DUNDEE DOLPHINS - Key Persons
Coach Amie was Head Coach of the Dundee Dolphins from 2013-2023, and was also a coach representative on the Illinois Swimming Board of a Directors from 2019-2022. She now serves in an assistant coach role so she can focus on her new path as Program Director of Illinois Swimming.
Her swim career started as a kid where she split her time between the Rolling Meadows and Mount Prospect Park District Swim teams. Amie then swam four years at Rolling Meadows High School and served as Varsity Co-Captain her senior year. Her coaching career also began at Rolling Meadows High School where she was the Assistant Coach for both the boys and girls swim team and helped run the Township High School District 214's summer camp for two years. In addition to coaching the Dolphins, Amie also served as the JV Coach for the Dundee Crown High School Girls Swim Team from 2016-2017 and now coaches the D300 Girls Co-Op.
Coach Amie has a B.A. in Psychology and her M.S. in School Counseling from Eastern Illinois University. Her background is in higher education, having coordinated the dual credit programs at both Oakton and Elgin Community College while also head coach of the dolphins.
Coach Amie's coaching philosophy in her own words is, "I believe involvement in sports fosters success later in life as athletes learn the importance of hard work, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Swimming is more than just a competitive sport. It teaches self-discipline, encourages healthy habits, can enhance a child's self-esteem and shows the athlete what they are capable of both in the water and in life. I think it is extremely important to engage all swimmers and promote a positive environment so the athlete enjoys the spirit of competition and growth."
Coach Deidre started as an Assistant Coach with the Dundee Dolphins back in 2018, moving into the Head Coach position Spring/Summer 2023.
Her swimming career began when she was 9 years old with the Freeport Aquatic Swim Team. Throughout her time swimming with FAST, Deidre qualified for many different championship meets including Junior Olympics (now known as Age Group State Championships), Senior Champs, Sectionals, Zones, Midstates and Junior Nationals. She went on to compete for Freeport High School where she was an Illinois High School State Championship finalist all 4 years, which included a 1st place finish in the 100 Back. Deidre was awarded NISCA All American 9 times and recruited to many D1 colleges. Deidre went on to swim with the University of Minnesota, where she studied Elementary Education. Deidre was a two time letter winner and competed in the Big 10 Championships and the D1 NCAAS with the University of Minnesota as well.
Deidre decided to dive back into the swimming world while pregnant with her youngest daughter in 2018 realizing she wanted to be a part of the sport that had such a huge role in her life again, this time as a coach.
Coach Matt was a junior high and high school swimmer, and has since been swimming recreationally (and on occasion, competitively) with master's teams for about 20 years. Matt has lived and swam in lap pools in Germany, Texas, California, Maryland, Virginia, and Japan. Most recently, Matt helped coach the Sasebo Riptides, an age group team at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan.
Coach Melissa grew up in Fox Point, Wisconsin where she started her competitive swimming career at age 5 at her local outdoor pool. She swam on the swim team and competed on the synchronized swim team. She continued swimming year round with her club team and swam varsity all four years of high school. She served as Varsity Captain her senior year. Melissa lifeguarded, taught swim lessons, coached and managed at the same pool she grew up going to. She continued her love for the water in college, at the University of Minnesota, by joining the synchronized swim team and playing water polo. Also while attending college, she was the Lead Coach for the Rookies program at North Suburban Aquatic Club. During the summer, Melissa is the Assistant Head Coach for the Huntley Stringrays Swim Team.
Coach Melissa has a B.S. in Elementary Education and received her M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota. She was a Kindergarten and First grade teacher in D300 before staying home to take care of her family. Melissa lives with her husband, four children and dog. Her daughters and son, Lila,Laney and Logan, are on the swim team.
Coach Melissa started coaching with the Dundee Dolphins in 2021.