Coaching Staff

HHead Coach Mike Rutledge is proud to announce the Mississauga Aquatic Club coaching staff for the 20010/2011 season

The MSSAC coaching staff is lead by the Director of Swimmingg Mike Rutledge.  Through his leadership and knowledge MSSAC offers a fully qualified and professionally designated coaching staff.  Together with Mike’s coaching experience and our knowledgeable staff, MSSAC offers the City of Mississauga a full-service competitive swimming experience that encompasses advanced recreation to the Olympic Games. Our programs offer each participant the opportunity to achieve “the success-experience” through their learning of the advanced swimming skills developed through many years of research in competitive, club swimming. Our staff are proud of our program and wish everyone could experience the club swimming difference. Should you wish to speak to any of our staff, visit us at one of your local swimming pools or call the MSSAC office and arrange for a call back.

 

Mike Rutledge
Executive Director / Head coach
Gold I

Mike has been the Head Coach of the Mississauga Aquatic Club since 2004.  Mike has been involved in the sport of competitive swimming for over 25 years as a swimmer and coach with his career at MSSAC starting in 1996. As a swimmer Mike was a member of Ontario’s 1989 Canada Games Team, representing the North York Aquatic Club.  He was also selected to Canada’s 1990 Olympic Development Team.  His swimming performances earned Mike a full scholarship at Texas A&M University where he earned Letter Award all four years.  He graduated with a Degree in Sociology and a minor in Economics.  As a coach he has quickly produced excellent results.  During his years with Mississauga, Mike has had many National and Provincial Champions.  Swimmers routinely break Club Records and achieve Club All Time Top Ten performances under Mike’s leadership.  Mike has received Provincial and National coaching recognitions including Ontario coach of the year in 2002.  Mike was also selected as assistant coach on the Ontario Team in 2006 and Head coach in 2007.  He has also received Domestic Excellence Awards in 2007 and 2008.  Mike believes that success in competitive swimming comes from hard work and dedication over time.  Family support is also important - swimmers do not succeed without it.

 

andreaAndrea Pittis
Silver I / Bronze I

Andrea has been coaching with the Mississauga Aquatic Club since 2003.  Andrea has over 25 years of swimming experience as swimmer and coach.  As a swimmer for 15 years Andrea has memories of competing for his home county of Italy and the pride that goes along with that.  He brings the passion of his own memories to his coaching.   Andrea is now dedicated to coaching and education.  He obtained an Honours degree in Physical Education in Florence, Italy, and an Honours degree in Kinesiology at York University in Toronto.  As an age group coach and Head Coach, he has developed national swimmers in Italy and Canada. Andrea believes that young children are always looking for new learning experiences, new challenges and new goals to achieve.  Swimming provides them with the opportunity to learn new skills and build necessary confidence to face and overcome any challenge, and enjoy success.  He believes that swimming provides opportunities to make new friends, develop healthy habits, become independent, earn a good education, and travel.  Thanks to swimming Andrea was able to get a scholarship and visit more than 10 foreign countries such as Austria, Yugoslavia, France, Switzerland, Germany, Russia and Japan.

 

meaghanMeghan McDonnell
Silver II

Meghan has been part of Mississauga Swimming for the last 17 years. For 8 of those years was a swimmer, competing at the National level for 4 years.  She trained side by side with some of MSSAC’s greatest swimmers like Andrew Hurd and Chuck Sayao.  She was a part of the girls 4x100 freestyle relay team in 1994 that smashed the Ontario record and held this title for the last 14 years.  Not only was she an Ontario record holder but her relay team has set many club recorders. Meghan is still mentioned in MSSAC’s all time top ten for the 50 Free and 100 Free.  Meghan is currently working towards her level one coach coaching certification. She obtained a diploma from Humber College for Early Childhood Education and is currently enrolled at York University to attain a profession in teaching. Meghan has spent many years studying the importance of child and youth development and the importance a well balanced active and healthy lifestyle has in developing a child to their fullest potential.

 

scottScott Kowalczewski
Senior

Scott has been involved with the Mississauga Aquatic Club for a total of 17 years as both a swimmer and a coach.  He was a part of the MSSAC team that won the club championship at the 1995 Long Course Provincial Championship.    After a short break from the sport, he made the swim team at the University of Western Ontario and swam another 4 years.  Highlights include several OUA medals as part of relays, being co-captain of the men’s team 2 years in a row, and training with Olympic athletes (Gilles Rondy, Rob Taylor, and Joe Bartoch) and an Olympic Coach (Paul Midgley).  Scott graduated with an Honours Degree in Mathematical Sciences and a Bachelor of Education.   Having recently completed his Skills Coach I course, Scott is looking forward to learning as much as he can from the other coaches and swimmers to continuing developing his skills

mishaMisa Vujaklijia
Bronze II

Misa has been involved in swimming since he was 10 years old, starting his swimming career with the York Swim Club and retiring while swimming for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues swim team.  Misa has broken club records at both York Swim Club and the North York Aquatic Club in breast stroke events.  He has competed nationally and internationally as an age group swimmer.  By the time Misa had begun his university career, he was a nationally ranked age group swimmer with several years of coaching and teaching experience. At this point in time, Misa has completed his chemistry specialist Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, while swimming and assist coaching with the University of Toronto Mississauga Masters Team (UTMM).  In March 2009, along with Scott Kowalczewski and other members of the UTMM 4 x 100 IM relay team, Misa  helped set a new Canadian record, smashing the previous time by 15  seconds. Misa is looking to bring enthusiasm, fun and a high caliber of performance to the Bronze II program.  He is currently being certified as an NCCP Level 1 coach under the new Swim Canada certification program .

nicoleNicole MacKenzie
Bronze III

Nicole joins the Mississauga Aquatic Club after gaining several years of coaching experience with the Oakville Aquatic Club as well as in teaching, and swim specific skills development with children and adult tri-athletes. While recently retiring from the sport, Nicole continues to be a member of the University of Toronto Women’s Varsity Water Polo team while obtaining her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Geography. As an NCCP Level 1 coach Nicole brings 10+ years of swimming experience as well as 5+ years experience in coaching and skills development. As a new member of the Mississauga team, Nicole hopes to bring an enthusiastic as well as ambitious approach to the Bronze III group.

stephanieStefanie Kiru
Youth South

Stefanie has been in the sport of swimming for over 10 years. She started with synchronized swimming, for 4, but her outgoing personality pushed her towards competitive swimming. She has been coaching with MSDC and is still currently coaching wave 2 swimmers. She is working towards her level one certification, and hopes to teach her skills to her swimmers.  She brings to her coaching the passion and experience of being a competitive swimmer and we are happy to have her as part of the team.

 

erinErin Paton
Youth East

Erin has 12 years of combined swimming and coaching experience.  Erin is a certified NCCP level 1 coach with a Diploma in Accounting from Humber College.  Erin has coached for the COBRA Swim Club, North York Aquatic Club and now Mississauga Aquatic Club.  Erin comes to Mississauga as a talented young coach with plenty of experience and passion.  Like many of the MSSAC staff Erin became involved in coaching as part of her love for the sport. .  . 

collinColin Boere

Youth West / Senior Development

Colin is coaching for this fifth year with the Mississauga Aquatic Club.  Colin has proven to be one of the most enthusiastic coaches on the deck and his energy help inspire the swimmers he works with.  Colin is certified NCCP Level 1 and continues to seek opportunity to learn and develop his coaching skills.  We are excited to have Colin back at the Mississauga Aquatic Club as our Gold III coach. 

danielaDaniela Gray
Youth North

Daniela has come through the sport of competitive swimming first as a swimmers where she competed for the Mississauga Aquatic Club and then as a coach.  Daniela has coached in our development program and has been recognized as one of our young up and coming coaches looking to develop her love of coaching to a new level.  Daniela is working toward her level one certification and we are confident that she will have a great impact on the success of her swimmers.

mikeMike Gurgol
Mentor Coach

Mike has coached for nearly 30 years.  Mike coaching experience included Head Coach of Queen’s University, Prince George, Trent Swim Club, North York Aquatic Club, as well as assistant coaching with Pickering Swim Club, Oakville Aquatic Club, Scarborough Swim Club, and the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays.  He was also technical performance coach with Richmond Hill and Mississauga.  Mike is Level 3 Certified Swimming Coach.  He was Head coach of the 1993 Ontario Canada Games Team and 1990 Ontario Age Group Tour Team. During his coaching career Mike has had athlete compete at the Olympic Games, Pan Pacific Championships, and Macabi Games.  Mike has coached swimmers to top ranking in Canada in every stroke and every distance.