Coaching Staff

Coach Manny joined the staff full-time in the fall of 2025 as the Assistant Head Coach, having been an assistant coach for 2 years prior, and also serving as Head Lifeguard for the aquatics department.

Manny started swimming at age 9 and swam for the Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club up until high school. He swam and played water polo all four years in high school at Saint Ignatius College Prep. Manny graduated from DePaul University where he double majored in Industrial Organizational Psychology and Spanish, and also studied abroad at Universida Nebrija in Madrid, Spain.

In his free time, Manny enjoys reading philosophy novels and comic books. He still enjoys swimming recreationally. If he had to choose, he would say his favorite strokes are backstroke and freestyle, but he loves IM events most of all.

Manny says, "I have enjoyed working with all the amazing staff and coaches I have met during my time at the YMCA. I can say that my greatest accomplishment has been the opportunity to coach swimmers to their fullest extent while also setting them to be leaders. Being able to not only empower our swimmer’s swimming capabilities but also developing them as people. I am excited to now be fully committed to the JETS team and work with our amazing staff and swimmers!"

Coach Alyssa swam on the JETS for eight years, and also swam for Joliet West High School for four seasons. She remembers her time swimming with JETS very fondly, making many friends along the way and loving the competition. Her favorite stroke was breaststroke.

Alyssa started coaching with the JETS in the spring of 2015. She brings a lot of energy, positivity and creativity to the pool deck. "It is important that every swimmer is having fun and working together as a team." In addition to coaching, she also worked at the Joliet Park District for five years teaching swim lessons, managing lessons, and lifeguarding. She graduated from Joliet Junior College with an associates degree in arts.

Alyssa has a goofy side and loves to let out her inner creativity through drawing, painting, crafting, and many other techniques. She also enjoys playing video games, swimming for fun, and...eating (she loves food so much, she considers it a hobby!).

Coach Jessie began swimming competitively at the age of 11 on the JETS. She continued swimming through high school at Lincoln-Way. She was the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley relay that placed 10th in state in 2000. After not swimming competitively in college, she returned to the pool to swim with the Naperville masters swimming club. She participated in the Big Shoulders 5k swim race in Lake Michigan in 2009. Jessie also taught swim lessons at Lockport Township from the age of 15 to 24. She coached on numerous teams prior to having kids, including Plainfield High School Girl's JV Swim Team, Assistant Coach at Naperville YMCA, and Head Coach for the Lemont Dolphins. One of Jessie’s strengths is tightening and loosening goggles.

Jessie believes that each child should have a fond and memorable swim experience while improving their technique, strength and endurance. Jessie graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics with a teacher's certification. Prior to her third child, she was a high school math teacher. Currently, she is self-employed as a math tutor. When Jessie can find the time, she runs and swims. Jessie has been married to her husband Mark for 16 years and together they have 5 children. Coach Jessie is our lead group coach for the Zeppelins.

Bio to be added soon.

Coach Larissa has 18 years of competitive swimming: swam 5 years at Lewis University, breaking multiple school and pool records, 4x NCAA Championship qualifier, 2x All-American Division 2, GLVC Athlete of the Week in 2021.She has helped as a volunteer coach at Lewis University while still a swimmer and occasionally at her home club in Panama during offseason. Coach Larissa got her Bachelor's degree in Sports Management with a minor in Marketing from Lewis University. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Business Administration at Lewis University. She is a graduate Assistant for Club Sports, specifically Hockey at Lewis University and a Guest Service Associate with the Chicago Stars FC. She is a big soccer fan, loves going to the games and watching at home. She  enjoys listening to music and going to her favorite artists concerts. Coach Larissa has stated “We have a great season ahead of us and I'm very thankful to be able to stay connected with swimming through the JETS and I'm very excited to be a part of the family!”

Coach DJ has worked at the YMCA since 2013 and has over 30 years of coaching experience. He won Chicago Catholic League Coach of the Year in 1995. DJ briefly swam with the JETS in 1991 and swam for Southern Illinois University from 1988-1993, where he graduated with a Major in Psychology. He has completed two Ironman triathlons in 1993 and 1994. His full time job is working as a regional sales manager in the railroad/highway market, and in his spare time he loves playing and watching golf and watching Notre Dame football games. DJ has been married since 1995 and has 2 kids.

Bio will be added soon.

Bio will be added soon.

Megan started swimming when she was 8 years old with the JETS and swam through high school. She then continued her swimming career at Lewis University, specializing in the 200 butterfly and mid-distance freestyle. After having to stop swimming following her junior year, Megan returned to the JETS as a coach and has loved it ever since! Being a 1st grade teacher, Megan makes swim practice FUN and EXCITING!

Megan comes from a big family of six! She’s the second of four kids, and she has all brothers. They grew up playing sports – the boys played baseball, and Megan was the swimmer. In her downtime, she enjoys reading novels and, as a typical first-grade teacher, finds coloring and doing puzzles very relaxing. Of course, she also cherishes spending time with her family and friends whenever she can.

Bio will be added soon.

Coach Emily started swimming at age 10 for the YMCA Westside Silver Fins in Arizona, and went on to swim for Lewis University in college where she served as a team captain her senior year. Some of her proudest moments during her swimming career include competing at YMCA Nationals and also the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Emily started coaching for the YMCA summer league when she was 14 years old. Before joining the JETS staff in fall of 2021, she coached the Lemont Dolphins and also worked with Special Olympics at Lewis.

Emily says this about her coaching philosophy: "My coaching philosophy is detail oriented. I'm a huge believer that the little things in practice from streamlines to proper kick technique is what makes us great!"

Emily's family is based in Arizona, where she grew up, but she has relatives scattered throughout Indiana and South Korea. In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, traveling, weightlifting, practicing yoga, hiking, attending concerts, and spending time with her friends and family.

Coach Casey grew up swimming competitively since the age of 7. She swam for DGAST, BR Ryall and Express swim clubs, and swam varsity at Downers Grove South High School attending state yearly. She went on to swim all four years at Illinois State University and was captain her senior year of college. Coach Casey began coaching the summer swim team for Maple Hill in Downers Grove at the age of 15. From there, she has coached summer swim teams for the Lisle Sea Lions and Meadows Dolphins and also coached for Express Swim Club in Downers Grove. Also, one of her first jobs was teaching swim lessons and lifeguarding at the YMCA in Downers Grove. Many of her previous jobs as a teen and in her 20’s were in aquatics. Casey graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s in Speech Pathology and graduated from National Lewis University with a Masters Degree in Special Education. Casey has been a stay at home mom to her 3 daughters for the past ten years. Prior to that, she was a Special Education Teacher. She also has her 200 hour yoga certification and has taught yoga classes in the area. Casey enjoys being outside and in the sunshine! She enjoys Peloton spin and hiking classes, biking, walking and yoga. She loves reading, making sourdough and spending time with her family! She is also a dog lover and has a whoodle named Goldie. Coach Casey has been passionate about the sport of swimming since she was a little girl and continues her passion by coaching youth swimming. She also has two daughters on the JETS! 

Bio will be added soon.

Coach Marissa started swimming when she was 9 years old, and swam for the JETS for nearly 9 years. She also swam varsity for Joliet Township High School all 4 years. Since 2012, Marissa has been coaching a diverse range of swimmers from novice to top 10 finishers at the Age Group and YMCA state level. Marissa has been coaching with JETS since 2015. She is currently an ASCA level 2 coach. She also has experience coaching the Central Zones Diversity meet for Team Illinois and is involved with the Illinois Swimming Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Marissa is very passionate about coaching, where her philosophy is to have fun and enjoy swimming, not only as a sport but to make lifelong friends. In her spare time, Marissa loves swimming and exercising, listening to music, reading, photography and watching true crime shows. Marissa has two daughters named Savannah and Scarlett.

Bio will be added soon.

Coach Mary began swimming at the age of 10 for DOCS swim team in Peoria, IL and was a state qualifier every year. She stopped swimming competitively in high school but remained an active member of the swim community in Peoria. During her time in college she assisted with the Can-Y-Cuda swim team in Canton, IL and the McDonough County Dolphins swim team in Macomb, IL and DOCS swim team in Peoria, IL. Coach Mary studied Music Business at Bradley University, Music Composition at Western Illinois University, and is currently working towards her Masters in Education at Saint Xavier University. She is currently an elementary teacher in district 204 in Naperville and Aurora and has previously worked in district 204 in Plainfield. Coach Mary enjoys all sorts of arts and crafts in her free time, in addition to journaling and creative writing. She also enjoys all aspects of music-writing music, singing, playing guitar and piano, and doing digital audio work. She also loves exercising and recently started running to train for more triathlons in the future. If she's not at work or doing any of the previous activities, she is watching Twitch streamers with my husband. Coach Mary always make sure to take the time to get to know all swimmers individually and do what she can to help them grow as swimmers and as leaders.

Coach Autumn has been swimming for the JETS for 9 years now and has been to state every year since she was 9 years old. She has been a junior coach for the JETS Swim Team for a year and is in the Mach 2 group. Coach Autumn currently attends minooka community high-school and is in her Junior year. She loves reading, writing, and listening to music. Outside of coaching and academics, she has a huge passion for cars.

Coach Aubrey has been a swimmer on the JETS for the past 10 years, and is a Mach 3. She has been coaching for a year, and hopes to continue contributing to the JETS with her swimming experience. She currenting attends and swims for Rosary College Prep. She is a lifeguard, swim instructor, and an employee at Abbey farms. She loves to read and bake.

Bio will be added soon.

Bio to be added soon.

Bio will be added soon.

Bio to be added soon.

Coach Beth swam for the JETS for 10 years, and was a college swimmer for 2 years at Lewis University. With the JETS, she was a 4-time YMCA National Team member in the breaststroke events. Beth comes from a whole family of breaststrokers who she shares a lot in common with. All of the Senese kids were long-time JETS swimmers, YMCA National qualifiers in breaststroke events and also swam, or currently swim, at Lewis University.

Beth began coaching with the JETS in the fall of 2014. "My number one goal is to always make sure the kids are having fun. I focus a lot on technique development and education on healthy habits while maintaining a fun environment."

Beth graduated from Lewis University with a BS in Chemistry and a minor in Biology. She currently teaches for the Lockport School District and also coaches the Lockport High School water polo team.

In her free time, Beth enjoys watching movies, sewing, and of course swimming.

Bio will be added soon.