Coaches and Directors

Coaches and Directors
Coaching Staff
Blaine Carlson CEO/Head Coach
Blaine came to the Waukesha Express Swim Team in 1994 after graduating from The University of Wisconsin – Madison with a degree in Political Science and History. As a swimmer, Blaine was a four-time University of Wisconsin – Madison school record holder and was a team captain. While at Madison, Blaine was a finalist in the Big Ten Conference as well as at the US National Meet. In 1990, he was a two time silver medalist at the United States Olympic Festival, and went on to be ranked in the top 25 in America and top 60 in the World. Blaine has taken the experiences that he learned as an age group, senior, and collegiate swimmer and has applied them to his coaching style. In the last eighteen years of coaching, swimmers under Blaine’s guidance have gone on to have swims ranked in the Top 16 in the nation, have had swims ranked in the top 100 of all-time in United States Swimming, qualified for Olympic Trials, and broken 7 National Records. Swimmers in the last 18 years have set state records, finished in the top 8 at the national level, been High School All-Americans, and have gone on to earn college swimming scholarships. Just this year, Blaine received the American Swimming Coaches Association Award of Excellence and has guided ten swimmers to Olympic Trial Qualifying times. Blaine is committed to developing the swimmers to reach their maximum potential, while doing what is best for each individual. He strongly believes in the values that swimming can instill in young people. It is important that kids today learn more than just how to swim fast in our program.  
Laurie Carlson SwimAmerica Director/Program Coordinator
Laurie joined the team in 1996 to develop our swimming lessons program, which has grown to be one of the largest SwimAmerica programs in the country.  As the team has grown, Laurie has also gotten involved with the management of the swim team, and coordinating the two prorgams.  The goal for Laurie and the SwimAmerica program is to encourage young swimmers to get involved in our sport.  The hope is that the young swimmers in our community will love the sport as much as Laurie and her staff, and will continue in the sport at any and all levels.
 
Laurie is a former Express swimmer and graduate of Waukesha South High School. In high school, Laurie was a WIAA state qualifier and YMCA National qualifier. She continued her swimming career at the University of Wisconsin – Madison where she earned a scholarship, was a team captain, and an undergraduate assistant for the swimming team during her last semester at school. Laurie graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1993. 
 
 
Nickie Tew Age Group Coach

Coach Nickie began coaching in 1992 and has worked with all age groups during that time.  During her career, Coach Nickie has coached State and Zone champions, Zone and Junior National qualifiers, State and Club record holders and was elected multiple years by her coaching peers to be a Zone coach. 

Coach Nickie began swimming at the age of 5 with a couple local teams, during High School, she set multiple school records and took second at State in the 100 fly her senior year, that school record still stands today.  She continued her competitive swimming career for four years at Northern Michigan University where she was an All American in multiple events, all 4 years.  She helped her team take second place at NCAA Division II Nationals two of the four years she swam.  She also set multiple school records; the last of her records fell in 2013, she held the 100 fly record for 25 years. 

As a coach, she loves coaching all ages; she takes pride in giving individual attention to each child throughout practice.  She feels the most rewarding experience is seeing kids of all ages achieve things that never thought possible.  Outside the pool, Coach Nickie enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, watching movies and walking the dog. 

Jennifer MacGregor Age Group Coach
Nathan Carlson Assistant Coach
Samuel Wade Assistant Coach
Derrick Rendon Assistant Coach

Coach Derrick is a former Express swimmer and Waukesha South graduate from 2011. Derrick continued his swimming career at Carthage College for four years, where he was a team captain and placed in the top 8 in all of his events. In 2015, he graduated from Carthage with a degree in Accounting/Finance and later his master's degree in Higher Education while also helping as the graduate assistant.

Derrick began as a swim instructor for Swim America for 3 years while in High School and early years of college. He later started coaching at PX3 as the Head Age Group Coach for 4 years. At the same time he was the Head Coach for the Boys at Indian Trail High School and assistant for the Girls team. 

During his time coaching, Coach Derrick has coached State champions, Age Group State record holders, Zone and NCSA qualifiers. Outside of the pool, Coach Derrick enjoys biking, running, and playing soccer.

Board of Directors