Scott Ward – ASCA Level 5 Coach & Athlete Leadership Director

Scott Ward is a certified ASCA Level 5 Swim Coach with a distinguished coaching career spanning four decades. As the founder, CEO, and head coach of the Eagle Swim Team (EST) starting in 1992, he transformed the program into a nationally recognized swim team, fostering a culture of high performance and personal character development.

Coaching Excellence & Legacy

Renowned in the USA Swimming community, Coach Ward is celebrated for developing elite swimmers with integrity and discipline. His impressive coaching legacy includes:

• Four NCAA title-winning alumni
• Three USA National Team members
• Thirty-five US National qualifiers
• Twelve US Olympic Trial qualifiers
• Eighteen state record holders
• Five swimmers ranked in the Top 50 globally

Under his leadership, EST has earned 18 Bronze and Silver Medal honors from the USA Swimming Club Excellence program — one of only two Maryland clubs to receive this distinction more than eight times. EST has also captured ten Eastern Zone Sectional titles, including combined team wins in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2016.

McDonogh School Coaching Achievements & Leadership

In addition to his role at EST, Coach Ward serves as the Athlete Leadership Director and head coach for McDonogh School's men's and women's varsity swim teams. He takes pride in fostering excellence both in and out of the pool, with his teams consistently achieving a GPA of over 3.6.

Notable accomplishments include:

• 17 AIS/IAAM Conference Championships for the women's team
• 7 MIAA “A” Conference titles for the men's team 
• A combined dual meet coaching record of 335-94-2 through the 2025 season
• Eastern Prep School Water Polo Champions (1997) and MIAA Water Polo Champions (2012) 
• Recipient of the prestigious Thomas Harper Endowed Teaching Chair

Developing Champions & Recognized Athletes

Coach Ward's impact extends to guiding numerous high-achieving athletes, including:

• Megan Melgaard (1999 Pan American Games Silver medalist)
• Tommy Hannan (2000 Olympic gold medalist)
• Giles Smith (2009 National HS Record Holder, 2015 Pan American Games gold medalist)
• Two National Prep School Champions 
• Fifty-four High School All-Americans, totaling 180 All-American performances

Early Coaching Experience & Notable Milestones

From 1989 to 1992, Coach Ward led the Catonsville YMCA swim program, transforming the team from a 1-6 record to league champions in just four seasons. Between 1998 and 2000, he served as the head coach of the Retriever Aquatic Club at his alma mater, UMBC, where he guided Megan Melgaard to the 1999 Pan American Games, where she earned a silver medal.

Service & Leadership Contributions

Coach Ward is an active contributor to the Maryland Swimming Board and USA Swimming, having served in various roles, including:

• National Select Camp assistant coach (2009)
• Zone Select Camp head coach (2010)
• Assistant coach for the NCSA All-American Team in their 2018 Ireland competition

A proud graduate of UMBC, Coach Ward was a four-year letter winner and school record holder. He earned the Unsung Hero award twice for the UMBC Retrievers.

Coach Clarke Nyman is excited to return to Eagle Swim Team as the Assistant Head Coach. 

As a certified ASCA Level 2 Swim Coach who has been professionally coaching since 2007. On the pool deck, Coach Clarke will be leading the Platinum training group.  He is known for his creative approaches to aerobic development, as well as detail-oriented drilling and stroke focus. 

Coach Clarke strives to develop young swimmers into fine young ladies and gentlemen that uphold the team’s vision to “Strive for Excellence in Swimming and in Life.”  His goal is to develop every swimmer to reach their utmost potential, yet be selfless and take interest in the success of others.  Clarke encourages all of his swimmers to be themselves: unique, complicated, and passionate; striving to be leaders in and out of the pool.

During Coach Clarke's tenure with Eagle Swim Team from 2015-2022, the Age Group Program (9-14 year old swimmers) accomplished:

• Fifty-four New Team Records (31 SCY, 23 LCM)
• Nine Sectional Qualifiers, Four Futures Qualifiers, and two Junior National Qualifiers
• Two Resident & Area Maryland State Records
• Two Top 100 USA all-time Ranked Swims

Working with the NTG Distance Team (400 Free to 1650 Free) accomplished:

• Three Junior National Qualifiers
• Six Futures Championship Qualifiers
• Eighteen Sectional Qualifiers

From 2019-2025 Coach Clarke served as the Head Coach of the Stevenson University Mustang Swim Team, a young NCAA Division 3 program on the rise.   During his time as the Mustangs Coach, he accomplished: 

• Twenty-Three School Records
• Most dual meet wins in Stevenson Swimming History (Men's 24, Women's 27)
• First Dual Meet winning record in Stevenson Swimming History in 2022-2023 (Men's 8-7, Women's 9-6) 
• Coaching Five Athletes to 7x All-Conference Performacnes:  Two 1st Team, Two 2nd Team, Three 3rd Team
• Coaching the first Men's Team athletes to 1st Team & 2nd Team All-Conference Performances. 
• Monumental team growth via recruiting, starting with 9 athletes in 2019 (3 Men, 6 Women) and growing to 48 athletes to start the Fall 2025 Season (20 Men, 28 Women)
• 2nd Most Improved team in NCAA Division 3 for 2022-2023, recognized by SwimCloud.com
• Ten Consecutive Semesters of Academic All-America Teams, recognized by the CSCAA

Prior to his time coaching for EST, Coach Clarke graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and performance concentrations in Percussion and Clarinet.  Clarke spent eight years developing multiple organizations that include: the Roland Run Summer Swim Club, the Boys’ Latin School Instrumental Music program, and the Mariner Swim Club.

Coach Clarke is a lifelong scholar of swimming and finds great joy in learning new techniques and trying new approaches to develop young athletes.   He looks forward to a long and successful career with the Eagle Swim Team, and helping swimmers find success and excellence in their approach to swimming and life.

Coach Zach Bishop grew up in Exeter, NH swimming for Exeter Swim Team and later SOLO Aquatics as well as his high school swim team. He was the captain for his high school team his senior year and this year of helping the coach with meet entries, practices, etc. helped him to realize his love for coaching swimming. He graduated from high school in 2015 and enrolled at Towson University where he was a four year member of the varsity team as well as the conference team. While at Towson, Coach Zach was a Honorable Mention Academic All-American as well as an All-CAA swimmer in 2018, and also started his coaching career, working with his home team, SOLO Aquatics, while at home during the summer.

Coach Maddi Bishop is from a military family and grew up swimming in Alabama, Louisiana, and graduated from Coast Guard Blue Dolphins in Newport News, Virginia. Maddi loved to coach during her free time in the summer for her summer league team which showed her love for coaching and teaching kids how to swim. After graduating high school in 2016, she committed to swim and further her education at Towson University where she studied advertising and PR. Maddi was a member of the CAA Team for 3 out of her 4 years, and in her senior year, earned third place in both the 100 fly and 100 backstroke on the same night. When she wasn’t practicing or competing, she did swim lessons or was working on a marketing internship. After graduating in 2020, and a little time in the pandemic, she began working as the Director of Marketing and Communication for Special Olympics Maryland and loves being able to share about their incredible athletes. 

Coach Maddi is happy to be back on the pool deck and motivate each swimmer to be their best. GO EST!

Danny Blackwell was born and raised in Howard County, Maryland, and has been in and around the pool since age three. He began swimming summer league in the mid-1980s with the Columbia Association’s Harper’s Choice Challenge at age five, thriving alongside his brothers and often outpacing year-round swimmers by the time they reached the 9–10 age group. Encouraged by teammates and families deeply rooted in the sport, Danny joined the Columbia Clippers in eighth grade before moving to the Retriever Aquatic Club. In high school, he faced a significant battle with scoliosis that required spinal surgery and months of rehabilitation. Doctors believed it would end his career, but six months later he returned stronger and continued swimming with RAC, training under Coach Scott Ward during his junior and senior years. He went on to compete for Towson University, graduating in 2003 with dual degrees in Communications (Advertising) and Marketing.

After college, Danny was scouted to work with Abercrombie & Fitch, where he led talent acquisition, retention strategies, and leadership development. In that role, he had the opportunity to travel extensively, open the flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and oversee the company’s first international store expansion into Canada. He then transitioned into a 17-year career in National Security and Defense, specializing in talent acquisition, talent development, and organizational consulting. In 2024, he founded Stillwaters Harvest Consulting, partnering with companies to align leadership, culture, and talent strategies for long-term growth and retention.

Throughout his career, Danny has remained connected to the sport of swimming through private swim lessons and instruction, coaching swimmers ranging from novices to special forces candidates preparing for their aquatic qualifications. He also served bivocationally as a pastor, bringing the same heart for mentorship and growth.

Danny and his wife, Shanna, were married in 2008. Unsure if they would ever be able to have children, they often hoped that if they did, their children would share their love for swimming and have the opportunity to experience the same impact and culture that Coach Ward brought to the pool during Danny’s formative years. In 2017 they were blessed with their daughter Sojourner (“Journey”), who now swims on the Eagle Swim Team minis. Danny and Shanna also have a younger daughter named Mercy. As a Bronze group coach, Danny is committed to developing young athletes with skill, confidence, and enthusiasm, while nurturing a lifelong love for the sport.

Jonathan Illuzzi brings more than two decades of coaching, teaching, and leadership experience to the Eagle Swim Team. A Maryland native, Jonathan has coached swimmers of all ages and ability levels, with a career marked by technical excellence, team development, and a deep commitment to youth mentorship.

Jonathan currently serves as Head Coach of Waugh Chapel Swim Club, where under his leadership the team climbed from Division 6 to Division 1 in the Central Maryland Swim League (CMSL), earning five division titles. Known for his ability to connect with athletes and parents alike, Jonathan combines stroke mastery with a focus on building strong team culture and community. He previously coached with Retriever Aquatic Club (RAC) for eight years, working primarily with swimmers ages 10–13, and began his coaching career as the Head Boys Varsity Coach at Upper Darby High School in Pennsylvania.

In addition to his coaching credentials, Jonathan is a respected educator at Glenelg High School in Howard County, where he teaches English and Journalism and serves as the Executive Student Government Advisor. His leadership in school-wide programming and student initiatives has earned him accolades including "Gladiator of the Year" for 2024–2025.

Jonathan holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Educational Technology from Wilmington University and graduated magna cum laude from Susquehanna University with a B.A. in Journalism and Secondary Education. A standout student-athlete, he captained the varsity swim team, set a school record in the 500-yard freestyle, and earned the Outstanding Male Student of the Year Award in 2004.

As a coach, communicator, and educator, Jonathan is passionate about helping young athletes grow in and out of the pool—striving for excellence in swimming and life.

Coach Stella Meyerhoeffer grew up in Westchester, New York, where she swam year-round for the YWCA Middies and went on to compete for Loyola University Maryland, swimming all four years with the Greyhounds and serving as team captain her senior year. She spent her summers working in a variety of roles on the pool deck, including lifeguard, swim instructor, and a swim supervisor at summer camps. She also was the Head Summer Swim Coach for the Waverly Woods Swim Team. 

Stella graduated from Loyola in 2024 with a degree in Elementary and Special Education and is now pursuing her master’s degree in Gifted and Creative Education at Towson University. After undergrad, she moved to Baltimore to begin her career as a first-grade special education teacher in Howard County, a role that combines her passion for teaching, mentoring, and building connections with kids.

With more than 15 years of experience as a competitive swimmer, Stella loves being on the pool deck and sharing her passion for the sport. She is excited to be a part of EST and looks forward to helping swimmers grow in their skills, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love of swimming.

Jason Poirier was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, and started his swim career with the Greater Nashua YMCA before moving to Maryland. Here Jason swam in the Columbia Neighborhood Summer Swim League and developed his true love of the sport, moving to swimming for the Columbia Association Clippers Club team through middle and high school. Although ice hockey became his primary sport, Jason loved swimming and began coaching for the Clippers while in college and continued to coach with this team for eight years. 

Jason has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Towson University and numerous Masters degrees and certificates in Administration and Supervision, Educational Technology and Data-Driven Decision Making. Jason has been an employee of the Howard County Public School System for the past 25 years teaching third, fourth and fifth grades as well as technology. Jason believes in inspiring children from a young age to love learning, value diversity, discover the value of hard work, find their own individual strengths and apply these to working on a team. This all translates into his coaching philosophy. 

Although his coaching career was paused for many years, Jason has still been actively involved in the swim community. For the past ten years, he has been working the dry side of the sport for the Nottingham Marlins, which his three kids swim on in the summer, by running their data system, entries, records, etc. Additionally, he has been on the Central Maryland Swim League Board for the past several years and continues to serve here.

Jason is excited to return to coaching and is very fortunate to find a home with the Eagles Swim Team. He has seen the greatness this team has brought to his own three kids' lives and is proud to be involved in this community. Jason is excited to pass on not only the love of the sport, but the Eagle values of Character, Commitment and Teamwork to the Silver swimmers he will be coaching.

Coach Trevor Rill joined EST in December 2020 after serving nine years with JCC Swimming and one year with the Ocean Pines Swim Team. He began coaching as a summer league coach for the JCC in 2010 and started coaching for the team year-round in 2011, eventually becoming the Associate Head Coach of the year-round team and Head Coach of the summer league team.

During his tenure at the JCC, Coach Trevor introduced the team's dryland program and underwater filming feedback system. He also spearheaded the JCC 8 and Under 'Junior Barracudas' program and oversaw multiple advertising and recruitment campaigns. While at the JCC, the team produced multiple MD State, EZ Sectional, USAS Futures, and USAS Winter & Summer Jr. National qualifying athletes, some of whom were honored as Academic All-Americans. Coach Trevor also helped establish the JCC Summer Barracudas as a Central Maryland Swim League (CMSL) powerhouse, achieving five undefeated dual meet seasons and advancing from Division 9 to Division 4.

Since joining EST, Coach Trevor has helped develop even more EZ Sectional, USAS Futures, and USAS Winter & Summer Jr. National qualifiers, along with one athlete qualifying for the US Paralympic Nationals and US Paralympic Trials. 

Coach Trevor graduated with a BS in Liberal Arts and Technology, majoring in Middle School Math and Science Education from Stevenson University. He subsequently earned a Master’s in Recreation and Sports Sciences from Ohio University, majoring in Coaching Education and Athletic Administration. He is an American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Level 5 Education Coach and is currently part of the ASCA Fellows Class of 2025. While pursuing his bachelor's and master’s degrees, Coach Trevor worked with collegiate and Olympic-level athletes and coaches across the nation. Coach Trevor is pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Sports Leadership and Management, with an emphasis on Sports Leadership and a focus on Sports Coaching, from United States Sports University.

Coach Trevor has volunteered on the Maryland Swimming Board of Directors in various roles, including Operational Risk and Safety Director for multiple state championship meets, LSC Coaches Representative (2018-2020), and currently serves on the Safe Sport Committee.

This will be Coach Trevor's sixth year with Eagle Swim Team, and he is honored to be part of the team's legacy. Let's go, Eagles!!

Coach Reed Sells is excited to join the Eagle Swim Team for the 2024-2025 season.

Reed Sells was born and raised just outside Roanoke, Virginia. He began his competitive swimming journey at the age of six with the local YMCA. During his teenage years, Reed swam for the CCA Marlins and later competed for the Virginia Gators in Roanoke during high school. As a young swimmer, he qualified for Winter Junior Nationals at just 15. Reed continued his swimming career at Towson University, where he competed on the conference team for all four years, earning multiple A-finalist placements in backstroke events. He was also part of the first men's team to win the CAA Conference Championship.

Coach Reed graduated from Towson University in the spring of 2024 with a bachelor's of science degree in sports management and a minor in business administration. While in college, he taught swim lessons at Loyola Blakefield for several semesters. He spent his last two summers in Towson training and teaching swim lessons at Wiltondale Pool, working with kids aged 2-15 on everything from basic swimming skills to advanced stroke techniques. Reed began his coaching career this past summer as the lead coach for Hillendale Country Club. Additionally, this summer, Coach Reed took on a position as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at Loyola University.

Reed is thrilled to bring his passion for swimming to the Eagles Swim Team, where he looks forward to developing well-rounded swimmers and encouraging each athlete to reach their full potential.

Coach Claire Custance is a 2023 graduate of UMBC and was a varsity swim team member all four years.
While swimming for UMBC, she helped the team capture three America East Conference Championship titles and was an A-Finalist in the 200 and 100 breaststroke events and a B-Finalist in the 200 IM. 

During her time at UMBC, Claire, from 2019 to 2023, has enjoyed working as an age group coach for the Retriever Aquatic Club and instructor for their stroke clinics and lesson program. Out of the pool, Claire has served as a student mentor for elementary students, a paraprofessional Educator/intern, a part-time student-teacher in a middle school in MD, and a Full-time student-English teacher in a high school in Columbia, MD. Coach Claire has completed her B.A. in English and is completing her Secondary Education Certificate this fall to become a certified English teacher in Maryland. She became a coach because she loves working with kids, teaching them about competitive swimming, improving their technique, and always challenging them to do their best in and out of the pool!

Coach Susie Dike began swimming at age 5 in the All-City Summer League and her love of swimming officially started! As she grew older, she swam year round in Madison, Wisconsin for both her club and high school teams as well as teaching American Red-Cross swim lessons and coaching her summer league team.  While at Middleton High School, Susie was a school record holder, state champion in the 50 and 100 free, All-American, and Junior and Senior National qualifier.

At the University of Wisconsin, Susie excelled in mid-distance and is the former school record holder in the 200 and 400 IM (as well as the 50 free).  She was Academic All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten, as well as multiple time All-American. She qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials in the 200 and 400 IM.

After college, Susie coached for her former club team, and also was the head coach for several high school women’s swim teams. With degrees in both education and business, she spent time in both the business and education world before having her first daughter in 2010. Susie’s younger daughter’s interest in swimming has reignited her love for the sport and she is happy to be working with swimmers on Eagle Swim Team!

Shelby Flynn grew up in a military family and began competitively swimming in southern California when she was 8 years old. She continued to swim in North Carolina, Illinois, New York, and now Maryland! 

After graduating high school in 2022 at Mascoutah High School, Illinois she committed to Alfred University, New York as a swimmer. After her winter semester she transferred to Stevenson University to study psychology and to continue competitively swimming. 

While swimming at her local YMCA in southern Illinois, Shelby began to work as a lifeguard, swim instructor and coach. She immediately began to love teaching others to swim and is excited to continue coaching for the Eagles Swim Team

Coach Haywood Harris started swimming when he was 13 because he wanted to improve his swimming skills and try out the sport. He joined a summer league at the Lochearn Community Club and eventually fell in love with the sport. He swam for two club teams, the JCC and Mariners Swim Club. He got into coaching because his previous summer swim coach ended up stepping down and brought him up to be her replacement. He's fallen in love with the sport all over again. Coaching has been a great way to give back to sport because he gets to share his knowledge and help so many people enjoy competitive swimming.

Coach Connor started swimming at nine years old for South Carrol Swim Team, and one year later joined Eagle’s, for the rest of his swimming career alongside his summer team. Swimming for many years and making friends on the team, he wanted to share his love of the sport with others and began teaching swim lessons at his summer team pool at twelve. Once he got older he even started teaching lessons with Eagles as well. He continued instruction through his college years, and is excited to pass on his knowledge, experience, and joy of swimming to the next generation!

“Swimming is one of the greatest sports you can do, it lets you really feel the improvement of your abilities.”

Coach Allen started swimming competitively as a freshman at Mount Saint Joseph High School, Baltimore, MD. He continued to swim for a local club team year round while the High School season was not in session. During his four years of high school Coach Allen developed the skills, technique, and the experience he needed to become a successful swimmer. He excelled in butterfly and middle distance freestyle.
 

After High-School Coach Allen decided to pursue a career in Law Enforcement. Currently, Coach Allen works for the Baltimore County Police Department serving honorably for over 23 years and has been a detective for the last 10 years. Coach Allen is currently a Detective with his agency. Coach Allen stumbled into coaching as an assistant swim coach for the YRAC Sharks in 2010, where he volunteered for his first full season and fell in love with coaching. Coach Allen spent 5 years as an assistant coach and 1 year as the head swim coach for the Sharks. Coach Allen assisted with transitioning the Sharks from a YMCA only club to a YMCA/USA level 1 swim club. Coach Allen loves being part of the Eagle family.

“I have found my passion in life. . . teaching the sport I love, while impacting the lives of students.”

Coach Marc Randell brings a unique blend of leadership experience, engineering acumen, and a passion for swimming to the pool deck. His journey began at the age of five with the COHO Swim Club north of Chicago, a foundation that led him to swim competitively for Boston University while earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on Fluid Mechanics and Energy Systems.

After his collegiate career, Coach Marc spent 25 years at Trane, where he found a passion for human development. As a business leader and people manager, he took pride in mentoring young associates and helping them grow into successful professionals. After many years away from the pool, he is thrilled to return to the sport he loves and apply that same passion for coaching to a new generation of swimmers.

Marc's coaching philosophy extends beyond technique and training plans. By focusing on the core values of strong character, hard work, resilience, and accountability, he believes that swimmers can meet their potential both in and out of the pool.

A few core beliefs.

“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

There are no short cuts to greatness. You have to put in the time. You have to put in the effort. You have to be willing to fail. You have to learn and adjust from your successes and your failures.

There are two ways to swim faster. Increase propulsion, or decrease drag. Increasing propulsion is really hard…

Coach Jermaine (Coach J) Winstead started swim lessons at the age of 16 months at the YMCA in Asheville, NC because his mother wanted him to learn how to swim since she couldn't. He took lessons until the age of 5 and began competitive swimming in a local swim team until the family relocated to Roxboro, NC when he was 8. After a 3 year break, he started competitive swimming again at a YMCA in Durham, NC from 11-15.  In the summer of 1990 Durham Parks and Recreation opened a center with a pool where Jermaine started to lifeguard.  In the fall of 1990 the center started a swim team which Jermaine swam as well as lifeguarded and taught lessons for the remainder of his high school years.

Jermaine entered college in the Fall of 1993 majoring in Chemistry at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC.  While in college Jermaine marched in the Blue & Gold Marching Machine as a snare drummer.  Swimming was still a passion of his so he continued to lifeguard and teach lessons at a local inner city facility and high school.  NC A&T only had a girls swim team so he practiced with them to stay in shape and learn how to coach.  In the summers of 95 & 96 Coach J coached an inner city swim team.

Jermaine currently works as an Engineer with the United States Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, MD.  He has been there for 8 years and enjoys his career with the Federal Government.  Jermaine started working as a lifeguard/ swim instructor at the Y of Randallstown in November 2012.  In the spring of 2013 he ran the stroke and turn clinic. Later in 2013, he joined YRAC sharks swim team as an assistant coach.  At the turn of the season January 1, 2016 Jermaine became the head coach of the YRAC Sharks Swim Team.   During his tenure as head coach he helped the Sharks become a Level II USA Swim Club.  This will be Jermaine’s first season with the Eagles Swim Team.  He welcomes all new and seasoned swimmers to enjoy the sport that has been in his life since he was in diapers.  GO EAGLES!!!