Our Coaches

Head Coach Hillary Hong

RED & GREEN GROUP COACH

This is Hillary’s 13th year as an Elk Grove Aquatics Club assistant coach. She is also the head coach of the Monterey Trail High School water polo and swim teams since 2010. Through coaching, she hopes to help young swimmers develop into better athletes and better people, while promoting a love for the sport.

Hillary joined the EGAC family at of the age of 7, continuing to swim year-round with the team for 10 years. She swam for Sheldon High School. Her favorite events include 100 Back, 100/200 Free, and 200 IM.

Hillary studied Civil Engineering and Mathematics at CSU Sacramento. Outside of the pool, she enjoys being with family and spending time outdoors.

Coach Troy Nissen

BLACK GROUP COACH

Bio coming soon!

Coach Kurtis Gillespie

BLUE GROUP COACH

Kurtis began his swimming career as an athlete, swimming competitively for fifteen years. He went on to qualify for the Junior Nationals as well as the National Open Water Swimming.

In his coaching career he has helped coach recreational swim, a total of 4 years as Head Coach for local High Schools, and is entering his second year as a coach for EGAC.

His coaching style is focusing on fundamentals, strength training and technique. “Practice is more than just saying, ‘GO!’” He believes “Hard work can still be fun.”

Coach Tam Vo

PRE-COMP COACH

Bio coming soon!

COACH’S CODE OF ETHICS

As Coaches – We will:

  • Make the best interests of the children in the program the priority in my heart and mind. Maintain the delicate state of balance between what is best for the individual (the swimmer) and the needs of the group (the team).

  • Communicate honestly, openly, and in a mature manner and to be approachable and receptive to parents’ and swimmers’ reasonable concerns.

  • Acknowledge my frailties, imperfections, and my humanity, and within those constraints, pledge to strive to be consistent and fair in my dealings with team members and to treat each swimmer according to his/her needs.