Crawley Swimming Club Coaching Team
Will Philpot - Head Coach, National Development Squad Coach [email protected]
As a former competitive swimmer himself, Head Coach Will Philpot has been involved in the sport for over 25 years, and coaching for over 13 years. He first came to Crawley Swimming Club in 2010 as Head of Junior Development. After some time away pursuing other opportunities as the Head of Swimming at Cranleigh School, Will returned to the club to take on the Head Coach role in 2019.
As a swimmer, Will competed at British National level, and finally hung up his goggles in 2013 after a last arena league performance for Crawley SC. Will has coached swimmers to British, English and Scottish National finals, and English and Scottish National Medals. Will achieved his Senior Coach Certificate (Level 3) in 2017, and is currently working towards his BSc in Sport Fitness and Coaching. Will has experience working with swimmers of all ages and abilities, from learn to swim to masters level. He directly oversees and provides mentoring for other coaches and volunteers across the club.
Outside of his role at Crawley SC, Will has participated as a coach on the Swim England regional talent camps in 2017 and 2018, and the national talent camp in 2019.
Simon King - Assistant Head Coach, Regional Development Senior & Regional Development Junior Lead Coach [email protected]
Simon has been teaching and coaching in Sussex since 2005, working across the field from youngsters to masters, beginners to talent and performance swimmers, para-swimmers to waterpolo, even dabbling in synchro. Though ultimately, his roots remain in competitive swimming, dating back to the early 80’s and a child star at the Medway’s Black Lions and ending as the Swim Captain at Lancing College in the 90’s.
Over the past couple of decades Simon has worked in a range of other fields from events, PR, marketing, publishing and refurbishment to name a few, swimming and coaching have always been the consistent factor. So now he runs his own swim school too. ‘If I’m not watching swimmers, talking or reading about swimming, often dreaming and day-dreaming about swimming, then I must be swimming! My coaching passion really took off when I realised that just because I’d missed opportunities to achieve more from my competitive career it didn’t mean I couldn’t use my passion and knowledge to help the next generation of future talent! So I do and I renew that passion every time I stand on poolside!’
Jo Chrismas - County Development Lead Coach. [email protected]
Jo has an extensive competitive background in swimming having competed since the age of 8. Jo still swims and competes regularly.
Jo received a First Class Honours Degree from Swansea University in Sport and Exercise Science covering areas such as Sports Psychology, Biomechanics, Nutrition, Exercise Science, and Research Methods. In 2022, Jo completed her Masters in Sport and Exercise Science researching looking into the level of mental health and well-being symptoms amongst high-performance student-athletes across a COVID-19 affect academic year.
As well as having her Assistant and Full coaching certificates she also has her J1 and J2 officiating courses and her Team Manager 1 course.
Garry Jones
Both of Garry's children have been members since 2013 and he has volunteered in a number of different roles in that time, covering Meet Electronics, Team Manager and Committee Member. However he has always had a strong interest in how people move through the water fast... so he decided to train as a Coach and take on a volunteer coaching role. He knew straight away it was a good choice and absolutely loved coaching at Crawley.
When an opportunity to become a Squad Lead arose, he jumped at the chance. He really enjoys working with the swimmers and watching them grow within the sport and achieve. He is a qualified Swimming Coach (Level 2).
Gordon Dudman - Masters Lead Coach
Adrienn Ménesi - Early Competitive and Academy Lead Coach [email protected]
Adrienn was born and raised in Hungary, she finished her university studies there graduating as a P.E. Teacher and Trainer as well as gaining her tennis and swim coach qualifications. She also worked as a PT and Assistant Swim Coach in her hometown where she taught and coached swimmers from young age to high levels.
Adrienn moved to England in Nov 2014. After a couple of years settling in she exchanged her qualifications to the British standard and started teaching full time. Prior to lockdown she taught in many centres in Crawley, Horley, Tadworth, Waddon, Thornton Heath, Morden and Brighton and was nominated to the swimming teacher of the year in 2019 in Reigate and Banstead region.
Adrienn teaches a whole range of skill, parent and child lessons, preschool and all ASA stages from 1-10, beginner diving courses during school holidays (Tom Daley Diving Academy) and Artistic swimming at K2.
"I think I am one of those lucky ones whose job is their passion and I try my hardest to keep high standards while swimmers have a great time during training."
Click here to find out about our Assistant Coaches
For more information on our specialist staff, click here.
