Coaches
Tom Liu
Head Coach
Tom grew up in a family with a strong competitive swimming background. Tom’s father and primary trainer, a China national backstroker was on the team that produced the Gold Medalist in Women’s 100 Meters Butterfly in 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.
In 2008 and 2009, Tom attended Guangdong Provincial College Students Swimming Championships and finaled in Men's 200 Meters Butterfly. He is the consummate professional who approaches his duties in a very serious and organized fashion.
Prior to joining Mountain House Sailfish Swim Club, Tom has coached and managed several swim teams around the Bay Area. He looks forward to maximizing each swimmer's skill level in this fun, challenging and exciting program.
Coaching Experiences:
Age Group Coach, Santa Clara Swim Club, Santa Clara, CA
Founder Head Coach, Urban High School of San Francisco Swim Team, San Francisco, CA
Head Coach, Oshman Family Jewish Community Center Youth Swim Team, Palo Alto, CA
Tom is currently an American Swimming Coach Association (ASCA) certified Level II coach.
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Dereck brings a strong competitive background and a passion for coaching to our swim team. He trained for over eight years with top USA Swimming programs, including the Pleasanton Seahawks and Livermore Aquacowboys, working under nationally recognized coaches and alongside record-setting athletes. This experience helped him develop advanced techniques, race strategies, and a disciplined approach to the sport.
In high school, Dereck excelled in both individual events and relays, advancing to the San Joaquin Section Championships finals. His leadership and dedication were recognized with the Coaches Award and the League of Extraordinary Mustangs Award.
As a junior coach, Dereck focuses on helping swimmers of all levels improve their technique, build confidence, and reach their full potential. He is dedicated to creating a fun, structured, and positive environment where athletes can develop not only as swimmers but also as teammates, fostering sportsmanship, teamwork, and a lifelong love for swimming.
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Ellianna Navarro has been passionate about swimming since she was a child and began competing about five years ago. Her competitive journey started with the Mountain House High School water polo team as a freshman, before joining the swim team. She competed on varsity water polo for three years and varsity swim for four, serving as captain of the girls’ varsity swim team during her junior year.
Ellianna’s goal as a coach is to help athletes become the best versions of themselves. She believes improvement is always possible, and swimming provides the perfect opportunity to test and strengthen both physical and mental resilience. Ellianna currently swims for the Las Positas College swim team, bringing her experience and dedication to every practice.