I am honored to serve as the head coach for the Durango Swim Club, the program where my love for the sport of swimming began. 

Coaching for the club that shaped my journey has been both fulfilling and eye-opening in ways that I never imagined. Transitioning from an athlete to coach has given me a unique perspective on the sport I grew up loving; and I am passionate about inspiring the next generation of swimmers to achieve their goals both in and out of the water. 

As an athlete, I swam competitively for nine years, achieving notable milestones such as competing for the Colorado Zones Team, placing first at Futures Championships in the 1500 freestyle, and first in the 500 freestyle, and 400 IM at Speedo Sectionals. My dedication to the sport culminated in placing top five at Junior Nationals, qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the 400 free, 800 free, 400 IM, and 1500 free, in addition to getting the opportunity to compete in Open Water Nationals. I continued my swimming career at the collegiate level, competing as a Division 1 athlete for the University of Houston before transferring to Boise State University. 

Now as a coach, I aim to combine my personal experience with goal-oriented, character building philosophy. My coaching focuses on fostering mindful mastery for swimmers of all ages and abilities, emphasizing discipline, resilience, and a love for the sport. I believe in empowering athletes to reach their full potential both as swimmers and as individuals. 

Coaching for the Durango Swim Club is more than a job to me - it’s a way for me to give back to a community that played a vital role in shaping my own life. I’m excited to lead this team and help swimmers discover their strength, build confidence, and achieve everything they can within the sport. 

Outside of coaching, I enjoy spending time outside, hiking, running, writing, and any activities that help keep me energized, as well as caring for my three pet salamanders. 

Coach Kalen is a Durango native who swam competitively for the Durango Swim Club for 10 years. He specialized in sprint freestyle (50 free, 100 free, and 200 free) as well as breaststroke. He continued his swimming career at the University of Puget Sound, a Division III school in Washington, before transferring back to Fort Lewis College, where he earned a degree in Sports Administration.

After spending seven years in finance and accounting and earning his MBA on Colorado’s Front Range, Kalen returned to his hometown when a housing opportunity arose. He is excited to give back to the community that shaped him and is passionate about sharing his lifelong love of swimming with the next generation. In addition to coaching, he teaches swim lessons to kids in the area and does accounting work for his dad’s business in town.

Outside the pool, Kalen enjoys all things Durango—biking, running, backpacking, and hiking. Some of his notable achievements include running a marathon, summiting all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers, and completing the local Iron Horse Bicycle Classic four times.

Coach Virginia is from Aurora, where she spent her childhood swimming competitively. She is currently pursuing a degree in exercise physiology with a coaching minor at Fort Lewis. Her background includes swimming with Denver Swim Academy and MACS until her sophomore year of high school, after which she transitioned to diving. The summer after her senior year, she coached a summer league team, which gave her a new passion for coaching swim. Virginia aims to teach the valuable drills and life skills she gained from her club experiences. She emphasizes the importance of hard work, a balanced approach to fun, respect, and kindness, hoping to inspire a love for the sport in her athletes.