2026 Conference Speakers

2026 Team Aquatic Supplies CSCA National Swim Coaches Conference — Performance Stream Speaker Bios

Chris Plumb

Chris Plumb is the CEO and Head Coach of Carmel Swim Club in Carmel, Indiana, where he has led one of the premier swimming programs in the United States since 2006. Under his leadership, Carmel Swim Club has earned USA Swimming Gold Medal Club recognition 14 times and developed numerous Junior National, National, Olympic Trials, and international-level athletes.

Plumb also serves as Head Coach of the Carmel High School swim teams, leading the program to multiple IHSAA State Championships while continuing one of the most successful traditions in U.S. high school swimming.

An internationally respected coach, Plumb has represented Team USA on numerous occasions, serving as Assistant Coach at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Head Coach at the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest, Head Coach at the 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, and Assistant Coach at the 2017 World Junior Championships.

A former All-American swimmer at Indiana University, Plumb is a member of the Indiana Swimming Hall of Fame and is widely recognized for his expertise in athlete development, program leadership, and building a culture of sustained excellence.

Erik Posegay

Erik Posegay is the Associate Head Coach of the University of Texas Men's Swimming and Diving program, where he has helped lead the Longhorns to back-to-back SEC Championships (2025, 2026) and the 2025 NCAA Championship.

Prior to joining Texas, Posegay served as USA Swimming's National Junior Team Director and National Coach, overseeing the development of the country's top junior athletes and coaching at national team camps and international competitions. In 2024, he was Head Coach for Team USA at the World Aquatics Championships, leading the United States to Team of the Meet honours with eight gold medals and 20 total medals.

Over nearly two decades in coaching, Posegay has worked with Olympians, World Championship medallists, Paralympians, and numerous U.S. National Team athletes. His coaching experience includes leadership roles with USA Swimming, the University of Wisconsin, Penn State University, and the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where he worked alongside renowned coach Bob Bowman.

Known for his expertise in athlete development and high-performance coaching, Posegay brings a wealth of age group, national and international experience to the CSCA National Swim Coaches Conference.

Paul Miller

Paul Miller is a performance psychology researcher at Loughborough University and a lecturer in Sport and Exercise Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University. His research focuses on how elite sport coaches can achieve and sustain high performance while maintaining their wellbeing and long-term effectiveness.

Drawing on both academic research and extensive coaching experience, Paul's work explores topics including coach thriving, resilience, leadership, coach development, workload management, and the impact of high-performance environments on coach wellbeing. His research is helping shape evidence-based approaches to creating healthier, more sustainable coaching systems.

Before entering academia, Paul spent many years in school sport leadership and grassroots coaching, including serving as a Head of Sport and an RFU Level 3 coach. He has also delivered coach education, developed youth sport programs, and co-founded a coaching company, giving him a unique ability to translate research into practical strategies that coaches can apply in their daily work.

Paul is passionate about helping coaches at every level build rewarding, sustainable careers while creating environments where both coaches and athletes can thrive.

Mike Blondal – University of Calgary Swim Club

Mike Blondal is one of Canada’s most accomplished university and club coaches, serving as Head Coach of the University of Calgary Dinos and Director of Swimming with the University of

Calgary Swim Club. Since taking over the Dinos program in 1994, Blondal has guided Calgary to nine U SPORTS national championships and 15 Canada West titles, while earning U SPORTS Coach of the Year honours 10 times. His international coaching experience with Canada includes the World Aquatics Championships, Pan American Games, FISU Games, World Cups and, most recently, the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships.

At the 2026 CSCA National Conference, Blondal will share the development story of Alexanne Lepage, whom he coaches at the University of Calgary Swim Club. Lepage delivered a breakthrough performance at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships, capturing gold in the 200-metre breaststroke in 2:21.73—her first senior individual international medal and victory.

Dave Johnson – Cascade Swim Club

Dave Johnson is one of the most experienced and respected coaches in Canadian swimming, with a career spanning more than five decades. Currently Director of Swimming and Head Coach of the Cascade Swim Club in Calgary, Johnson has led the program since 2005. His remarkable international career includes 10 Olympic Games assignments with Team Canada, beginning at Montreal 1976 and most recently serving on the Canadian coaching staff at Paris 2024.

A former Head Coach of Canada's national swimming program, Johnson has worked with generations of Canadian Olympians and international athletes. In 2023, he was named Swimming Canada Coach of the Year – Olympic Program, following a season that included guiding Ingrid Wilm to fifth in the 100-metre backstroke at the World Aquatics Championships.

At the 2026 CSCA National Conference, Johnson will join Ryan Mallette for a special interview-style session reflecting on a lifetime on the pool deck. Drawing on more than 50 years of experience, he will share lessons learned, stories from across generations of Canadian swimming, how coaching and high-performance sport have evolved, and the principles that have endured throughout his extraordinary career.

Greg Arkhurst - CAMO Natation

Greg Arkhurst is the Head Coach of CAMO Natation in Montreal and one of Canada's most accomplished high-performance swim coaches. A two-time recipient of Swimming Canada's Coach of the Year – Olympic Program award, Arkhurst has guided numerous athletes to success on the international stage, including Olympic finalist and World Championship medallist Mary-Sophie Harvey.

Originally from Côte d'Ivoire, Arkhurst represented his country at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games before transitioning to coaching. Since joining CAMO in 2009 and becoming Head Coach in 2021, he has led one of Canada's premier high-performance programs, developing Olympians, World Championship medallists, and national team athletes.

Known for his athlete-centred coaching philosophy and ability to build trusting, high-performance environments, Arkhurst has established himself as one of Canada's leading voices in elite swimming and coach development.