Coaches

Coaches

Coaching Staff
Steve Morsilli Head Coach/Senior Elite
Steve Morsilli founded the Seahawks in December 1982, and serves as Head Coach/CEO and Senior-Elite Group Coach. Steve swam competitively and played water polo in the Hayward area for eight years at the High School, Collegiate, and AAU (now USA Swimming) levels. He graduated from Golden Gate University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1975. After working with the Federal Government as a Financial Manager for 11 years, he now owns a construction/property management business in the Hayward/Castro Valley area. He and his wife Julie also owned and operated the very successful Tri Valley Swim America lesson program at Foothill High during the summers. Steve has coached actively since 1969 (Flying Fins 1969-74, Piedmont 1974-75) and has coached in the Pleasanton area since 1975 (Pleasanton Thunderbirds 1975-78, Golden State Aquatics 1978-82, Pleasanton Seahawks 1982-Present). He also served as the Amador High Girls Varsity Coach from 1986 through 1996, winning League Championships in 1988, 1990, 1994, 1995, and 1996. The Amador Boys Team, which trained with Steve, won League Championships in 1988, 1990, and 1991.
 
Steve is certified by the American Swim Coaches as a Level 5 coach (the highest possible), which ranks him in the top 1% in the nation. He is one of the few coaches in the nation to have achieved a Level 5 certification in three different classes: Senior Swimming, Age Group, and High School. As of 2019, only 14 coaches in the nation have earned a Level 5 ranking in three different certification levels. Steve is also a charter member of the World Swimming Coaches Association and is a Certified Masters Coach. He has developed swimmers at all levels, from novice to world ranked, including Olympic medalists, American Record Holders, FINA World Junior Record Holders, National Age Group Record Holders, Pacific Swimming Record Holders, nationally ranked age group swimmers (including Age Group National Champions), Junior National, Senior National and Olympic Trials finalists (including individual and relay National Champions). His teams have won the Team Championship at the CA/NV Spring Sectional Championship in 2008 and the Winter Championship in 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Notable program alumni include swimmers like Catherine Breed, Erika Brown, Celina Li, Maxime Rooney, Luka Mijatovic and Teagan O’Dell, who were named to the USA National Team.  National Junior Team members include Jessica Cotton, Hailey DeGolia, Catherine Breed, Iris Brand, Allison Brown, Liberty Clark, Celina Li, Erika Brown, Lleyton Plattel, Maxime Rooney, Luka Mijatovic and Tim Wu. Seahawk alum Erika Brown was a member of the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Teams. He has placed swimmers on National Championship Teams at the Division I, II and III NCAA meets. Masters swimmer Bonnie Bilich swam to a World Record in the 200 meter backstroke in June 2009 and followed that with a National Record in the 200 yard back in April 2010. He has coached swimmers to Pacific Swimming Records and National Rankings in all age groups (10-U, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 & 17-18). After finishing every year in the history of the National Club Excellence Program as a Silver Medal Club, Steve led the Seahawks to Gold Medal rankings in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2026.  In the 2020 qualifying year, Steve led the team to its fourth consecutive Gold Medal performance, which earned the prestigious Podium Award from USA Swimming.  Only five teams in the nation earned Podium status in 2020.  The Seahawks achieved Podium status again in 2021.
 
Steve has served as an All-Star coach for Pacific Swimming, has produced many swimmers honored as "Outstanding Pacific Swimming Athletes", and was named to the 1991 and 1994 Olympic Festival Staff by United States Swimming and the 1995 World University Games Staff (Fukuoka, Japan) by the US Olympic Committee. He was once again named to the 2001 World University Games Staff for the meet in Beijing, China in August 2001 and the 2003 World University Games in Daegu, South Korea. He was named to the staff of the very successful 2007 World Championship Team in Melbourne in March 2007, and the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Steve has been selected to run three Elite level camps for USA Swimming at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. In April 2015, Steve was tasked with coaching the National Junior Team Camp at the OTC. In August 2024, Steve was asked by USA Swimming to lead the two week training camp for the Junior Pan Pacific Championship swimmers heading to Australia.  He was nominated for the George Haines Pacific Swimming Senior Coach of the Year Award in 1992, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,  2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2025; he received the North Coast Section Honor Coach award in 1995 and has earned the ASCA Award of Excellence 17 times since 1994. He was voted the George Haines Pacific Swimming Senior Coach of the Year in 1996, 1999, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. He was also voted Pacific Swimming ’Volunteer of the Year’ in 2002, an honor only once previously granted to a Coach.
 
Steve has served as a member of the Pacific Swimming Board of Directors, having established the Coaches' Education Committee in the 1980's and also served on the North Coast (High School) Swim Management Committee for over 20 years. He served as the Senior Swimming Chairman for Pacific Swimming and has served on the USA Swimming Senior Committee as well.  In 2020, Steve was once again asked to serve on the USA Swimming Senior Committee plus the ASCA committee to review and revamp the ASCA Certification program. Steve was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) in September 2009 and was appointed to the ASCA Executive Committee in 2011. He was elected Vice President of ASCA in 2012. He is a member of the USA Swimming National Team Coaches Pool and National Team Managers Pool. He addressed high school and USA coaches from all over California at the Pacific Swim Coaches Association Clinic, in 1981 on Workout Organization, in 1987 on Club Budgeting and Cash Flow, and he instructed the ASCA Level I Foundations of Coaching course at the 1988 PSCA Clinic and at the North Texas Swimposium in 2001 for USA Swimming. He addressed Coaches from all over the world at the 2000 American Swim Coaches Association dClinic in Cincinnati on 'Coaching as a Second Profession' and 'Getting Club Swimmers to Nationals'. Steve was asked by USA Swimming and ASCA to conduct an Online Clinic in April 2011 on Coaching a Large Group with Diverse Abilities. He also made a presentation to the National Select Camp Coaches in October 2013 in Colorado Springs and delivered the opening address to the Swim America Conference at the 2014 ASCA Clinic. He taught the ASCA Level 3 Physiology course at the ASCA Clinic in 2018.  Steve is married and lives with his wife in San Ramon and is the proud father of four adult children and thirteen grandchildren.
Joe Natina Co-Head Coach/Senior Elite

Joe was the head coach of the Crow Canyon Sharks. He had been coaching the team from 2015 to 2025. He has extensive experience working with all levels of swimmers from learn to swim to Olympic Trials Finalists. During his time there, the Sharks were a Silver Medal team from 2016-2023 and earned Gold Medal status in USA Swimming Club Excellence for 2024, and 2025. Joe coached the women's team to two Winter Junior National 1st place team finishes in 2018 and 2023, a women's 2nd place Summer Junior National finish in 2023, women's 3rd place at 2024 Winter Juniors, and a 2nd place combined team score finish at Winter Juniors in 2023.  Joe was a USA Swimming National Junior Team Coach in 2017-2024. Joe was also a World Top 100 coach in 2016-2024.

In 2023, Coach Joe was named as a coach for USA Swimming's National Junior Team Camp in Colorado Springs and attended the World Junior Championships in Netanya, Israel as a part of USA Swimmings coaching staff. In 2024 Joe was put on the USA swimming coaching staff again, this time for the Junior Pan Pacific games in Canberra, AUS. 

Coach Joe was named Pacific Swimming Senior Coach of the Year in 2023, and 2024.

 

As a swimmer, Joe competed as an age grouper for the Redding Aquatics, in high school for Arden Hills in Sacramento, CA, and collegiately at UC Santa Barbara.

 

Joe enjoys helping people achieve their goals, hunting, fishing, snacks, and fitness.

Joe Loftus Pre-Senior Coach

Joe Loftus is currently working with the Pre-Senior Group. Joe is a former Seahawk who made numerous Nationals in distance freestyle, plus had qualifying times for the Olympic Trials in 1996 and 2000. Joe earned his Bachelors Degree and teaching credential from Cal State University, Bakersfield, where he was also a member of their NCAA (2) Championship team. Bringing a wealth of experience as an athlete and coach, he is currently ASCA Level 3 certified.

Joe previously coached in Bakersfield for the Bakersfield Swim Club for two years in 1999-2001. He assisted with the Livermore High School swim team in 2003.

Joe is currently an elementary school teacher in Livermore, where he was nominated for teacher of the year for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years.

Over the years with the Seahawks staff, Joe has produced swimmers who have been finalists at the Far Western and Western Zone All-Star meets, respectively. He has also produced numerous athletes ranked Top 10 in Pacific Swimming and Top 10 in the Nation.

In 2003, he had a swimmer who broke a Pacific Swimming record and who was also honored as one of Pacific Swimming’s swimmers of the year.

In 2006, he produced two of the four 10 & under boy swimmers who broke a national all-star relay record. He has produced several Pacific Swimming record holders and in 2006 was nominated for Pacific swimming assistant coach of the year.

During the same year Joe coached the fastest 10&under boy in the 200 yard freestyle in the nation. During the 2006/2007 swim season, Joe had two swimmers recognized in Pacific Swimming as swimmers of the year.

In 2008, three of his swimmers were selected to the Pacific Swimming Zone All-Star team where one swimmer broke a Pacific Swimming All-Star 200 freestyle relay record.

In 2011, he had a swimmer selected for the Western Zone all-star team.

In 2012, one of his swimmers broke a Pacific swimming record and another one was selected for the Western Zone all-star team.

From 2012-2020 many swimmers were selected to the Pacific Swimming Western Zone All-Star team.

Joe became the Head Age Group coach in 2018. He also began running the tryouts for new swimmers.

In 2019, Joe began to oversee the Bridge dryland program for the senior and pre-senior groups.

In 2022, one swimmer broke 2 Pacific Swimming records. Many swimmers were high point winners at the Age Group Champ and Far Western meets.

Mike McIntyre Senior 1 & 2 Coach

Coach Mike began coaching swimming on a part time basis while living in Miami Florida in 1977 after completing his primary swimming career with Long Beach Swim Club in summer of 1976. Mike had the good fortune of training as an age group swimmer, College and Club Elite swimmer under Hall of Fame Coaches: Jack Nelson, Wally Spence, Earl Ellis and Dick Jochums, in that order. As an age group swimmer Mike won and/or finaled in numerous Florida JO Championship meets. In High School, Mike finaled at the Florida State Championships all 4 years, (Fr.-Sr.)     

Mike went to the University of Washington working towards a double major in Business and Political Science. Shortly after arriving at UW, Mike walked-on to the UW Swim Team for the 1971-72 season. Mike got a full scholarship shortly thereafter. He achieved the following personal swimming successes:

12-Time All American 1971-1975. UW Co-Captain 1975; Olympic Trial Finalist 1972 100M Back (5th Place, 7th Place World Ranking); Olympic Trial qualifier 1976 100/200M Back; National Open Champion 1972 100M Back; National Champion (73-74-75 Relays); World Top 25 Rankings 72-76 100/200M Back; USA National Team Member 74-75-76 to various International Venues; Masters Swimming World Top 10, 1988-2013.

Northwest Hall of Fame Inductee 2012

Mike has also been President and or a Director for a few teams over the years: The Sherwood Sharks (CA), West Vancouver Otters SC, Vernon Kokanee SC (British Colombia); Swim BC Board of Directors (Chair of Technical Advisory Committee).

2014-2017 Bellevue HS Boys (2 State Championships and 2 Runner-ups)

2013-2022 Head Age Group Coach, Chinook Aquatic Club (Bellevue) WA

2013-2022 Head Masters Swim Coach, Bellevue Club

 

Matthew Paige Senior 1 & Junior Coach

Matthew Paige began coaching swimming in 2009, and combined with his personal swim career, has been involved in the sport of swimming since 1994. As a coach, Matt thoroughly enjoys the process of guiding swimmers to reach their highest potential as student-athletes. Along the way, he has been fortunate enough to work with a multitude of talented swimmers and coaches at: Crow Canyon Sharks, DART swimming, STAS, and Arden Hills. As a swimmer Matt qualified for Jr and Sr nationals during high school (representing Arden Hills) and went on to swim collegiately at UC Irvine, where he was a scoring member of the 2007 Big West Championship team.

 

Here are some of his recent coaching achievements:

 

  • 2024 Crow Canyon Sharks reach gold medal status in USA Swimming club excellence rankings. 
  • 2023 Crow Canyon Sharks reach gold medal status in USA Swimming club excellence rankings.
  • 2023 ASCA top 10 age group coach of the year.
  • Coached numerous Sectional, Futures, and Jr national qualifiers during his time as Pre Senior Performance and Senior Performance coach with Crow Canyon Sharks. 
  • Member of DART coaching staff for 2020 USA Swimming gold medal club excellence rankings. 
  • Coached with DART on the age group level, working numerous athletes that broke LSC records and a couple that broke national age group records.
Long Gutierrez Pre-Senior & Varsity 2 Coach

Long was born in Mexico City and grew up in Utah where he swam competitively. In 2013, he began swimming at Cal Berkeley, training under head coach Dave Durden. During his collegiate swimming career, Long also swam on the Mexico national swim team, where he competed around the world. Long swam at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and was a medalist at the Pan American Games. Since leaving competitive swimming, he has found a passion for coaching and helping young athletes achieve their goals. Coaches athletes of all levels from JO’s up to Junior nationals.

Maddie Wittkowske Novice 1 & Pre-Junior Coach

Maddie Wittkowske grew up in the central valley. Maddie attended Delta College in Stockton where she played water polo and swam. Then she transferred to Cal State East Bay for swimming and water polo. Maddie was recognized as newcomer of the year in 2019 at Cal State East Bay. She was a part of three conference winning teams (once in swimming and twice in water polo).  Maddie graduated with a degree in Political Science and a concentration in Public Policy and Law.

After college she started coaching with Alto Swim Club in Palo Alto, where she primarily worked with the 12 and under groups. Then she moved to the Crow Canyon Sharks to be the Head Age Group Coach.  During her time at both clubs she has helped guide swimmers to qualify and win at Junior Olympics and Far Westerns, along with coaching 10-U Pacific Swimming record holders. She has found joy in coaching young athletes to achieve their dreams and setting them up for lifelong skills and love of the sport.  In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends, going to the gym and reading along with many other hobbies.

Danielle Knowles Novice 2 & Intermediate 1 Coach

Danielle has always had the love for swimming and all water sports. Growing up in Livermore, she began swimming competitively at the age of six when she joined the Rhonewood Sharks swim team in Livermore. She also swam year around for SRVLA and continued swimming in high school at Livermore High. After High School, Danielle attend the University of Washington where she majored in Biological Sciences and Sports Medicine. She swam for the Huskies for two years and retired due to a shoulder injury. Danielle developed a drive and passion for the sport, so it’s no surprise that she later turned into a swim coach.  Danielle has been a swim coach for five years, coaching the Discovery Bay River Otters and became the Head Coach for Rhonewood in 2018. She loves teaching kids to swim. Her first job teaching swim lessons was actually at Rhonewood and continued to teach swim lessons at the Livermore Valley Tennis Club as well as the Curtis Aquatic Center in University Place, Washington. She is no stranger to hard work and dedication when it comes to swimming. She loves sharing her passion for the sport and all the stories from when she first started her journey as a competitive swimmer. 

 

RJ Scott Intermediate & Junior Varsity Coach
Samantha Edgren Varsity 1& Junior Varsity Coach
Stephanie Vosicka Senior Elite/Assistant Coach

Coach Stephanie has been coaching for seven years, four of which have been as an assistant coach for the Senior Elite Group. She first started coaching at her alma mater, Heritage High School, as an assistant coach for two seasons. While coaching at Heritage, she also coached Master's level swimmers at Delta Valley Health Club. When Stephanie began her teaching career at Foothill High School, she became the head swim coach and led the team for three seasons.

Originally from Brentwood, Coach Stephanie swam competitively for over ten years with the Terrapins Swim Team. While on Terrapins, she competed all four years on her high school varsity team and two years on the Colorado State University (CSU) team. Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science degree at CSU and a Master's in Education from National University. Coach Stephanie currently teaches Biology and AP Biology at Foothill High School.