Coaches

     Program Director - John Barnes

John has been BLA/Dolphin Aquatics' Program Director since 1996. He has led the team to 3 State Titles. He also coached Minnetonka High School to a State Title in 1996 and has lead St. Thomas Academy to State Titles in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005. He is also the Director of Aquatics and a P.E. Teacher at Saint Thomas Academy.

John believes in a solid IM/distance based training program. He feels that with this type of training, the BLA swimmers can swim any event that is offered. He is also a firm believer in the long-term development of all swimmers.

In his 20 years of coaching John has coached 3 swimmers to USA National teams, 13 swimmers to Senior Nationals, 40 swimmers to Junior Nationals, and has had over 100 T16 swims. John has worked with some of the best swim coaches in the U.S., Eddie Reese, Richard Quick and Richard Shoulberg to name a few. John is an ASCA (American Swimming Coaches Association) Level 5 coach. This the highest level that a coach can attain.

In his swimming career, John was a 4-time high school All-American and a 12-time college All-American. John has been married to Ann since 1988 and they have two children, Tyler and Ryan.

     Head Age Group Coach - Eva Kremer
 

Eva has been the Head Age Group Coach with BLA/Dolphins since the fall of 1998. She has developed numerous State Championship qualifiers, State Champions and Zone qualifiers. Eva shares John’s belief in a solid IM/distance based training program. She enjoys coaching 12-Under swimmers and teaching them work ethic and commitment. One of her goals is to develop well-rounded swimmers for a long-term career in swimming.

Eva has been one of the directors of Minnesota Swim Camps since the summer of 1999. Before moving to Minnesota, she was an Age Group coach with Mission Viejo Nadadores, CA, one of the most successful teams in the country. Her coaching philosophy and ideas were developed as a part of the Nadadores’ staff. Eva has been coaching since 1991 and she is an ASCA (American Swimming Coaches Association) Level 3.

In her swimming career, Eva was a Swedish Junior National Champion and a member of the Swedish Junior National Team. In college, she was a 13 time NAIA National Champion and a 32 time All-American. She was also an Academic All-American, a Team Captain and a Outstanding Senior Finalist at Drury University. Eva was inducted into Drury University’s Hall of Fame in 2004.

Eva has been married to Kelly since 1994. Kelly is the Co-Head Coach of University of Minnesota Women’s Swimming and Diving.
 

    Head Senior Coach - Scott Blanchard

Scott Blanchard, a native of New York, started his coaching career in 1994. He was the assistant Girl’s and Boy’s coach at Southwest High School from 1994 through the 1998 season when he became the Head Coach for both teams through the 2000 seasons. He was the Head Age Group coach for Richfield Swim Club from 1996 through 2000. In May of 2001 he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Master’s in Education in Kinesiology. In August of 2001 he became the Head coach for West Express Swim Team and finally in August of 2003 he became the Head coach of Richfield Swim Club. Scott joined the BLA/Dolphins staff in 2005.  He is very excited to coach for BLA/Dolphins and work with so many great swimmers and their families.

Age Group 2 Coach - Keaghan Winterhof

Keaghan joined BLA in the spring of 2009. 

Coach Keaghan began swimming in Iowa when she was 8 and loved swimming every event.  She continued swimming with her local club through high school and was part of a state record breaking relay team.  Coach Keaghan also swam distance freestyle for Cedar Falls High School, winning districts and placing at state.  The high school team won the state meet her senior year! 
 
Coach Keaghan has spent many years teaching swim lessons and lifeguarding.  When she's not around the pool, Keaghan enjoys biking, reading, movies, and baking.  She graduated from St. Thomas in 2007 with degrees in Human Resource Management and Business Communications.  She is currently working as a HR Coordinator.

    Age Group 3 Coach - Carly O'Neill

Carly join the BLA coaching staff in the summer 2009.

Coach Carly began swimming on our team (then Valley Dolphins) when she was 8 years old. She continued to swim in high school for Visitation's swim team where she was on two record breaking relays. She then went on to swim for St. Olaf College for three years where she made the conference team. Her events in college were the 200 Butterfly, 200 and 500 Freestyle and occasionally the 400 IM. She graduated from St. Olaf in 2009 with degrees in Psychology and Family Studies. She is currently working on starting her own non-profit swim school for kids and young adults with special needs. In her free time, Carly enjoys cooking, reading, and being outdoors.

   Age Group Coach - Joe Conway

Joe join the BLA coaching staff in the summer 2009.

Coach Joe graduated from Henry Sibley High School, where he was a five-time letter winner in swimming and diving.  He was a four-time state participant and a three-time All Conference.   He loves to teach and learn from experience.