Pat Callahan
Position: Head Coach
Experience: 3rd Year
Patrick Callahan begins his third year at the helm of the Valley Shore YMCA Marlins Swim Team. Pat coached the men’s and women’s swimming team and women’s crew at his alma mater Wesleyan University from 1973 to 1988. He served on the NCAA Swimming Rules Committee and was selected New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association 1986 coach of the year. Pat has coached the Y masters program for over 12 years. His involvement with the Valley Shore YMCA also includes serving on the Board of Directors from 1993-2003.
Kara Bolles
Position: Assistant Coach
Experience: 1st Year
Kara begins her first year as Assistant coach for the Valley-Shore YMCA Marlins Swim Team. She is a former Marlins swimmer who also competed for the Hopkins School in New Haven, CT in which she was team captain. Kara was also a member of two record setting relays, one of which set a National record. During her time at Hopkins Kara was a 2-time Burt N. Erich award winner for being an outstanding swimmer and distinguished team leader. She attended the College of William & Mary as a student-athlete swimmer and graduated there with a degree in English.
Chris Ferreira
Position: Assistant Coach
Experience: 2nd Year
A former Marlins swimmer and a student-athlete at Connecticut, Chris Ferreira is continuing in his second year as assistant coach at Valley-Shore. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2008 with a B.A. in Social Influence Processes, and was a four year member of the UConn Huskies Swimming Team. A sprint specialist, he was a four year letter winner while at UConn from 2004-2008. During that time, he was a Big East and US Open Qualifier, was named UConn’s Most Outstanding Swimmer and holds top 10 records in the 50 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke and 100 Butterfly. In high school, Chris was named All-American while representing Daniel Hand in Madison, CT.
Megan Renzoni
Position: Assistant Coach
Experience: 1st Year
She graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2009 with a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology and was a 12 year member of the Valley-Shore Marlins Swim Team. Megan holds personal team records and was a YMCA National and Sectional Qualifier with the Marlins. During her time at UConn she was the Founder/President/Swimmer for the University Club Swim Team. During this time she achieved status as a Collegiate Club National Champion and record holder in the 200 Butterfly and 200 Freestyle.
Larissa Schroeder
Position: Assistant Coach
Experience: 9th Year
A very experienced coach, Larissa has been involved with the Marlins since 1991. She swam in High School and continued her swimming career at the College of Holy Cross in Worchester, Massachusetts. Larissa was a math teacher for 10 years and is now pursuing her PhD in Mathematics education at the University of Connecticut.