Ryan West joined The Brook Hill School as Head Coach of the Brook Hill Swim Team, bringing more than three decades of experience in swimming instruction, competitive coaching, aquatic program management, and athlete development.Coach West began his coaching career with the Sea Devils Swim Team in Norco, California, where he coached from 1991 to 1994. He later served as Head Coach of the West Valley High School Swim Team from 2000 to 2003, coaching 12 swimmers through California Interscholastic Federation competition. His additional coaching experience includes serving as Assistant Head Coach of the Corpus Christi Aquatic Alliance, Head Coach and President of the Rota Swim Club in Spain, Assistant Coach with Texas Ford Aquatics, and Head Coach and Assistant Aquatics Coordinator with the Tyler Rose Aquatic Club.Throughout his career, Ryan has worked with swimmers ranging from beginners learning basic water-safety skills to competitive athletes seeking advanced stroke development and improved performance. His coaching philosophy emphasizes proper technique, strong fundamentals, individual attention, and the belief that better movement creates better swimming. West seeks to build confidence by first
developing competence in the water.Ryan served in the United States Navy from 1997 until his retirement in 2017. During his 20-year military career, he served in several roles, including Navy Corpsman, Navy Recruiter, Master-at-Arms, and Navy Swim Tester. As a Navy Swim Tester, West trained and evaluated military personnel seeking to qualify for advanced Navy swimming classifications.Ryan holds American Swimming Coaches Association Level 3 certification. He has also served as a certified lifeguard, CPR and First Aid instructor, and University Interscholastic League swimming official.In 2015, Ryan and his wife, Shada founded Chief Aquatic Management, LLC and Texas Swim Lessons in Whitehouse, Texas. As owner and head coach, they developed a comprehensive learn-to-swim and competitive-development program focused on water safety, technical proficiency, swimmer progression, and long-term athletic development. He created instructional curricula, testing standards, swimmer evaluations, progression requirements, and training systems designed to serve swimmers of different ages and ability levels.As Head Coach of the Brook Hill Swim Team, Coach West is committed to building a complete swimming program that supports both new and experienced athletes. His goals include increasing participation, establishing consistent technical and training standards, promoting multi-sport participation, developing team unity, and preparing Brook Hill swimmers to compete successfully at the TAPPS district, regional, and state levels.Ryan believes that each swimmer contributes to the success of the team and that athletic achievement should be built upon discipline, character, personal responsibility, and service to others. He seeks to create a program in which student-athletes are challenged to improve academically, athletically, and personally while representing The Brook Hill School with integrity.Ryan and Shada, have two daughters, Chloe and Lily, and grandchildren. Together, Ryan and Shada together have enjoyed spending many years working in swimming instruction, aquatic programming, and athlete development.