BRIAN ROSE
Head Coach/Program Director–Seniors/Junior 1

Email: [email protected]
Brian swam for Riptide from 1995 to 2002, and he is proud to say he never missed a single dual meet in that time! After graduating Riptide, he went on to swim 4 years at Swarthmore College, specializing in the 200 Breaststroke and 400 IM. Brian was also head coach of the Nob Valley summer swim team from 2002 to 2007, head coach of Wardlaw Hartridge Middle School from 2010 to 2013, head coach of Brookside Swim Club in 2011, assistant coach of the Berkeley masters team from 2011 to 2013, and was a member of the New Jersey Swimming and Diving Conference board of directors from 2008 to 2011.

Brian has been coaching for Riptide since 2006, and Head Coach since 2013. At one point or other, he has served as the primary coach for all Senior and Junior groups. Brian prides himself on being an expert in swim technique, a devoted and caring coach, and a pretty decent guitar player. He still occasionally competes as an active swimmer. As many parents and swimmers alike can attest, he is a walking Top Times Report and will probably remember your best 100 Fly time from 4 years ago.
 

SCOTT THOMPSON
Assistant Coach–Junior 1
Scott began his coaching career in 1986 as the head coach of the Central Jersey YWCA Swim Team in New Brunswick. When the YMCA closed its doors in 1995, he moved the team to the Raritan Valley YMCA and served as the head coach of the boys' and girls' teams there until 1998. Scott is married to his wife Leslie, and their two children, Courtney & Andrew, were long time members of Riptide and went on to have successful swimming careers for The College of New Jersey.  Scott works for Avaya as a senior financial manager and enjoys spending time with his family and cheering for mediocre local sports teams like the Mets, Jets, Devils, and Rutgers University. 
 

JULIANA ROSE
Assistant Coach–Seniors
Julie swam on Riptide for 10 years until she graduated from high school in 2006. While a Riptider, she served as captain of the Girls' team in her junior & senior year, captain of the Nationals team in her senior year, and is a current team record holder in the 13/14 backstroke events. Julie was assistant coach for the Nob Valley swim team from 2005 to 2007, and head coach in 2008 and 2009.

Julie pursued her BA in Communications/Media Studies at Northeastern University and works full-time in advertising at BBDO New York. Before graduating she spent her final college semester studying abroad in Australia where she became a champion crocodile wrestler . . . Just kidding, but she did do some very cool things while hanging with the Aussies!
 

JAKE CALLAHAN
Assistant Coach– Seniors

Jake Callahan is one of our Senior team coaches and has been coaching since 2016.  Coach Jake swam for Riptide from 2009 through 2015. He is a great coach, and the swimmers enjoy having him on deck with them. Coach Jake lives in Highland Park and has spent some time coaching the University summer swim team. Coach Jake brings a unique perspective to our swim team, having swap for Riptide and now coaching. Before Riptide added a long-course season to our club, Jake spent time during the long-course season with other swim clubs. After Riptide, coach Jake swam for the Rutgers club team and began his coaching career at Riptide. 
 

KAITLYN CATALANO
Assistant Coach– Junior 2

 
We welcomed Kaitlyn to the Riptide coaching staff in 2022!  Kaitlyn swam for the Scarlet Aquatics swim team for eight years. She recently coached for University Swimming Association Inc this past summer.
 

RYAN KAPPES
Assistant Coach– 

Email: 
 
Ryan was a Riptide swimmer for 10 years. He was a varsity swimmer for North Brunswick for 4 years.  He graduated in 2020.  He went to Montclaire State where he swam his entire time there.  He has been a coach for Cougar Aquatics for 4 years and is new to our Riptide coachig staff.  
 

TREVOR ENDLER
Assistant Coach– Seniors

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

TIMOTHY MANCUSO
Assistant Coach–Senior 2, Strength Training

Tim swam for Riptide from 2002-2006. When he was on the team, he swam with Head Coach Brian and Coach Julie, while also being coached by Mike, who was the Head Coach at the time!! This is important to note because it shows how Riptide is a close-knit family no matter what. Tim also established lifelong friendships as a member of the Riptide swim team. He went on to swim in college at Duquesne University, while pursuing his Athletic Training degree.

Tim has been a member of the Riptide coaching staff since 2014, and loves staying close to the sport. With Tim's profession as a Licensed Athletic Trainer and Performance Enhancement Specialist, it allows him to bring a unique perspective towards training and helping any swimmer with an injury or questions on how to get stronger, and provide rehab exercises when needed.
 

RYAN ERDMAN
Assistant Coach– 

Email: @gmail.com
Ryan has been a swimer since he was 9 years old He swam at Arcadia University for 4 years. He has been a coach for the summer team at Rivercrest for several years.  This is his first season at Riptide.
 

ANNIE RUDAWSKI
Assistant Coach–Junior 1/Tidal Waves
My name is Annie Rudawski, but the kids call me Coach Annie. This is just a little info about me. I am currently in school at Rutgers University. I have been swimming competitively since I was 4 and am still involved with the same team that I started with. I have been coaching for 4 years now. I love seeing the kids improve as the season progresses. I am excited to be apart of the team and am looking forward to a great year!
 
 

 

 
 

JENI STEFANOWICZ
Assistant Coach–Tiny Tides
Jeni has been teaching swim lessons at the YMCA since I was 15 years old, and I still teach them on Sunday mornings! I have only recently started coaching swim team. My daughter started swimming four years ago, and three years ago the Riptide coaches convinced me to come on board as a coach. I am a Pre-K teacher, so Coach Brian figured I would be good with the 8 and under Tiny Tides and Tidal Waves group. I really enjoy coaching and watching these little ones bloom into great swimmers. When I am not working, you can most likely find me at the baseball field watching my son play.
 

JOHN WIECZOREK
Assistant Coach– Seniors

I swam for Riptide from 2001 to 2009, and St. Joseph’s HS from 2006 to 2010, where I was team MVP and GMC champion in the 50 freestyle and several relays. My favorite award from St. Joes was the “Platinum Iron Man,” signifying I never missed a practice (shoutout to my dad for driving me to practice every day at 5:00 AM!). I swam for Ursinus College from 2010 to 2014, where I held school records in the 50 and 100 freestyle, as well as all 200/400 relays. My favorite (and best) event is the 50 freestyle!

I recently graduated with a PhD in Chemistry from Rutgers University. I’ve only just started coaching in Summer of 2024, but already love the team atmosphere and guiding others on their journey to improve! I’ve also been training in my spare time to go a best time in the 50 freestyle, and hopefully drop enough time to qualify for the next Olympic trials. I can play several musical instruments, mainly piano and guitar. My favorite instrument to play is the pipe organ (though it’s very hard to find practice time for!).