Head Coach / CEO Bob Shearer

 
Coach Bob completing his seventh year 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 20 years.   Over the last 7 years RAC has seen unprecedented growth and success in the pool.  RAC has grown to 180 swimmers, and is regularly one of the top teams at the CT Championships.  In addition, his coaching accomplishments include coaching senior and junior national qualifiers, sectional and zone qualifiers, developing several NAG Top 10/16 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.

Since arriving at RAC in 2004 Bob's accomplishments include:

Nominated for CT Senior Coach of the year in 2009 & 2010
Recognized as CT Senior Coach of the year in 2009
5 Sr National Qualifiers
10 Jr National Qualifiers
1 Jr. Maccabiah Games Gold Medalist
Several Swimmers nationally ranked in the Top 10 in the country
23 CT State Records
Numerous Sectional Qualifiers and Finalists
Numerous State Champions

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.

                        Assistant Coach Sue Shoff

Sue Shoff, a Massachusetts native and Boston College graduate brings over twenty years of extensive teaching, leadership development and public speaking experience to RAC. As a Women’s Counselor in Christian ministry Sue worked in training and development and also internationally as a leadership consultant for a year in Tokyo, Japan. The captain of her High School swim team, head swim coach for the Ridgefield Recreation Center, staff teacher at Veterans Park Elementary School and swim instructor for the La Jolla YMCA in California, Sue exudes a love of swimming and a vision for our youth. She, along with her husband and two teenagers are proud residents and members of the Ridgefield community. Coach Sue works primarily with our Olympic Way, Bronze and Silver groups.

Head Age Group Coach Chris Woolridge

Chris Woolridge is completing is second full year with the RAC.  Chris brings 10 years of USA Swimming and college coaching experience with him.  Prior to joining the RAC coaching staff Chris was the Head Age Group Coach for Greenwood Memorial Swim Club and Associate Head Coach of Keene State University.  During his career Chris has coached several  National Top 10 age group swimmers, NCAA Div. III national qualifiers, & numerous New England LSC and Eastern Zone Age Group Champions.  Chris is a certified ASCA Level III Coach.  Before beginning his coaching career Chris swam at Keene State College for 4 years.

Assistant Coach Matt Kirkpartick

Assistant Coach Laura Polhill

 Laura Polhill, of Brewster, NY, has been coaching in Westchester and Putnam counties in New York for the past 12 years.  She comes to RAC as a former age group and senior coach at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester’s USA Swimming program where she helped develop Top 16 NAG swimmers in various strokes.  She is also the head coach and aquatics director of the Willowbrook Swim and Tennis Club in the Northern Westchester Swim Conference.  Since assuming the role of head coach in 2000, Laura has helped Willowbrook compile a 50-1 record and has won 9 of 10 NWSC championships during that span.  In addition, Laura started the boys varsity swim program at Brewster High School in 2005 and grew the program into a successful team in a few short years.

 Laura takes great pride in teaching the proper technique, building confidence and self esteem, and feels strongly that every swimmer (no matter what their current level of achievement) deserves individual attention and support in helping them to achieve their goals.  Laura brings great energy and enthusiasm to the sport of swimming and is extremely excited to be joining RAC this spring.