Please contact the coaching staff only for important matters related to coaching and swim meets. This will allow them to focus their time on coaching. For general team questions, refer to the Contact page for the appropriate parent volunteer.
Jing Li, Head Coach (jli@seattleymca.org)
Jing is the Head Coach and now is coaching S2 and S1 groups at the YMCA Pool and at Samena. Jing has been an instructor at the Y since the summer of 2000 and has grown an extensive following in his lesson programs. Jing swam competitively through the mid-1980's and was a member of the Chinese Junior National squad that trained in Beijing and Kunming from 1983 to 1985. He also coach at a variety of levels from 1987 - 1991, and was on the staff with Kunming City Swim Team and Yunnan Province Swim Team.
Tom Kozaczynski, Assistant Coach (tkozaczynski@seattleymca.org)
Tom has been coaching on the YMCA swimming team since 2006. He is coaching multiple groups by rotating through the groups. Tom has swum for 17 yrs, he recieved 3 National Records for NISCA High school in all 3 relays, is a 15 time CO state champion (most wins for a career in about 20yrs of CO HS swimming), and a 14 time All American in the 200 and 400 free relays, 200 medly relay, the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 breast. Tom went to Junior Nationals twice and placed top 8 in all his events swim. Tom swam for North Jeffco Swim Team in Arvada, CO and swam one year on scholarship at the University of Washington. He holds 4 pool records for the open class in the 50 free in various pools in Colorado. He is a USA Swimming Academic All American, and a 4 time NISCA Academic All American. Currently, he is studing at the UW for a degree in Economics and Law.
Evan Ryznar, Assistant Coach (eryznar@seattleymca.org)
Evan has been coaching in YMCA swimming team since 2006. He is coaching multiple groups by rotating through the groups.
Coaching Philosophy
The B.E.S.T. coaching staff's competitive coaching goals are to provide the following:
- A fun learning environment to help swimmers develop competitive swimming skills.
- A progressive program based on age and ability in conjunction with USS age group format leading to senior level achievement in high school and college.
- An opportunity for all children on the Eastside and surrounding areas to engage in a wholesome, lifetime recreational and competitive activity.
- Physical development and and encouragement of proper conditioning and health habits.
- Opportunities for social, emotional and educational development and encouragement of peer and family participation.
- An atmosphere in which the desire for self-improvement and goal achievement motivates the individual to develop his or her natural abilities and help others to do likewise.
- The opportunity to learn sportsmanship, responsibility, dedication, self-discipline and team participation while training and competing.
- An opportunity for swimmers to learn to accept success and failure while striving to do their best.