Meet Our Coaches

Mike Wylie

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!

Lauren Diehl

Head Coach of Development

Lauren started swimming competitively in 2005 for the Hamilton Aquatic Club (HAC) in Ontario. She swam with HAC until 2016 when 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 loves 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 started coaching in 2011 with the Hamilton Aquatic Club and has coached various winter clubs since then. Lauren started coaching with the Port Coquitlam Marlins in 2017 and has coached all ages of swimmers, ranging from Mini Marlins to Masters. Currently, Lauren is coaching with Thompson Rivers University and Kamloops Classic Swimming throughout the school year, as well as with the Port Coquitlam Marlins throughout maintenance and the summer.

Lauren’s coaching philosophy encompasses teaching and developing swim skills while developing swimmers holistically outside of the water and having fun. Her hope is that each person that she coaches will take some aspect of what she taught them and implement it into their lives. Whether it be the importance of hard work, dedication, not giving up or being a lifelong athlete, she hopes that each swimmer that she coaches can take these attributes she has taught them and put them to use in school, at work, or at home. She believes that every single athlete has a different version of success for themselves and will each have a different path to get there. Thus, there is no “one-size fits all” for each individual in the pool. She would love for all of her swimmers to share the same love and passion for swimming as she does.

Outside of the pool, Lauren loves to be outside partaking in activities such as skiing, hiking, biking, running, camping, rock climbing, and kayaking. Interesting facts about Lauren include that she has her Czech citizenship, loves to travel and that one of her favourite musical artists is Kanye West.

Lauren has loved every summer season that she has coached, and says 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 bring it up to her.

Lauren is looking forward to another excellent season of sharing her passion for swimming with all of the PoCo Marlins swimmers this summer!

Tim Woinoski

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!

Alex

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!

Kaitlyn

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!

Hallie

Assistant Coach

Hallie has been with the club as a swimmer since 2014. She joined when she was very young and has always loved the sport. Over the years she has made great friends through swim club. Hallie likes to focus on strength training and her favourite groups to coach are the younger kids where she can teach them to dive and help them with technique so they can beat their personal best times.

Jada

Assistant Coach

Jada joined the marlins family in 2016. Having come into competitive swimming as an older child, Jada learned to value perseverance. She now enjoys helping children to persevere through their swimming development. When not coaching, Jada enjoys working as a lifeguard and swim instructor for the city, creating art and hanging out with friends. She is currently studying biology at UBC Okanagan.

Owen

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.

Elsie

Assistant Coach

Elsie has been swimming with the Marlins for 10 years. Her swimming journey began with the Mini Marlins program, and she has been a dedicated member ever since! She loves the community of the club, and looks forward to contributing to that community and helping the younger kids. One of the best memories Elsie has is the pool party that's happens before our home meet.

Her coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of recognizing the individual skill levels of each swimmer while striving to enhance the group's overall performance. Outside of swimming, Elsie has a passion for playing Dungeons and Dragons and enjoys songs from musicals like Hamilton, EPIC, and Newsies. Elsie is excited about her role as a coach this year and is looking forward to making a positive impact!

Owen

Assistant 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.

When it comes to food, Owen is adventurous, always open to trying new things, though he's firm on his dislikes and unlikely to sway.

His go-to pick-me-up song is "See You Again" by Tyler The Creator, featuring Kali Uchis.

Dylan

Assistant Coach

Dylan has been swimming with the Marlins for seven 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 looking forward to share the insights gained from his coaches and his experiences over the years.

The trip to Nanaimo last year was particularly enjoyable for Dylan, as it allowed the seniors to socialize and compete together in a fresh setting.

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 his first season as a full-time coach.

Louise

Assistant Coach

Louise has always had a passion for being in and around the water — whether it's swimming in pools, snorkelling in the ocean, sailing the seas, or surfing the waves. Since 2018, she has swum competitively with the PoCo Marlins, working hard to develop her swimming skills and discovering her love for coaching through volunteer work.

As a Junior Coach, Louise enjoys helping young swimmers learn, improve, and, most importantly, have fun while building their own passion for the sport. She strives to create a positive, supportive environment where every swimmer can thrive.

Outside of the pool, Louise loves staying active and making the most of every opportunity. She participates in a variety of sports — including martial arts, skiing, volleyball, and more — always aiming to learn, grow, and build meaningful connections along the way.

P.S. If you ever wonder what’s making her swim so fast, it’s probably just the Taylor Swift songs playing on repeat in her head!

Can't wait to see you at the pool!

Our coaching staff provides the technical expertise in how to train and to swim the strokes correctly. They encourage our athletes, dealing with each individual’s strengths and weaknesses. They provide guidance and leadership at swim meets and in practices. The coaches are committed to helping each Marlin have a successful season.

The minimum level of technical qualification we require include current certificates in:

N.L.S.
Life Saving Society Swim Instructor
N.C.C.P. LEVEL 1
Criminal check by the RCMP

Should you have questions regarding our coaches please email vicepresident@pocomarlins.com

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