefits of fresh fruit, fibrous greens, and deeply healing herbs, she shares the way she has transformed her own life, both personally as well as athletically, through the studied application of ingredient-focused results.

After spending 12 years in the Mid Atlantic swimming arena under the guidance of Paul Hornsleth at MSA, Katie is excited to share her love of sport and the fundamentals the pool has instilled in her through the growth of the PhilAquatics vision.