Meet Our Coaches

Head Coach

Head coach Mike Wylie has been our coach since 2003.  Mike’s swimming career began as a 5 year old who couldn’t pass his swimming lesson levels, as a result, his parents registered him with the Surrey Sea Lions swim club for “just one summer”, as an opportunity to work on his strokes and improve his endurance. Little did they know what they created as Mike’s love for the sport of swimming started immediately. 

Mike enjoyed success in the BCSSA, including breaking several regional and provincial records before deciding to swim year-around at the age of 13. During his time with the Hyack Swim Club, Mike developed into a top ranked age group swimmer to a senior national finalist. Upon graduation from high school, Mike went on to swim for Simon Fraser University where he was a 4 time NAIA All-American, SFU and NAIA record holder in the 50 and 100 meter breaststroke. Mike was a constant presence in the breaststroke finals at Canadian Nationals/Trial Championships (Including Olympic Trials), and also competed on the World Cups circuit between 1998 -2002. 

Mike was voted 2017 TAS Provincial Team coach of the year.

Mike has two daughters who are PoCo Marlin swimmers too!

Head Coach of Development

Lauren started her swimming career in 2005 for the Hamilton Aquatic Club in Ontario. In 2016, she moved to British Columbia to pursue her academic and athletic goals at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Lauren swam varsity at SFU from 2016-2021 while she completed a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. From 2021-2025, Lauren completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Thompson Rivers University. Lauren started coaching in 2011 with the Hamilton Aquatic Club and has coached various winter clubs since then. Lauren started coaching for the Marlins in 2016.

Lauren loved to race anything and everything from 50m to 10km and has competed at many competitions around the world including competitions hosted by Swim Ontario, Swim BC, Swimming Canada, Swim USA, Swim Austria, FINA, NCAA Division 2, and BCSSA.

Lauren states that “the summer seasons just keep getting better each year”. Lauren is a complete swimming nerd, so if you ever want to chat about swimming, do not hesitate to start up a conversation.

Assistant Coach

Tim had the opportunity to train under various highly successful coaches such as Cory Beatt, an Olympic Level Coach, with 35+ years of working with Olympic-level athletes. In Tim's swimming career, he trained with a variety of club and varsity swim teams competing in competitions across North America hosted by organizations including BCSSA, Swimming BC/Canada, Swim USA, NCAA-D2 and FINA. Tim retired from high level competition in 2020 at Simon Fraser University, finishing his degree in engineering science, however, he still swims and competes at times for the joy of the sport. 

Since 2018 Tim has been coaching athletes of all ages and abilities with the Port Coquitlam Marlins. The experience he has over the years in all levels of swimming aids in his ability to prepare young athletes for competition in the pool and life. There is nothing he enjoys more than passing along the time and lessons he was taught during his time as a competitive swimmer. 

Tim looks forward to another great year of struggles and successes for all the athletes of the Port Coquitlam Marlins!

Assistant Coach

Alex has been around BCSSA for the majority of his life, beginning with the Port Moody Aquarians in 1999. Alex and his sister (a long time BCSSA diving coach) changed clubs to the Coquitlam Sharks where he began coaching in 2010. After leaving the club in 2014 to get going with "real life," a connection made in university brought Alex back to coaching with the Burnaby Mantas in 2017. Getting back into coaching allowed Alex to realize he wanted to pursue teaching, and he now works as a high school teacher in the Coquitlam school district. The opportunity to coach High School swimming has brought Alex back to the pool once again, and he is excited to join the Marlins! 

Assistant Coach

Kaitlyn began swimming with the Marlins in 2011, inspired by her sister. She swam for nearly 11 successful seasons, and though she has finished competing, she remains thankful for the many lifelong friendships and unforgettable summer memories she has gained through the sport.

Some of her fondest memories were made with her best friends, who made senior workouts and early mornings much more enjoyable. She believes that swim families are the best families.

As a coach, Kaitlyn emphasizes positive thinking and encouragement, insisting her swimmers enjoy their sport. While she acknowledges the importance of technical skills, consistency, and endurance in her coaching philosophy, her primary goal is to inspire her athletes to be good people and honorable competitors.

Kaitlyn is currently pursuing a Bachelor's in Nursing at Douglas College. She has a particular fondness for the music of Greta Van Fleet. Happy swimming!

Assistant Coach

Owen has been swimming for seven years, starting from a playful bet with his sister that led him to discover his passion for the sport. He loves swimming for the connections he has made and the seriousness of the competition, yet appreciates the fun that practices offer. Owen looks forward to seeing his swimmers improve and achieve their goals.

A few seasons ago, he was part of a relay team with Angelo, Carter, and Gavin from the senior group, which he found immensely enjoyable. His experience was further enriched when, in his first season as a senior swimmer, Phoenix joined them for a relay, offering him a perspective from the other side.

His coaching philosophy is to treat each swimmer as an individual, ensuring they perform to the best of their abilities while also emphasizing the importance of fun in practice to balance the seriousness of their training.

Owen is also a skilled cribbage player, having outplayed Coach Mike more times than the coach would like to admit. When in need of a pick-me-up or celebrating, he turns to music, favoring albums like "The Sound of Perseverance" by Death, or tracks by Pantera, Megadeth, TOOL, or Alice In Chains, depending on his mood.

Coach

Owen has been part of the Marlins since 2013, currently coaching the Masters Group. He climbed the ranks from Development and hasn't stopped since. Owen treasures the unique community spirit of the club, something he believes is unparalleled. He's always eager to greet new swimmers and lend his support to anyone in need.

He fondly remembers the days when the club's award ceremonies were held at a private pool, surrounded in lush greenery, where playing tag and hide & seek was a highlight for many, including him.

Owen's coaching philosophy centers around personal growth and teamwork. He's dedicated to assisting each swimmer in achieving their utmost potential through setting individual goals and fostering a supportive team atmosphere.

Owen will be coaching the Masters Program and assisting with the Purple Group over summer 2026.

Assistant Coach

Dylan has been swimming with the Marlins for nine years, starting in third grade. Initially, it was for fun and to enhance his skills, but it soon became a source of friendships and memories. He loves the competitive spirit and the camaraderie among swimmers at races. He's enjoyed sharing the insights gained from his coaches and his experiences over his past two years of coaching. 

A great memory for Dylan was competing in Provincial Championships alongside his friends. From the competitive pool environment to the relaxed hotel nights, he has many fond memories.

He holds a firm belief in the importance of analyzing results, good or bad, to learn from mistakes and strive for improvement. 

Besides swimming, Dylan is passionate about playing soccer, skiing, biking, and engaging in various other sports.

80's Rock music is his go-to choice for a pick me up. 

Dylan is excited about embarking on another season as a coach.

Assistant Coach

Elsie has been with the Marlins since 2014 and has been swimming for as long as she can remember. She was also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four, and navigating swimming and diabetes has been quite the adventure!

Some of her fondest memories include playing cards with her friends during swim meets. As a coach, she strives to help her swimmers by focusing on the individual athlete.

Elsie is currently studying language reclamation and linguistics at UBC. She loves being outside (no matter the weather!) and can be found in the ocean or at a lake when not at the pool.

Assistant Coach

Louise has been in and around the water for as long as she can remember. After joining the Marlins in 2018, the competitive aspect of the sport became a defining part of her life. Through countless hours of training and swim meets, she has come to prioritize perseverance and community, always encouraging her swimmers to keep pushing forward.

Coaching is now one of Louise’s favourite aspects of the sport. She finds it incredibly rewarding to watch swimmers gain confidence and surprise themselves with what they can achieve through courage and a little bit of effort. Her goal is to foster an environment where athletes are excited to participate and feel equally supported, challenged, and encouraged.

When she isn’t at the pool, Louise can be found enjoying nature on camping trips, studying, playing other sports, or simply walking around town in the sunshine.

Louise is looking forward to this upcoming summer season, knowing it will bring countless laughs, splashes, and memories within the Marlins community.

Assistant Coach

Hi my name is Dylan DeRose, 

I am from Williams Lake BC, I am going to school at the University of Regina to be a high school teacher. I also swim with the U of R cougars swim team. My favourite stroke is butterfly and my favourite race to swim is 100 freestyle- also my favourite to watch. I learned to swim when I was 20, before that I played Jr B hockey as a goalie and played soccer internationally a few times. I love seeing swimmers push themselves and seeing what’s possible in the water and chasing their goals and dreams and being a part of their story. 

Assistant Coach

Taylor began her swimming journey in 2013 with the Port Coquitlam Marlins at just five years old after watching her sister in the pool and confidently telling her mom she could do it better. What started as a bold childhood claim quickly turned into a lasting passion for the sport.

After five years with the Marlins, Taylor continued her development with Simon Fraser Aquatics from 2019 to 2023. During this time, she discovered her strength as a distance swimmer and deepened her commitment to the sport through countless hours spent training and competing. Her dedication helped shape both her athletic ability and love for swimming, and made her into the coach she is today.

In 2023, Taylor returned to the Marlins, where she was welcomed back by teammates and friends who made the club feel like home again. Her favorite stroke is backstroke, with the 100m and 200m back being her top events.

Now as a coach, Taylor’s passion for swimming has only continued to grow. She loves working with young swimmers and takes pride in helping them build confidence, skills, and a love for the water. Whether she’s guiding them through practice or getting “bombarded” with wet hugs on deck, Taylor enjoys every moment and finds it incredibly rewarding to watch her swimmers improve and succeed throughout the season—both in and out of the pool.

Assistant Coach

Antonio has been swimming since 2021 and competes at a high level in sprint freestyle and butterfly. As a swimmer with the Port Coquitlam Marlins, he has consistently placed among the top swimmers at regional and provincial meets. His passion for the sport comes from his drive to improve, compete, and push his limits every day.

Some of his favorite memories in swimming include placing first in the 50m freestyle at the 2025 Simon Fraser Regionals and podiuming individually at provincials for the first time. At provincials, he also earned two gold medals in the freestyle and medley relays alongside Lukas, Matthew, and Chase, and was selected for the all-star relay, marking a major highlight in his career.

He enjoys swimming not only for the competition, but also for the discipline it builds and the team environment. He values the connections he’s made through the sport and the mindset it has helped him develop.

As a coach, Antonio focuses on building strong fundamentals and helping swimmers develop confidence in their abilities. He believes in treating each swimmer as an individual and supporting them in reaching their personal goals. He also keeps practices fun and engaging, even though he’s known for cramping the most during sets and getting yelled at for it in ways that always end up being pretty funny.

Outside of swimming, Antonio trains in Kyokushin karate, plays the violin, and also plays basketball. He enjoys listening to rap music to get hyped up before training and races, especially Ric Flair Drip by 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, and Offset.

Assistant Coach

Wylie has been a Poco Marlin since 2019. Despite joining at age 12, later than most would, he quickly found his place on the team. What started as a way for his parents to stop signing him up for swim lessons turned into a lifelong community and commitment that he can't imagine himself without. Now finding himself up at SFU studying chemistry he wants to take a step back from competing and help coach others so that they may find the same unexpected passion he did. 

Some standout moments from his years in the club include the road trips to every corner of BC for provincials, sweet caroline at the home meet, and the dreaded 100x100m practice that would precede the yearly cultus lake trip.

Outside of swimming he can be found working on his Miata, sleeping in till noon, expanding his vast music collection, or camping in the woods. 

Assistant Coach

Hi my name is Luka Tomic, I am from Kitchener Ontario and have been a swimmer for 16 years. I am currently going into my fourth and final year swimming for SFU as their team captain. I've been blessed with the opportunity of competing at many different levels of swimming, from Ontario provincials to the NCAA championships and Final World Cup. Over my 16 years I have gained experience, being coached by several different coaches, with a variety of different coaching styles. I am also a bit of a swimming nerd with a massive love for the sport, I will talk about or read anything swimming related whenever possible to try and better my knowledge of the sport. I am thrilled to get to share some of my experience and pass on the stuff I have learned to help other developing swimmers on their path to being the best they can be.

Assistant Coach

Kaela started swimming at the age of 6 and has loved the sport ever since. Since the age of 11, she has been volunteering with the club and enjoys helping young swimmers grow their confidence and feel comfortable in the water.

A multi-sport athlete, Kaela will be attending university on an NCAA Division II lacrosse scholarship. She loves connecting with kids on the pool deck and believes coaching is about creating a positive and supportive environment. From pre-race hugs to pep talks behind the blocks, Kaela is passionate about helping every swimmer feel confident and successful.