Meet OUR COACHES
Learn more about the incredible coaching staff of our Chargers!
BRANDON SHILLING
HEAD COACH
Brandon started swimming for Almaden Swim and Raquet Club at age 5 until 15, then joined Santa Clara Swim Club. Throughout his swimming career he qualified for Olympic trials in the 200 IM, won CCS in the 100 back, and attended UCSB with a swimming scholarship.
He started coaching swimming for the Covington Critters, a recreational team, in 2010. After two years of growing that program he began coaching for Cabrillo Threshers in 2012. In 2016 he was one of two coaches that began ACSC and grew the program to over 200 swimmers.
He has coached multiple JO qualifiers including one JO champion, multiple far western finalists, and a finalist at Futures.
He believes in creating a culture that fosters capable, well rounded young adults with a strong sense of community. His coaching philosophy involves a heavy aerobic base with excellent technique being the overall priority for the athletes.
When not on a pool deck he enjoys surfing, disc golf, and playing with his dog Kuzco at the beach.
MATT CRAWFORD
head age group coach
Matt brings 21 years of coaching experience at the club and collegiate level. Matt got his start coaching in Davis, CA with the Davis Aquamonsters/UCD Aquatics. In his 11 years with the team he coached a Senior National finalist, Junior National point scorer, Far Western record holder, Paralympic world record holder and national champion, and a number of Futures and Sectional qualifiers. He helped build a community that is still thriving today. As the senior coach of Elk Grove Aquatic Club, he coached a Futures qualifier and a number of sectional qualifiers. Many of his athletes went on to have successful four year collegiate swim careers across Division I, II, and III.
In brief stints with the Folsom Wahoos and San Ramon Valley Aquatics, Matt coached a number of Junior Olympic and Far Western qualifiers and point scorers, including a Junior Olympic and Far Western champion, ranked in his age group’s top 10 in multiple events. At his most recent stop at Aptos Cabrillo Swim Club, Matt coached two Age Group Champs and Far Western qualifiers.
Matt has also spent the last seven seasons as the head coach of swimming and diving at UC Santa Cruz. In his time there, the men’s program has won their first two PCSC Championship titles (2020, 2025), coached ten NCAA Division III qualifiers, six Division III All-Americans, and a multitude of PCSC Champions and UC Santa Cruz program record holders. He has earned PCSC Men’s Coach of the Meet three times (2020, 2022, 2025), and PCSC Coach of the Year twice (2020, 2025).
In his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and dogs, camping, and surfing. He grew up in the Sacramento area swimming summer rec and swam four years at UC Davis.
HAILEY GARLICH
age group coach
Hailey grew up near Chicago, IL and started swimming at the age of 9 for the Lake Central Barracudas in Northwest Indiana. She continued swimming all the way through high school and then swam in college at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.
After graduation, she started her first job in collegiate athletics as a Graduate Assistant coach for Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving at the University of South Dakota. At that same time, she coached her own swim club, the Yankton Swim Team. She spent 3 total years in South Dakota and helped lead USD’s Men’s Team to a Summit League Conference Championship Title. Next up was one year as the Assistant Coach for the Women’s Swim Team at Utah Tech University. That year the team placed the highest ever in program history, 4th place at the conference championship with a roster of just 16 women.
The following year, Hailey started as the Associate Head Coach of the UCSC Swim & Dive team, and is now currently in her 3rd season with the Slugs. She helped lead the 2025 men’s team to reach their second PCSC Championship Title, and has coached ten Division III NCAA qualifiers. In her free time, you can catch Hailey hiking, camping, running, lifting, beaching, and trying to surf!