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There are a number of great people coaching swimmers in Central Oregon. Take advantage of their skills and knowledge by attending a practice at one of our pools (see Pools link above). |
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Central Oregon Masters Head Coach
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Bob Bruce coaches practices at Juniper Swim and Fitness Center in Bend and serves as COMA's head coach. Bob is a Level 5 coach (of 5 levels) certified by the American Swimming Coaches Association and has over 36 years of experience coaching novice, age-group, high school, college and master's swimmers. Bob served as the USMS head coach for the Ninth and Tenth FINA World Masters Championships in New Zealand (2002) and Italy (2004). He was named USMS 2003 Coach of the Year and currently serves as the Coaches Chair for USMS. Bob is also on the Board of Directors of Oregon Masters Swimming as the Long Distance Chair. Currently, Bob is completing his Level 1 USA Triathalon Coaching Certification. Bob received his B.S. from the College of Wooster, earned his teaching credentials at Springfield College, and received an M.A. in Exercise Science from the University of North Carolina. Click here to contact Bob via email. |
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Bob Bruce
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Other COMA Coaches Based at Juniper Swim and Fitness Center in Bend, Oregon
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Barb Harris was a World Ranked swimmer as an age grouper and collegian, winning an NCAA Division I National Championship title in the 50-yard Butterfly, anchoring an American Record 200 Medley Relay, and earning a Gold Medal in the World University Games. She earned a B.A. at the University of North Carolina and an M.P.A. at Indiana University. Although she competes infrequently as a Masters swimmer, when she does, she is usually ranked in the USMS Top-Ten. Barb is currrently a Level 3 coach certified with the American Swimming Coaches Association and completing the Level 1 USA Triathalon Coaches Certification. She coaches mornings & weekends at Juniper Swim and Fitness Center. Click here to contact Barb via email. |
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Barb Harris
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| Kevin Sivertson joined the COMA coaching team in the fall of 2005. Kevin coaches at Juniper Swim and Fitness Center usually in the evenings and on some weekends. Kevin previously coached at Oregon Wetmasters in the Portland area. He has several years experience coaching both children and adults. Click here to contact Kevin via email. |
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Kevin Sivertson
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Other COMA Coaches Based at the Bend Athletic Club in Bend, Oregon
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In 1985 when she was 31, Debbie Gregoire (now Douglas) competed in the first World Masters Olympic Games in Toronto, Canada. She won four medals with times equivalent to when she was a 16-year-old age group swimmer in Southern California. Her success as a masters swimmer led to her first coaching job in 1987, and she’s been coaching ever since. Today Deb is the head swim coach at the Athletic Club of Bend. She has nurtured the novice (youth) team from one swimmer in 2001 to 135 in 2005, and she heads the three-coach master’s team, which includes fellow coach and husband Michael Douglas. The highlight of her coaching career came in 2000 when both the girls and boys at her Mt. View High School team won state titles. Deb’s special love as a competitor is lake swimming, and she hasn’t missed a summer since she was 27. Six surgeries in the past eight years have limited participation in pool competitions, but she promises to be back in peak shape soon. She says that she is lucky to have found her gift, which she believes is teaching swimming to youngsters and adults alike. “I make a difference,” she says. In addition to her job at the ACB, she works at Highland Elementary School in Bend as a secretary and media manager.
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Deb Douglas
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Ask any local swimmer who’s the funnest guy at the pool and chances are you’ll hear Rob Higley mentioned again and again. A competitive swimmer off and on since the age of 7, the gregarious Higley has earned the respect of fellow masters swimmers across the state. In 2000, the Oregon Masters Swimming voted him its most spirited male pool swimmer and in 2005 its most spirited male open water swimmer. Higley moved to Bend in 1991 after spending eight years in the Navy as a helicopter mechanic. He started swimming with the masters at Juniper to rehabilitate a hurt knee. “I don’t break too many records,” he claims, “but I enjoy it. He recently left his job as a machinist to work full time at the Athletic Club of Bend where he heads the club’s masters program and helps coach the age group team. He also works as a lifeguard, private swim instructor, manager and at the front desk. He has served on the COMA board as social chairman and vice president. He aspires to reach American Swim Coaches Association Level 3 or 4 certification. “I like working with people and teaching, and I think I can help folks swim better and enjoy it.”
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Rob Higley
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Other COMA Coaches based at Cascade Aquatic Center in Redmond, Oregon
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Bob Bruce is providing coaches services on Wednesday mornings. See his bio above under Juniper Swim and Fitness Center.
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Other COMA Coaches based at Sisters Athletic Club in Sisters, Oregon
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| Currenly no master coach is assigned at this facility. For further information contact the club at 549-6878. |
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