Coaches & Directors

We are here to support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact one of the board members.
Coaching Staff

Lucky Foreman

Head Coach

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Earl “Lucky” Foreman brings over twenty years of coaching excellence to the Albany Starfish. He is an American Swim Coaches Association Level 5 coach and was a United States Junior Team coach in Montreal, Canada in 1991. Foreman was also a coach on the 1989 Olympic Sports Festival Team and placed swimmers in the top 25 in the world each year from 1985-90.  Other coaching accomplishments include a bronze medalist at the 1987 Pan American Games, a Senior National Champion in 1986, and three swimmers in the top twelve in the 1988 Olympic Trials.  He has also coached over 100 top 16 Age Group Finalists, and numerous LSC championship teams.

Most recently, he assisted the University of Vermont women’s team, helping them finish third at the American East Championships.  Previously, he coached the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club in Florida, the Saddleback Valley Aquatics in El Toro, Calif. and the Arlington Irving Swim Team in Irving, Texas.

Coach Foreman and his wife of twenty years Christine, have three children - Brittney, a freshman at the University of Vermont, Nicholas, a sophomore in high school, and Emily, an eighth grader.

David Washburn

Coach

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David Washburn coaches the Gold squad.  He started swimming competitively at the age of five and was an age group swimmer with the Starfish.  In high school, he competed for the Guilderville (Guilderland/Voorheesville combined) high school swim team, where he placed in the top 8 every year and was the sectional champion two years in a row in the 50 freestyle.   Dave swam for St. Bonaventure University while earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance.  While in college, he swam different events, mostly specializing in sprints for butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle.  After college, he spent a few years as an Assistant Coach for Glen McKenna with the Helderberg Aquatics Club.  Dave then returned to the Starfish, where he coached the Niskayuna Bronze and Silver squads.  He lives in Colonie with his wife, Tina.

George C Hooper, Jr

Coach

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George Hooper coaches the Bronze squad.  He brings a 30-year relationship with competitive swimming to the Starfish.  A competitor with the Starfish Club in the late 60’s, Coach Hooper has served as an assistant coach with the United States Military Academy and head coach of the R.P.I. Women’s swim team.  At the club level, he has worked with several clubs during his tenure as both an assistant and head coach.  His educational background includes a B.A. in psychology, and M.S. degrees in Physical Education and Community Mental Health Counseling. Coach Hooper was recognized for his dedication to the sport by the American Swim Coaches Association as the Adirondack LSC Age Group Coach of the Year for 2008.  He resides in Clifton Park with his wife Charlotte and team members Aimee and Nicholas.

Steve Hall

Coach

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Steve Hall coaches the Bronze squad. He grew up in Johnstown, NY competing at both the high school and USA Swimming level. He then attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he was a team captain, Liberty League champion, UNYSCSA champion, National qualifier and school record holder. He also earned numerous ‘swimmer of the week’ distinctions from both the Liberty League and ECAC conferences. Steve will graduate in December of 2009 with a B.S. in Electronic Media, Arts and Communications. He has previously coached with the Amsterdam Sea Rams.

 

Todd Striker

Coach

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Todd Striker coaches the Silver squad at NiskayunaTodd grew up in western New York, where he competitively swam in high school and USS.  He attended Alfred University, where he was a team captain, multiple time All-American and Academic All-American, and still holds school records.  He held the UNYSCSA conference record in the 200 backstroke, and has Empire Eight championship and conference records in the 200 freestyle, 100 and 200 backstrokes.  His proudest moment, however, was when he had the opportunity to compete on a USS relay with his brothers several years ago.  Upon graduating in 2001, Todd moved to the Capital District for a full-time job, concurrently obtaining his masters degree from RPI.  He has coached for the YMCA, at several swimming camps, and has volunteered at the high school, college and USS level.

Meghan Mahoney

Coach

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Meghan Mahoney coaches the Silver squad at Siena.  She was an age group swimmer with the Albany Starfish and has served as a substitute coach for the various Starfish squads in the past.  After four successful years of Division II swimming at LeMoyne College, where she earned a degree in History and Secondary Education, Meghan spent a year with AmeriCorps in Rhode Island.  She is currently a Global Studies teacher at Shenendehowa HS West.

Emily MacWilliams

Coach

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Emily MacWilliams coaches the Developmental squad. She comes from Watkins Glen, NY where she began swimming for the Glen Gators club team.  Emily swam for both her high school and college varsity teams.  While at Clarkson University, pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering, she was a captain for two years and a member of several record-breaking relays.  Emily received her Master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and quickly joined the Albany Starfish after moving to the capital district for a full time position with KAPL.

Kate Tyrrell

Coach

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Kate Tyrrell coaches the SENIOR ll squad.  She began her swimming career as a Starfish swimmer, and continued at the collegiate level at Carleton College in Northfield, MN.  While at Carleton, she also competed in water polo and helped establish the women’s squad while earning a Bachelor of Arts in History.  Kate joined the Starfish as a swim instructor while in high school, and continued as an instructor in college.  She has also coached the Beverly Sharks in Beverly, MA.  Kate is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Information Science Degree with plans to work as a School Library Media Specialist.

Board of Directors

Molly Grygiel

President - 2010

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Rosemary Lanzi

2010-2012 President Elect & USA Official

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Jill Dougherty

Secretary & Spirit Committee - 2010

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Rory Costello

Treasurer - 2010

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Ray Piascik

Member at Large - 2012

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Yaron Sternbach

Member at Large - 2010

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Rick Lenney

Member at Large & Official - 2010

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John C Serotta

Member at Large - 2011

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Douglas S Gordon

Member at Large - 2011

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Alex Beckford

Member at Large - 2011

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Timothy John McElrath

Member at Large - 2011

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Nicholas J Moscatello

Swim Rep - 2010

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Sarah E Dougherty

Swim Rep - 2011

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