Aquatics Staff

Marc Detraz : Aquatics Director

Email: mdetraz@rafaelracquetclub.com
Phone: 415-456-1153
Originally from the French Alps, Marc began swimming competitively for a summer league team at the age of 9. At 15, he began swimming year-round when he was recruited to swim in the regional training center with national and international level athletes and was coached by Marc Begotti.

As a swimmer Marc specialized in sprint freestyle events, but developed an affinity for open water swims and eventually for triathlons. At Grenoble University, Marc swam competitively for three years while studying Physical Education.

Marc was a Physical Education instructor during his French military service before moving to Mill Valley in 1991. He spent a few year teaching swimming at the Marin JCC with Jeff Kamler and got his first local coaching job with the Rolling Hills Stingrays, a Marin Swim League team.

Marc began coaching the Marlins in 1994, when the team belonged to the Marin Swim League. With the help of Coach Sonia Nimtz, he quickly turned the team around by focusing primarily on technique.

In July 2000, Marc received the Marin Swim League's Coach of the Year Award and redesigned the Rafael Racquet Club Marlins to a year-round United States Swimming program. Now called the Pacific Coast Marlins, the team continues to succeed under Marc's dedication and coaching philosophy.

Assistant Swim Coach: Jeff Kamler

Jeff has been a Marin County swimmer for more than four decades. With the San Rafael Swim Club (Coach Larry Lack), Jeff learned about age-group competition as a 6 & under. From the age of 11, under the training of Don Swartz (who created the powerhouse Marin Aquatic Club) Jeff competed regionally and nationally in the Breaststroke and Individual Medley events, qualifying for Junior Olympics in 1969, 1974 and 1975.

While at San Rafael High School, Jeff played Water Polo in the fall and swam in the spring. Jeff swam breaststroke on the 200 Medley Relay which set a National High School record in 1975 (The school record still stands 33 years later!).

Jeff’s Collegiate swimming was at Stanford University, where he was a 1976 Pac-8 finalist in the 100 Breast, and consolation finalist in the 200 Breast and 200 IM. Later that spring, he competed in the Senior National Championships in the 200 IM and the 100 & 200 Breaststroke, narrowly missing Olympic Trials Qualifying Time Standards.

As a 40th birthday celebration, Jeff competed in the US Masters Swimming where he earned a National Top Ten Ranking in three (3) long course events (50 Breast, 100 and 200 IM). Jeff continues to enjoy swimming 5 times a week (about 3500 yds. per day) and still swims relatively fast (for a Dad)!

Jeff’s aquatics coaching/teaching history includes three years with University High School in San Francisco, a one year startup (San Francisco City Swim club at the old Presidio pool), eight seasons developing educational & aquatic training programs for the Marin Jewish Community Center in San Rafael (Age Group with Coach Marc Detraz, Swim Camp & Clinic, and US Masters), and more than 20 years as an independent teacher, trainer and coach.

Jeff received a B.A. degree in Human Biology from Stanford University, and an M.A. degree in Bio-Behavioral Health Psychology from UCSF Medical Center. His professional training includes expertise in rehabilitation fitness, biomechanics & exercise, and educating individuals on maximizing human potential.

Jeff is delighted to be returning to active coaching with Marc and the Marlins.

Lifeguard Supervisor: Ariel Shakeshaft

Email: ashakeshaft@rafaelracquetclub.com
Phone: (415) 456-5522, x120
Ariel has been a member of the RRC family since joining the Marlins Swim Team in 1991.

After graduating from San Rafael High School, she attended Cal Poly, SLO as an Economics student. At Cal Poly, Ariel spent her time studying, enjoying the "SLO" life, and participating in triathlons. Ariel spent summers lifeguarding and teaching swimming at RRC.

After graduating from Cal Poly, Ariel was offered a summer job at RRC staffing the lifeguards. Six years later, she enjoys her spot as Assistant Manager, working in all aspects of Club Management.

Ariel enjoys spending time with the great families who make up the club, as well as being a part of a healthy and active profession.

Assistant Swim Coach: Michelle Montellato

Michelle was part of the Marlins family from the age of seven to the age of fourteen. After leaving the Marlins, she continued swimming at San Rafael High School in addition to playing water polo for the school. For the past five summers, Michelle has been teaching swimming lessons as well as being a lifeguard at Drake High School for their summer swim program. Michelle helped coached Swimarin for the past two summers in addition to swimming for the team.

Michelle now attends College of Marin and is currently studying Italian and is planning on transferring into the UC system at the end of the next school year.