Ridgefield Aquatic Club

Head Coach / CEO Bob Shearer

Coach Bob begins his fourth year this fall as RAC’s Head Coach and CEO. Bob is a graduate of Emporia State University with a degree in education. He has been coaching club and high school swimming teams for over 16 years. His coaching accomplishments include coaching senior and junior national qualifiers, sectional and zone qualifiers, developing several NAG Top 16 swimmers including one national age group champion, numerous state and LSC swimming champions, as well as assisting in the development of 2 U.S.A. Swimming National Team Members. Bob is an ASCA level IV coach.

Bob’s philosophy of coaching stems from developing strong fundamentals with an emphasis on aerobic training at the age group level, and progressing to a more specialized training approach for senior swimmers.

Head Age Group Coach Brian Tann

Brian has been coaching for RAC since the summer of 2006. In that time he has coached numerous Zone qualifiers, Age Group State Champions and finalists. He is a graduate of Denison University. Brian began swimming competitively at age of five and later went on to become a Division III All-American at Denison University. He teaches social studies at Ridgefield High School and had been an assistant coach for the Ridgefield High School boys and girls swim teams for two years.

Assistant Coach Lorrie Najam

Lorrie is the Head Swimming and Diving Coach for the Ridgefield High School teams. Lorrie will primarily be coaching RAC's senior group while assisting with the RAC Senior Elite Squad. During the time that Lorrie has been with RAC she has assisted in the development of numerous sectional swimmers and several state champions. She is a graduate of Boston University where she was a member of the women's water polo club team. She also participated with the BU Masters program. She has been with the Ridgewood Country club team for seven years and has been Head Coach for the past five years. Lorrie is a ASCA Level 1 certified swimming coach.

Assistant Coach Ed Cullen

Ed began coaching with RAC in the summer of 2007. Ed currently works for the Children of the Sound swim program in Westport. Ed will be assisting in the coaching of RAC's Developmental and Age Group swim squads. Ed was a former Wilton Y swimmer in addition to competing for Wilton High School.

Assistant Coach Katherine Awalt

Katherine began coaching with RAC in Augost of 2007. Katherine has worked as a swim instructor with the Danbury YMCA for several years. Katheine will primarily be coaching the Olympic Way and Developmental groups.