Coach Riches has been a resident of Irvine since 1976. He swam competitively and played water polo in high school. Steve has been a certified lifeguard, swimming instructor and swim coach since 1969. He served as the Aquatic Director for the Conejo Valley YMCA in Ventura County, and formed their Dolphin Swim Team, also serving as their Head Coach. Steve also developed aquatic programs for the Saddleback Valley YMCA here in Orange County, and lead their 'Learn-to-Swim' program. Steve also worked as an SCAF high school and NCAA swimming and water polo referee.

Steve has been the Head Coach of the Irvine Swim League (ISL) Courtside Stingrays for nine years. He was previosuly a member of the boys and girls swim coaching  staff at Northwood High School. Coach Riches is currently the Head Coach of the Portola High School Boys and Girls Swim & Dive Team in Irvine, Ca.

Coach Riches has a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and lives in the Northwood neighborhood of Irvine, with his faithful K-9 companion, Kate.

CERTIFICATIONS:
2012 Irvine Swim League (ISL) "Coach of the Year"
USA Swimming Coach Member
American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Coach Member
ARC First Aid/CPR/AED For the Professional Responder
ARC Safety Training for Swim Coaches
ARC Certified Lifeguard
ARC Certified Lifeguard Instructor/Trainer
ARC Water Safety Instructor (WSI)
American Red Cross Authorized Provider - Learn-to-Swim Program

Alejandro Nieto was born in Nicaragua and immigrated with his parents to California in the 80s. He grew up in Orange, Ca and attended El Modena High School where he was a member of the cross country and swimming teams. After high school, he studied at Santiago Canyon Community College and Cal State Fullerton earning a degree in economics. At CSUF, he played club water polo. 
 
Alex currently coaches swimmers from all sorts of organizations. Outside of SwimNation, Alex is head coach of
the girls' and boy's swim teams at Northwood High School and head coach of the North Irvine Knights ISL team.
 
When Alex is not on a pool deck mentoring young minds and helping create athletes and good people, he spends time
with his family. His wife Jessica and two children (Ben and Charlee) are the center of his world. Alex enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors with his family. His dream is to travel the world.  

Coaching Philosophy
The kids are first in our profession – first and foremost!

Bryan Dedeaux began his coaching career in 1990 with the Colony Red Hots
swim team in Irvine, California. Later, in 1999, he joined the Mission Viejo Nadadores to
enhance his coaching skills at a more competitive level. During his time with the
Nadadores, he had the opportunity to work with world-class coaches such as Siga Rose
and Jim Montrella. Bryan's versatility allowed him to coach at all levels and ages within
the program before taking on the role of 10 and under division director in 2004.

In 2010, Bryan was honored with the Southern California Age Group Coach of the Year
award. He has also presented at coaching clinics for ASCA and USA Swimming and
taught the Level 2 Stroke School for the American Swimming Coaches Association.
Furthermore, in 2021, he was recognized as one of the top 50 Age Group Coaches in
the country by ASCA.

In 2017, Bryan became the Mission Viejo Nadadores dryland director, and subsequently
began training the Varsity Boys and Girls swim team at Portola High School in the
weight room, holding the title of a Certified Functional Strength Coach. In 2019, Bryan
joined SET Swim Team as the Head Age Group Coach.

In 2020, he returned to the Nadadores as the 11/12 Division Director, and by 2023, he
led the Nadadores Age Group program as the Head Age Group Coach. During this time
he helped the team achieve ASCA's top 50 Age Group status three years in a row.

Bryan is thrilled to join SwimNation Aquatics Programs as Associate Head Coach. He is
enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to a culture where children’s happiness
and health are the top priorities, and swimming is an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

Bryan and his wife, Kate, are proud parents to three wonderful kids: Peyton, Jack, and
Blake. In his spare time, he enjoys attending concerts, caring for exotic reptiles and
amphibians, and playing with the kids in his backyard pool. Bryan’s favorite part about
coaching is hearing the laughter of children as they find the love and joy that swimming
on a team brings.

I’m a tenacious, loving, compassionate and energetic instructor and coach who enjoys what she does and who I do it with and for. Everything I do is in honor of my father and main inspiration, Papa Ron, whom I lost to MS in 1998.

Doctors would often tell my water loving dad how much water/swimming would help his debilitating disease by keeping his body moving and he’d feel free while swimming. I’ve been teaching for over 25 years. I have a BA in Psychology, specializing in early childhood development. Being a mom of two boys and two pups keeps me busy in and out of the pool.

Having two spirited boys, one with sensory processing disorder, has taught me more than any school or program could. Passion, compassion, hard work, tenacity, and outside the box thinking and doing is essential to adaptive teaching and parenting in general for me. Every class is tailored to every single child.

Veronica is an experienced aquatics professional with a strong background in both swimming and water polo. She competed in both sports at Irvine High School and continued her water polo career at Santa Barbara City College, where she is currently enrolled.

Veronica holds multiple certifications in water safety and instruction and is passionate about coaching and developing young athletes. She currently serves as the Head Varsity Girls Water Polo Coach at Portola High School, the Lead Girls Water Polo Coach at SNAP!, and leads the youth water polo program, where she emphasizes foundational skills, teamwork, and a love for the sport.

A true water sports enthusiast, Veronica is dedicated to the SwimNation focus of "Athlete's First," prioritizing each athlete’s growth, well-being, and success both in and out of the pool.

Certifications:
• ARC First Aid / CPR / AED
• ARC Safety Training for Swim Coaches
• ARC Water Safety Instructor
• ARC Lifeguard Certification

Coach Parker brings a passion for swimming and youth development to Swim Nation Aquatics Program. A lifetime Irvine resident, he swam competitively with the Irvine Novaquatics for 8 years before becoming a collegiate distance swimmer at Grinnell College. He has been coaching for over 10 years and is entering his 5th year as Head Coach of the Courtside Stingrays. During that time, Parker has built a strong reputation for combining technical excellence with a fun, team-oriented atmosphere. Under his leadership, swimmers have consistently improved their times, sharpened their strokes, and developed confidence both in and out of the pool.

Parker coaches swimmers of all ages, but especially enjoys helping 5–10 year olds discover their passion for the sport and strengthen their fundamentals. He is known for tailoring his approach to each swimmer—balancing positive reinforcement with targeted corrections—and for fostering an environment where athletes are excited to work hard and grow.

When he’s not on deck, Parker works full-time as a real estate professional in Orange County, which provides him the flexibility to continue coaching. He’s also deeply involved in his local community through his church and volunteer work. His ultimate goal as a coach is to help every swimmer find joy in the sport, build lasting friendships, and reach their full potential in and out of competition.

Coach Brody

Coach Brody joins SwimNation as Head Coach of our Senior 1 group, bringing over twelve years of competitive swimming experience with the Mission Viejo Nadadores and three years of coaching on deck. A freestyle sprinter and butterfly specialist, he capped his career with standout swims at Sectionals before transitioning into coaching.

Brody began his coaching career as a freshman in college, leading the MVN Summer League program with the Lake Forest Sharks and RSM Marlins. His commitment and ability to develop athletes quickly earned him a promotion to assistant lead coach of the Mission Viejo Swim School’s pre-competitive program, where he worked with swimmers to refine their technique and prepare for year-round competition.

Standing at 6’6”, Brody is known as SwimNation’s “gentle giant.” His coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that speed comes from precision—he focuses on building powerful, efficient stroke mechanics as the foundation for long-term success in the sport.

Beyond the pool, Brody stays active through reading, writing, and his passion for music, both playing and listening.

Coach Genevieve learned how to swim for the first time at age 5 in Huntington Beach—and she fell in love with the sport right away! She began swimming competitively at age 6 and continued through age 18, specializing in backstroke throughout high school. Genevieve qualified for the prestigious CIF Championship all four years of high school.

She has been coaching for nearly four years now and loves every moment on deck with her swimmers—from watching their faces light up when they perfect a stroke to celebrating their achievements and time drops. Genevieve is currently finishing her degree in Mathematics and Education.

She’s passionate about what she does at SwimNation, and we are so fortunate to have her on our team!

Coach Katie has been a co-lead at SwimCraft since 2024. A lifelong swimmer, she began her competitive swim journey at just 6 years old and continued through high school, specializing in sprint freestyle. With over five years of coaching experience with ISL, Katie brings both passion and expertise to the pool deck.

She is currently pursuing a degree in psychology, with a focus on working with youth in our community—an interest that aligns perfectly with her dedication to nurturing young athletes. Coach Katie loves watching her swimmers grow within the program and takes great pride in seeing them develop their skills and advance to the next level.

Coach Midori

A lifelong swimmer and multi-sport athlete, Coach Midori brings a strong competitive background to SwimNation. She has over five years of coaching experience with the Mission Viejo Nadadores, where she developed athletes from pre-competitive groups to advanced team levels with an emphasis on technique, strength, and confidence in the water.

Her specialties are backstroke and distance freestyle, and she has raced in numerous open water events and triathlons. Growing up in the Nadadores program alongside her sisters since the age of four, Midori’s deep history in the sport gives her both insight and passion as a coach.

Currently finishing her associate degree in business, she is eager to contribute her athletic knowledge and energy to SwimNation, motivating swimmers to push their limits while enjoying the process.

Outside of swimming, Midori stays active through surfing, endurance training, and other outdoor sports.

Coach Aiden has been part of the swimming world nearly his entire life. Starting in baby-and-me classes before he could even walk, he quickly developed a love for the water. By age four, he joined the Mission Viejo Nadadores Summer League in Las Flores and soon transitioned to the Nadadores’ year-round team, where he trained for more than 12 years before joining SwimNation in early 2025.

Aiden’s competitive highlights include holding the 50 fly record at the 2021 SCS All-Star Festival in Las Vegas, along with team records while anchoring numerous age-group freestyle and medley relays. Now a Varsity Team Captain at Tesoro High School and a swimmer with SwimNation’s Senior 3 Division, Aiden specializes in sprint freestyle and butterfly—his favorite events are the 50 and 100 freestyle.

Passionate about teaching and mentoring younger athletes, Aiden is lifeguard certified and has spent the past three summers coaching Learn to Swim and summer league programs with the Nadadores, SwimNation, and the Lake Forest Dolphins. He enjoys sharing his love for the sport, building confidence in young swimmers, and fostering their growth both in and out of the water. Aiden also plans to continue his swimming career at the collegiate level as a freestyle sprinter.