Coaches and Directors
Coach Paschalis
Founder / Head Coach
Paschalis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Physical education and Sports Science (BSS). He is an American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Level 5 Senior International coach. One of his unique strengths is that he combines all of his experience and knowledge to fit all swimming levels, from beginners to elite international-level swimmers. Paschalis's expertise includes his extensive international swimming career and training by top European coaches and his over 20 years of coaching experience. As a result, he can better understand the individual needs to maximize his swimmer's highest potential.
Coaching Experience and Education
Founder / Executive Director — ElitSwim Club (ELIT) San Ramon, CA — 2023 – Present
- ElitSwim Club is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization and is part of USA Swimming and Pacific Swimming.
- Elit is a competitive year-round swim club. Its programs are designed to provide leading professional coaching and initiatives to assist athletes in developing to their full potential and competing at the highest levels.
Founder / CEO — EliteSwim. LLC (DBA ELITSWIM), San Ramon, CA — 2013 – Present
- City of San Ramon - Learn to Swim Lessons Contractor. Performed over 15,000 swim lessons per season.
- ElitSwim has been awarded the "Best Learn To Swim Lessons" program for its residents. Offering group and private lessons from infants to adults for all levels and abilities.
- Successfully completed the 5-year contract with customer satisfaction and service quality that reached a 4-5 rating (out of 5) for over 80% of the City's survey responders. Contract and services have been re-awarded for 2023 - 2027.
- ElitSwim year-round and seasonal employees currently have up to 50 swim instructors.
Head Coach — EliteSwim. LLC (DBA ELITSWIM), San Ramon, CA — 2013 – Present
- ElitSwim (Pre-Competitive) swim team.
- Preparing swimmers from 6 years old to 18. This is a year-round program for these ages. In addition, it runs adult group programs for participants that want to learn and improve their efficiency in the water, has swimming-related injuries, and rehabilitate from or prepare for their primary swimming and triathlon events.
- Set the main goal for all participants and create a healthy lifelong experience through the sport of swimming.
- Prepare swimmers for their high school swim and water polo season to competitive teams.
- ElitSwim has organized swim clinics for triathletes in the Bay Area. This program is the next step in advanced technical, physical, and mental training in swimming.
Owner / Head Coach — Aquaexcellence, San Ramon, CA — 2012 – 2014
- Seasonal introductory program for advanced swimming technique training for age groups under 14.
Age Group Coach — San Ramon Valley Aquatics, San Ramon, CA — 2006 – 2019
- Coach advanced swimmers and won Top-10 State and National Level Age Groups
- Resulting: Best swimmer of Far Westerns, Pacific Record Times, Junior Olympics, and other significant achievements.
Elite Level Swim Coach — Athens, Greece — 2004 – 2005
- Partnering with Zoltan Kollar, Hungary's Coach of the Year from 1994 through 1998.
- Worked on creating specialized programs for elite athletes to enhance their technique to achieve international status.
Strength and Conditioning Trainer — Hellenic Police Officer Academy, Athens, Greece — 2002 – 2005
- Appointed Physical Education instructor of all classes.
Head Coach — Panellinios Athletic Club, Athens, Greece — 2001 – 2004
- Led the annual training plan of 600+ swimmers and supervised all team coaches.
- Led and trained coaches.
Head of Athletics for the Development of Young Swimmers — Panellinios Athletic Club, Athens, Greece — 2001 – 2004
- As a Head Coach, achieved 1st place in the team standings for Panellinios Athletic Club in the National Championship, scoring the highest for all age groups. (2003 & 2004)
- The team won the age group 12-18 years old, National Championship 2003-2004
- Team took second place in Senior National Championship 2004
Professor — Private Institution of Education, Athens, Greece — 2001 – 2003
- Professor of Swimming Practice and Theory
Swimming Experience / Awards Received
Career Highlights:
Greek National Team Member • 10+ National Gold Medals • National Record Holder of Greece
- Member of the Greek National team, 23-year swimmer, 10 plus times National Gold Medalist
- Open Water, Alcatraz Invitational Event, achieved an overall 7th place in 2009, and 4th place out of 600+ swimmers in 2011
- Gold Medalist, National Championships, Greece (1989 - 2000)
- 8th place 4 x 100 Medley Relay - World Championship - Athens, Greece (2000)
- Gold Medalist in Balkan Championship – Individual and relay events (1992, 1994, 1996, 1998)
- National Record Holder of Greece - 100m Free, 200m Free Seniors (1996-1999)
- Gold Medalist in 200m Free, Silver 100m Free, Military World Championship - St Petersburg, Russia (1995)
- Silver Medalist 4x200 Free & 8th place 100m Free, Mediterranean Championship - Bari, Italy (1997)
- National Swimmer of the Year, Greece (1996)
- Olympic Games Torch Runner (1996)
Coach Hope
Lead Age Group Coach
"Hope" moved out to California in 2023, from where she grew up in Arkansas, to help ELITSwim build a new program that will innovate and revamp swimming for the new generations. As a swimmer herself, she always felt there was something missing from her trainings, and she strives to provide more for her swimmers. Through the ELIT philosophy, she believes that goal can be achieved.
Hope brings her attention to detail, compassion, and understanding to help swimmers achieve their personal athletic goals while growing as people. She believes that swimming can provide purpose and value to the lives of all people and all ages.
She swam at Missouri State University on a scholarship for sprint Freestyle, including 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, and Relays. There she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry from the Honors College in 2019. MSU was a NCAA Division 1 university with the #1 swim team in the Missouri Valley Conference at the time.
Medical Experience
- After college, Hope became a histocompatibility scientist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science in Little Rock, performing testing for organ transplants and disease studies.
- Years later, she gained experience working in a level 1 trauma center ER and working for a local non-profit organization, providing care for people with living with disabilities.
Coaching Experience
- USA Swimming ADM Shield Certified Age Group and Senior Coach
- Hope has been working diligently as a coach with all the ElitSwim Programs since 2023, including: ElitSwim Club, ElitSwim Pre-Competitive, and ElitSwim Lessons.
- She found her passion for coaching in 2021 while coaching age-group swimmers for the top rated team in Arkansas at the time, the Little Rock Arkansas Dolphins (LRAD).
- Since 2012, she has given private lessons and private coaching to all age groups and levels.
Swimming Experience
Career Highlights:
3-Time State Champion • Arkansas State Record Holder • NCSA Junior Nationals Finalist
- 2017 MVC Conference Honor Roll, MVC Scholar-Athlete Team, MSU Athletic Director Honor Roll
- 2017 5th place at MVC in 50 Free
- 2017 4th place at MVC in 100 Free
- 2015-2017 Top 3 in Relays (200 FR, 400 FR, 200 MR)
- 2015-2016 All-MVC Honorable Mention
- 2015 Top-rated female swimming recruit in the state of Arkansas, according to CollegeSwimming.com
- 2015 AAA Wendy's Player of the Year in swimming
- 2015 Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Recipient
- 2015 Broke the Arkansas State High School Record in 50 yard Free - 23.65
- 2015 Named as CCFA's "local honored hero" for her commitment to swimming, school, and community through her struggles with Crohn's disease
- 2014 Arkansas LSC Record for the 400 Medley Relay
- 2013-2015 3-time reigning high school state champion in the 50 Free and 2-time state champion in the 100 Free
- 2012-2015 Numerous finals qualifications at Region VIII Sectionals, 3rd place in the amateur 50 yard Free shootout at the OKC Pro-Am, and three trips to the NCSA Junior Nationals, with a 50 yard Free finals qualification in 2014
- 2011-2015 Swam for the CASC Racers, grabbing her first club state champion title in 2013 for the 50 yard Free, continuing 1st and 2nd place finishes through high school graduation
Coach Gabriel
aSSociate Coach
Gabriel brings more than a decade of experience in aquatics instruction, competitive coaching, and youth development to ElitSwim.
He began his career with East Bay Regional Parks as a Junior Lifeguard Instructor, where he taught open-water safety, rescue skills, and foundational conditioning to young athletes. His enthusiasm for teaching and technical precision led him to the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, where he managed a staff of fifteen instructors and coaches while overseeing a large year-round swim lessons program. During this time, he also taught lifeguard certification courses and coached age-group swimmers, helping athletes build confidence, efficiency, and strong stroke fundamentals.
Gabriel later joined the Olympic Club, coaching competitive age-group swimmers and supporting athlete development through technique-focused training. He played a key role in preparing teams for local and regional meets and contributed to organizing major events, including the club’s participation in the Trans Tahoe Relay. His coaching approach blends technical instruction with positive motivation, emphasizing stroke mechanics, race strategy, and long-term athlete growth.
Across all programs, Gabriel is known for his supportive communication style, detailed technical knowledge, and genuine passion for helping swimmers achieve their goals. He is committed to creating a training environment where athletes feel challenged, motivated, and excited to improve.
Coach Izzy
Interim Assistant Coach
Isabel "Izzy" Griffin grew up locally and is a lifelong swimmer. She competed for the Briarhill Barracudas (2013–2022), San Ramon Aqua Bears (2023), and the California High School Swim Team (2020–2024), earning recognition for best technique, most dedicated swimmer, and being named an NCS Scholar-Athlete all four years.
Izzy began coaching with ElitSwim in 2022, starting with city lessons, and now serves as lead coach of the pre-competitive program. She has coached swimmers who are now part of the ElitSwim Club. She focuses on helping kids improve their strokes, swim with better technique, and feel more confident in the water.
Beyond coaching, Izzy is pursuing Elementary Teacher Education at Diablo Valley College with the goal of becoming a teacher. She draws on her experiences to connect with her swimmers and support their growth both in and out of the pool.
Izzy brings creativity, compassion, and a positive mindset to every practice, helping swimmers reach their goals while developing a love for the sport.
