PASA/Alpine

With over 20 years of experience in the Bay Area Aquatics community, Coach Dave brings a wealth of experience to the Alpine Hills’ coaching staff, and elevates our program to new heights.

What kids and teens love about Dave’s coaching style is the balance of fun and hard work. And the results speak for themselves. Coach Dave’s leadership has helped guide Zone 1 athletes to multiple JO and Far Western Championships. But his commitment to the swim community goes beyond Alpine Hills. He is also an enthusiastic advocate for all of the athletes in our Zone. During his time as the All Star Team Manager for Zone 1 North, the team won 7 of the 10 years he managed.

Coach Dave's commitment to nurturing talent also extends to high school coaching, where he masterfully led South San Francisco High to their first ever PAL Championship.

This dedication to swimming extends beyond the pool. He is also a preschool teacher and recreational specialist for the city of San Mateo. In these roles, he has worked with children of all ages to help them develop their physical, social, and emotional skills.

Coach Dave is a highly respected and experienced coach who is committed to helping swimmers reach their full potential. He is a valuable asset to the Alpine Hills swim team and the Bay Area Aquatics community.

Patrick’s coaching philosophy is based on two key principles: fun and long-term development. This Bay Area native, who hails from Cupertino, grew up swimming for DACA and eventually Monta Vista High School. When a shoulder injury shortened his competitive swimming career, a new door opened: coaching.

Patrick's coaching journey started by assisting his swimming and water polo coach, igniting his passion for guiding others in the sport he loves. Initially teaching Pre-Competitive classes at DACA, he soon recognized his calling in coaching and embarked on a transformative 10-year tenure at DZ Swim, formerly known as PASA-Foothills, under the mentorship of Dave Zapp. Along the way, he encountered remarkable individuals, including Coach Jane and Eric, who played pivotal roles in shaping his coaching philosophy.

Patrick firmly believes that cultivating a positive and enjoyable training environment fosters greater commitment and progress among his athletes. Patrick aspires to nurture swimmers who not only excel in their sport but also carry their passion for swimming throughout their lives, avoiding burnout and embracing a lifelong love for the water.

Beyond his dedication to coaching, Patrick finds solace and creative expression in writing music. During his early 20s, he toured with several bands, further demonstrating his versatility and passion for artistic pursuits.

In his role as the Aquatics Director at Alpine Hills, Patrick continues to inspire the sports’ next generation.

Coach Laura grew up in Menlo Park, CA and started swimming as a kid. She attended Castilleja School and Princeton University, where she played water polo. After college, she spent several years working in market research and consumer insights in Los Angeles and San Francisco. She stayed involved with swimming and coaching in her free time and post-pandemic, chose to make it full-time. Laura's goals for practices are to improve stroke technique, while working hard, and having fun. She hopes kids develop a lifelong love of swimming and being in the water.

Open water is another type of swimming Laura is passionate about. She has completed several open water events, including a relay swim from Catalina Island back to mainland California (6 swimmers tackling 20 miles in total). She also encourages swimmers to try open water for a different, complementary experience.

Eric began his swimming journey at Alpine Hills and swimming with PASA as a kid. He started coaching with the team in high school and continued to do so throughout college. Upon completing college at Santa Clara University, Eric went into the tech world. After a quick stint in tech, Eric returned to the pool and his love of coaching, and has been here ever since. When Eric isn’t in the pool, you can find him teaching 6th Grade Math. One of Eric's goals as a coach is to help swimmers reach their highest personal potential, as well as their athletic potential. He hopes that these young swimmers are able to find a love of swimming that continues long after they graduate from the program.