MEET OUR STAFF

MOHAMMAD KHADEMBASHI

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ HEAD COACH

EMAIL: MAK@TEAMSANTAMONICA.ORG

Coach Mohammad started his coaching career at the Santa Monica YMCA in 2007, and was promoted to Head Coach of the YMCA Team in 2011. Similarly, he joined TSM Aquatics as Assistant Coach in 2015 and was promoted to Head Coach four years later, in 2019. He is an ASCA (Level 5), USMS, and a certified USA Swimming coach.

Since joining TSM, Mohammad has been leading swimmers to competitive rankings in Southern California, USA Swimming, and internationally. He has been able to coach TSM swimmers to Junior National, National, Olympic Trials, and World Junior levels during his time as the Head Coach of the Program, and has led the club to a Silver Medal status within USA Swimming.

Mohammad was named Head Coach of Southern California Swimming for the Western Zone Age Group Championships in 2017 and 2018, where team SoCal won its first Zone Championships in a decade. He has coached TSM swimmers at the 2016 Olympic Trials, Senior and Junior National, World Juniors, and World Championships. Mohammad has been named to the USA National Team Coaches list for 2019-2020. He was appointed Team USA Head Coach for the Fina World Cup in Hungary 2019 and Coach to the Venezuelan National Junior Team for the 2019 Fina World Junior Championships.

Coach Mohammad aims to impart his unparalleled joy for swimming to athletes during every practice. Mohammad also believes that every athlete can reach their potential through hard work and goal setting, and he challenges his swimmers to do exactly this in the pool as well as in their personal lives.

 “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”

IMAN KHADEMBASHI

ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH

EMAIL: IMAN@TEAMSANTAMONICA.ORG

Coach Iman hails from Iran and came to the US in 2003. Iman coached at the Santa Monica YMCA 2009-2014 ultimately as Head Coach, leading the team to the Southern California YMCA League Championship, and also serving as Aquatics Coordinator and heading the swim lessons program of over 300 swimmers. In 2014 Coach Iman joined Westside Aquatics and assisted in starting a new program in Santa Monica. Soon after Coach Iman became the Head Age Group Coach at Westside. In 2014 Coach Iman also became the Head Coach of a Master’s Program.Coach Iman is currently in his 8 th year of coaching. He has coached swimmers ranging from novice to Sectional qualifiers. He has also had his swimmers recognized by USA Swimming as the top 20 swimmers in the nation in their age group. Coach Iman is a fan and a student of the sport of swimming and he is passionate about coaching. He would like to help all his swimmers to realize their potential in and out of the pool, set goals, and create a plan to achieve those goals. In 2016 and 2017 Coach Iman was selected to coach at the Southern California All Star Festival Meet. Coach Iman believes that anything is possible through hard work and dedication.      

    “If you really want something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse.”

CHRIS KANG

SENIOR COACH

EMAIL: CHRIS@TEAMSANTAMONICA.ORG

Coach Chris has swim coaching in his family lineage and a huge passion for the sport of swimming. Coach Chris was thrown into the waters at the young age of 2 and started swimming competitively at the age of 5. Coach Chris has been coaching competitive swimming in Southern California since 2009. He brings 13 years of coaching experience to TSM Aquatics.

Coach Chris has helped produce a wide range of swimmers from Gold Medalists at Super JO's to Top 3 Ranked in Southern California. Coach Chris was also selected to assist Coach Mohammad at Western Zones Age Group Championship for 2 years running, as well as selected for All-Stars Festival Coach back to back to back years. Coach Chris believes technique and mental fortitude can be instilled at a young age as a firm foundation for success. He strives to understand the athlete's weaknesses, strengths, and concerns, so a plan can be formed and a goal can be achieved.

Coach Chris is an avid sneakerhead. Let's talk about shoes together!

"The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do."-- Kobe Bryant

DAN HERALY

AGE GROUP COACH

EMAIL: DAN@TEAMSANTAMONICA.ORG

Coach Dan grew up in Green Bay, WI where he began his coaching career at the age of 16 working with the Green Bay YMCA. After attending college in Milwaukee, Dan helped start a new swim program on the south side of Milwaukee that grew to over 100 swimmers after one year. He then moved to Virginia where he assisted in restarting the women’s swim team at Emory & Henry College and started his own club, Blue Ridge Aquatic Club. While there, Emory & Henry had their first NCAA qualifier in the teams’ history. From there, Dan moved to Southern California to coach at the University of Southern California and the Trojan Swim Club.

Throughout his 15 years of coaching experience, Dan has coached athletes ranging from beginners all the way to current world record holders. His philosophy is that, through swimming, young athletes can learn valuable skills, both in and out of the water, that they will carry with them for life. 

JULIANA RIBEIRO

AGE GROUP COACH

EMAIL: JULIANA@TEAMSANTAMONICA.ORG

Coach Juliana came from Brazil and arrived in the US in 2017. Juliana has 12 years of competitive swimming experience in her country where she was able to compete in a high level including Olympic Trials in 2016. In addition to that she has 3 years of collegiate swimming experience as an athlete where she collected school records and conference championships. She has a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and a master's in business administration. Coach Juliana became assistant coach at UNCP during her master’s degree in 2019 where she stayed until 2021. During these 2 years she helped coach the team to 2 conference championships and the firsts NCAA national cuts of the history of the program.

Coach Juliana is really passionate about the sport of swimming at all levels and is dedicated to help our swimmers develop to their full potential.

SYDNEY LEE

AGE GROUP COACH

EMAIL: SYDNEY@TEAMSANTAMONICA.ORG

Coach Sydney is a Boston native with a lifelong love for swimming. Sydney's swimming journey began at a young age, and she went on to compete as a Division I athlete at Boston University, where she served as team captain for two years and earned numerous accolades, including MVP twice, Coach's Award, Rookie of the Year, and Teammate of the Year for all athletics. She has a bachelor's degree in Neuroscience and a minor in Business Administration and Management. With her extensive experience and dedication to the sport, Sydney has mentored and coached swimmers of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to college teammates. Now, she brings her passion and expertise to our Pink Group at TSM Aquatics, helping swimmers reach their full potential.

MISAEL GUTIERREZ

PRE-COMPETITIVE COACH

Coach Misael began his coaching experience at a Culver City YMCA in 1999 and has been coaching in Santa Monica since 2002. His experience in aquatics ranges from teaching Parent and Me classes, swim lessons, age group swim teams, water polo, spring board diving, adult fitness classes, working with IronMan and Ultra Athletes with a focus on stroke development. Additional training includes: Classical Pilates, Hatha Yoga, Psychology of Anatomy, Tai Chi, Personal Training for Strength, Performance, and Corrective Exercise.

Coach Misael hopes to inspire a lifetime commitment to movement by facilitating an environment that enables athletes to do their best. He believes in TSM’s mission to “instill character and foster the skills and qualities” necessary to overcome challenges we face in our lives. 

“Rest at the end, not in the middle.” Kobe Bryant

A’ILANA MARTINEZ

PRE-COMPETITIVE COACH

Coach A’ilana was born in Santa Monica but grew up in Florida, where she began her swimming career. A’ilana was in the water before she could walk, and she swam competitively with USA swimming for seven years. She also swam four years with her high school, earning both Most Valuable Player and Coach’s Award twice. While swimming with her club team, she began helping younger age group swimmers with technique, where she realized her love of coaching. 

A’ilana comes to TSM Aquatics with experience coaching all ages and skill levels, ranging from 3 months old to competitive swimmers in high school. She wants to cultivate a love of swimming that will last a lifetime within all her athletes. A’ilana is so excited to be back in Santa Monica as a part of TSM! 

“Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” -Kevin Durant

MATTHEW FLANDERS

HEAD WATER POLO COACH

EMAIL: MATT@TEAMSANTAMONICA.ORG

Coach Flanders grew up playing water polo and swimming first at TSM Aquatics in the 80s, and then moved on to the Santa Monica High School teams where he earned all league, all CIF and All American nods in his 4 years as a Viking.He then moved on to play 4 years at UCSB, earning all conference honors as well as the team MVP his senior year. At the same time Coach Flanders was playing on the USA Junior National team.

After college Coach Flanders moved into coaching, first as a graduate assistant at UCSB, and then as the head coach for Samohi's water polo and swim teams. At Samohi he has one numerous league championships in both swim and water polo, as well as CIF championships in girls and boys water polo, earning CIF coach of the year both times. Players he has coached have grabbed all league, All CIF and All American awards.

Coach Flanders also coached at Westside Aquatics for many years, guiding that program to consecutive Junior Olympics appearances as well as two trips abroad to play in Croatia. Coach Flanders still plays water polo regularly, earning All American honors at the masters level, as well as 3 national championships.

SHANNA STEVENSON

ASSISTANT WATER POLO COACH

Shanna grew up in Santa Monica, California and started to swim at the age of 2. Her freshman year of high school is where she started her water polo career. Her junior year she helped make Santa Monica High School history by leading her team to their first ever CIF championship. She also earned CIF First Team as well as Team and League MVP.

She continued her water polo career with a D2 athletic scholarship at Azusa Pacific University. She now wants to share her passion for the water with all of her athletes.