instructors

MASTER’S SWIM COACHES

Caroline Byron
Caroline Byron, a native to Dallas, Pennsylvania, is starting her third year as a Master’s swim coach. She is a 2009 graduate of Boston College’s Lynch School of Education with minors in Theology and Studio Art in Arts and Sciences. She was a four time letter winner for the BC Eagles and still holds the Boston College records in the 100 and 200 freestyle. She was twice chosen the MVP - the 2007 and 2009 season. Caroline is the all-time leader at Boston College with 147 victories. She was a recipient of the ACC Post Graduate Scholarship in 2009 for her achievements in academics, athletics and service to the community.

Margaret Howe
Margaret is excited to join the BC Masters staff, and has been coaching age group swimmers for over seven years in both RI and MA. Currently, she coaches the Junior Nautilus B group at Crimson Aquatics. Not to be pigeonholed, she also has extensive experience teaching private lessons and small classes to adults with a range of abilities. A graduate of Boston College, she competed with the Lady Eagles for four years in the breaststroke events while she double majored in Theatre and Communication.


Jimmy Hughes
Jimmy Hughes joined the Masters coaching staff in September of 2010. Jimmy began competitive swimming at the age of 11 for the Pine Tree Swim Club in Portland, Maine. He specialized in middle distance freestyle events during his high school career at Deering High. After being named the Maine State Class A Swimmer of the Year, he went on to swim at the collegiate level for the University of New Hampshire. At UNH he was an annual conference finalist in the 100, 200 and 500 Freestyle events and the recipient of the rookie of the year award during his freshman year. Jimmy now works in downtown Boston as a Project Engineer at McNamara/Salvia, Inc. He has rediscovered his love for swimming by competing in open water swims, triathlons and regional masters meets. He enjoys imparting his swimming knowledge to others and is looking forward to building the strongest BC Masters team yet.

SWIM INSTRUCTORS

Jaclynn Cousins

Jacci Cousins is a lifeguard and swim instructor in the Flynn Recreation Complex. She grew up spending her summers at the beach taking swimming lessons. She has taught swim lessons for 4 years.  Prior to becoming a teacher, she was an assistant swim instructor.  Throughout the years, Jacci has taught all ages and levels, from babies to adults.  Jacci mostly teaches younger kids and adults but she enjoys teaching anyone who is willing to learn.

Trace Fairbaugh

Trace Fairbaugh is a sophomore pre-med psychology major.  She has been a lifeguard and swim instructor for the past 3 years both at BC and in her home town of Baltimore.  She swam competitively for seven years including at the Varsity level and has plenty of experience with refining stroke and working on endurance. Trace has lots of experience with teaching children how to swim. She really enjoys working with children from six months to ten years of age.   Swimming is one of her passions and she really enjoys giving back and providing others the opportunity to love swimming as much as she does.

John Letteney

John Letteney is a certified American Red Cross swim instructor, teaching for four years. As a child, John participated in the same classes that he now teaches.   This allows him to understand how these programs foster a safe and fun environment for all of those who participate. John was a member of the varsity swim team in high school. These experiences have helped John design programs that keep kids attentive and active, allowing them to learn a lot while having a great time in the pool.

Courtney Nolan

Courtney Nolan is a senior at Boston College and is certified in First Aid and CPR.  She is also the captain of the women's water polo team at BC.  Courtney spent the last four summers working as a beach lifeguard in the Rockaways in New York City.  She previously taught swim lessons at a day camp in Brooklyn, NY.  Courtney has experience teaching both group and private lessons to a variety of swimmers ranging from beginners to competitive swimmers.    

Ceara O’Sullivan

Ceara ("Keira") O'Sullivan is a certified lifeguard and water safety instructor. She has been teaching lessons, running stroke clinics, and coaching for four years. Her hobbies include competing in triathlons with the Engineered Triathletes Team. Ceara especially enjoys working with novice masters swimmers and triathletes looking to improve their swimming for performance or fitness. Additionally, Ceara loves working one-on-one with swim team kids who need some extra help with their turns, butterfly, etc. If you're looking for an experienced instructor with a passion for swimming, Ceara is the instructor for you.

Lauren Riddle

Lauren has taught for 4 years at Boston College and 2 years at the YMCA. She has developed a strong, welcoming teaching style that makes kids and adults feel comfortable. As a beginner and youth swim instructor, she has learned many ways to make even the most water-phobic person love the water. Although Lauren has taught a variety of age groups, her strongest ability lies in stroke development and learning to swim. Her goal as a teacher is to work with the participant in creating goals that can be reached by the end of each day and each lesson period.

Giulia Rizzo

Giulia Rizzo is a senior at BC studying biochemistry premed.  She has worked as a lifeguard for 6 years and swim instructor for 8 years (both group and private lessons). For the past three summers, Giulia was the head lifeguard and aquatics manager, organizing and running swim lessons for her home town lake. She works with students of all ages, but has the most experience working with children from ages 3-14. Giulia’s main objective when teaching is focusing on the student's main goal and accomplishing that goal.  She is very outgoing, personable, and excited to teach students one-on-one to improve their swimming ability.

Jane Wade

Jane is a senior at Boston College studying sociology and history. She has been a lifeguard at BC for the past three years, and has been the Aquatics Department student manager and a swim instructor for the past year. She has experience teaching both private and group lessons for swimmers of all experience levels. For the past three summers, Jane has been head lifeguard and aquatics director of a girls summer camp where her responsibilities included organizing and teaching swim lessons, administering swim tests, and planning and supervising all aquatic activities. Her aim as an instructor is to help students and parents set achievable goals to work towards during a single lesson as well as during the multi-week lesson period. 

Chris Walsh

Chris Walsh is a senior at Boston College.  He has taught swim lessons for 6 years. In addition, Chris has worked as a swim coach for a summer league program in his hometown for the past 3 years.  Chris is currently the diving captain for the Boston College Men’s Swimming & Diving Team.  He has always loved the water and was a competitive swimmer for 10 years before coming to college.  Chris is a certified swim instructor, through both the YMCA and the American Red Cross.  This has exposed him to numerous teaching styles and helped him develop a more enjoyable learning atmosphere for all ages.  While Chris has experience teaching all levels, beginners to competitive swimmers, beginners are where his strongest skills lie.  He really enjoys helping new swimmers learn to feel comfortable in the water and to swim independently. As an instructor, he looks to work not only with the child, but with the parent as well, to ensure a positive experience for all participants.

Gillian Walsh

Gillian Walsh is a freshman at Boston College.  She has swum competitively for 12 years, and was the captain of her State Championship high school team.  Gillian is currently a member of the BC varsity swim team, club water polo team and a lifeguard at the Flynn Recreation Complex.  She has 3 years experience as a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor.  She has taught swim lessons for children ages 2-12 at the Meadow Brook Golf Club in Reading, Massachusetts.  Gillian has also helped children with disabilities adjust to the water through the EMARC swim program in Reading, Massachusetts. She has had a lot of experience and success with helping younger children get into the water and start to enjoy lessons.