ATAC is proud to have some of the finest swim coaches around. Our coaches are highly qualified and have years of experience, not only in coaching but competing in the sport. Our ATAC coaches share their experiences, knowledge and love of the sport of swimming with the athletes. Their wide range of experiences and knowledge as well as their dedication to the sport of swimming has helped create one of the best teams in the Dallas area.
Head Coach - Chris MacCurdy
Chris MacCurdy is the head coach of ATAC. With over 30 years of experience, he coaches the Senior Champions and the Junior Champions Black Group. His experience includes summer league, age group, senior, and collegiate levels. Chris is a Level 5 USS Coach, the highest level possible as certified by the American Swimming Coaches Association. A member of the City of Plano Swimmers (COPS) staff from 1978 to 1997, Chris served as Head Age Group Coach and 18 years as Head Coach. Prior to coaching at COPS, MacCurdy founded, along with his brother-in-law, Jerry Heidenreich, a very successful USS team and swim school in the Garland area, then rejoined Heidenreich in the fall of 1997 to form the Academy of Texas Aquatic Champions. Read More...
Head Age Group Coach - Sherry Gentry
Sherry Gentry is the Head Age group coach for ATAC. Sherry has been coaching for ATAC for over 10 years and coaches the Senior Development and Junior Champs Black groups. She brings to ATAC a true passion for swimming, coaching, and teaching children to swim. Sherry grew up in the Arlington/Fort Worth area and swam for the eight years on the Panther Boys Club in Fort Worth and Burford Swim Team in Arlington under the coaching of the legendary Don Easterling. She was a former teammate of Jerry Heidenreich and a participant in the first and second TAGS meets. Read More...
Age Group Coach - Johanna Slaysman
Johanna Slaysman is an Age Group Coach for Junior Champs Aqua and Junior Champs Blue. She has been coaching swimming for 9 years, with 7 of those years for ATAC. Johanna started swimming when she was 15 on the home school team for Grand Prairie Aquatic Club. (now S.W.A.T) She continued on swimming even after the home school team was dissolved. For a while, she had the distinction of being the only 15 and over swimmer on GPAC. She then swam, on scholarship, for John Brown University in Arkansas. She swam backstroke and the 100 freestyle. She was a 3 time All Conference Scholar Athlete. She wants everyone to know that swimming in college is the best and totally worth the early mornings and limited social life. Read More...
Age Group Coach - Dan Havrilak
Dan Havrilak is an Age Group Coach for Development, Future Champs and Junior Champs White. He began working with ATAC in 2001. He has taught all ages and a variety of aquatic exercise classes. He has 29 years of teaching experience and a life-long love for aquatic activities. He is currently the Assistant Director of Aquatics and Nationally Certified Pool Operator at Greenhill School. Dan teaches swimming, drills, and games to grades 1-6, coaches the 7th & 8th grade swim team, and assists with the varsity swim team.
Email: willdanhav@gmail.com
