About BBD
About Birmingham Blue Dolphins
Our Coaches
Chris Wolford
Head Coach
Chris Wolford joins the Birmingham Blue Dolphins with more than 30 years of experience guiding athletes and programs to elite levels of performance, both in and out of the water. Before arriving at BBD, Chris led teams to over 20 State Championships and 2 Junior National Team Titles. His athletes have represented Team USA internationally, set seven National Age-Group Records, and earned numerous Junior National Championships and Olympic Trials qualifications. He is also a two-time Ohio Swimming Coach of the Year
Off the deck, Chris’ teams have experienced tremendous growth, transforming teams into organizations. His leadership and operational expertise have helped multiple teams double in size during his tenure. Prior to his coaching career, Chris worked as an accountant. He has also served in several key governance roles within the LSCs he has been part of, including treasurer, sports performance director, senior representative, and coaches’ representative. Chris comes to Birmingham with the support of his wife, Jen, and their two children, Nate and Ellie.
Greg brings over three decades of premier swim instruction and competitive coaching experience to the Birmingham Blue Dolphins (BBD). A veteran educator outside of the pool, Greg serves as a biology teacher at the Cranbrook-Kingswood Upper School and has been an integral part of the BBD coaching staff since 2016.
Currently leading the Senior/National training group, Greg has an extensive leadership pedigree that includes former head coaching positions at Cranbrook, OLY, Detroit Golf Club, Woodside, Waterford Schools, Notre Dame Prep, Kendellwood Club, and Great Lakes Athletic Club. He is deeply committed to helping athletes unlock their potential, improving both their swimming fitness and technical precision within a high-performance, yet fun, team framework. Greg lives in Beverly Hills with his wife, Jennifer, and their son, Jack, who is also a competitive BBD swimmer.
Michael has been a dedicated coach with the Blue Dolphins (BBD) since 2015, seamlessly balancing his passion for competitive swimming with his academic and professional pursuits. A local competitive swimmer for 13 years, Michael swam for the Woodside Athletic Club and Groves High School, where he served as team captain and achieved All-State honors.
Driven by a desire to give back to the sport, Michael coached with BBD through his college years at Lawrence Tech University, where he earned his Civil Engineering degree. When he isn’t on the pool deck helping athletes reach their goals, he is working in Troy as a licensed Professional Engineer for G2 Consulting Group. Michael is thrilled to be back for another exciting season and can't wait to see what the Blue Dolphins achieve this year!
Alex returned to the Blue Dolphins (BBD) coaching staff in 2022, bringing a lifetime of competitive excellence and deep-rooted history with the program. His journey with BBD spans over a decade, including 11 years as a club swimmer and four years representing the team on the national stage.
Alex was a standout athlete at Brother Rice High School, earning All-American honors an impressive 11 times. He transitioned his talents to NCAA Division I swimming at the University of Texas for a year before returning home to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Wayne State University. With a profound understanding of elite athletic development and a fresh academic foundation in communication, Alex is an invaluable asset to the BBD coaching staff.
With over three decades of coaching experience, Mike is a cornerstone of the Blue Dolphins (BBD) program. His deep roots in the local swim community began as a competitive athlete, swimming for the Beverly Hills Athletic Club from 1987 to 1994 and Birmingham Groves High School from 1990 to 1994.
Mike’s career is distinguished by a proven track record of developing championship-level athletes. His accolades include receiving recognition from
Swimming World Magazine in 2002 for producing multiple top-four national finishers, and directing the 2008 BBD National Team to a record-breaking fifth-place finish at the national level. Under his leadership, the program has produced seven individual YMCA National Champions and 45 Michigan High School State Champions. Outside of his coaching tenure, Mike is a professional with the C.R. Hill Co. in Berkley. He resides in Troy with his family, including his wife and fellow former BBD coach, Anne, and their son, Dylan.
Pat is a proud Birmingham Blue Dolphins (BBD) alumnus who has been coaching with the program for over 20 years. He has expanded his role into the national team's video technique coach, bringing advanced visual feedback to athlete development. Outside of the pool, Pat is a graduate of Michigan State University and the successful owner of Deighan Painters, Inc.
Pat has a wealth of coaching experience, having spent time with the Village Athletic Club locally, as well as the Dynamo Swim Club and the Country Club of the South in Atlanta. Pat and his wife, Katy, live in Birmingham and are the proud parents of three amazing kids: twin daughters Alexis and Haley (who are running collegiately at Hope College and U of M!) and their son Luke (an Evans Scholar at MSU!). Pat is incredibly excited to help every swimmer reach their potential this year, reminding everyone that “Technique is Everything!”
Nate Wolford
Assistant Coach
coming soon
Nate comes to Birmingham Blue Dolphins with a rich competitive background and a passion for the sport. Nate was a standout distance specialist, reaching the high school state championship finals in the 200 IM and 500 Free. In USA Swimming competition he was a top-eight finisher in the 1650 freestyle.
Beginning as a lessons instructor in high school, Nate has spent years refining his instructional approach. He has developed extensive experience as both a swim lesson instructor and a competitive coach. Nate joins the staff after 4 years coaching with New Trier Aquatics. In 2024 Nate stepped into the role of Lead Coach for 3 training groups. Nate was charged with designing practices, preparing meet entries and overall communication for over 100 team members. Dedicated to foundational excellence, Nate is excited to continue to provide athletes with structured and challenging training in a positive team environment.
Coach Z has been a part of the swimming community for over 3 decades and served as the head coach for Andover/Bloomfield Hills High School for 22 years. He is a 2024 Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee and has been recognized at the state and national levels for his contributions to high school swimming. Coach Z works with the Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association(MISCA) and is the swim rep for Beachwood Recreation Association. His wife is a former swim coach and both their kids are current BBD swimmers.
Maureen MacLean
Lead 8 & Under Coach
Coming soon
Maureen joined the Birmingham Blue Dolphins (BBD) coaching staff in January 2026, bringing a lifelong passion for the water and a strong background in competitive swimming. Her personal athletic journey includes competing as a four-year varsity swimmer at Detroit Country Day School, where she specialized in the 500 freestyle, served as a two-year team captain, and helped lead the 2014 squad to the highest state team finish in school history. In college, she continued to compete as a member of the Michigan State Triathlon Club.
Maureen's coaching career includes formally joining the Detroit Country Day women’s varsity swim team as an assistant coach during the 2024–2025 season. For Maureen, the true joy of coaching lies in teaching technical fundamentals to younger athletes, helping individuals build self-belief, and empowering them to set goals and achieve their dreams.
Kevin retired from the YMCA and stepped down as head coach of BBD after the 2024 season. He stayed involved with the team as a volunteer, working primarily with the eight-and-unders. During his 40+ year career, he led the team developing thousands of swimmers and mentoring hundreds of assistants. The team grew from a small YMCA team of sixty swimmers into a regional powerhouse in YMCA and US competitions with well over three hundred swimmers. He did this while also working as a teacher/administrator in Detroit, at Cranbrook (where he secured the use of the natatorium), and at the Academy of the Sacred Heart and as head coach of the Orchard Lake Country Club swimming team. Kevin returned this season to help the team as it transitions to a strictly US team and conducts a nationwide search for a much-deserved full-time head coach.
To come…
To come…
Mary Kate brings a wealth of competitive and developmental experience to the Birmingham Blue Dolphins (BBD) coaching staff. Growing up in Southfield, her extensive swimming career took her through the Cranbrook Swim Club, Atlantis, Detroit Country Day, and ultimately to the collegiate level at Division I, Eastern Michigan University.
She began her coaching journey during college, working with Club Wolverine and University of Michigan swim clinics. Following graduation, Mary Kate expanded her coaching portfolio at the Detroit Yacht Club and Salem High School. She is currently pulling double duty as both a BBD coach and the head coach for the Detroit Country Day girls' swim team. For Mary Kate, the most rewarding aspect of coaching is that breakthrough moment when technical feedback clicks with a swimmer and she gets to witness their direct improvement.
Matt returns to BBD after a 30 year hiatus from the team. While away Matt was the head coach for Wayne State University where he had multiple top 20 finishes at NCAA Championships. He has also coached Orchard Lake CC, Walnut Creek CC. Most notably Matt was the Head Coach of Groves HS where he coached his 3 daughters, Hannah, Ellie and Lauren. Matt is an alumnus of BBD and a member of their national team. He also swam at Forest Hills, Brother Rice and Wayne State University where he earned All-American honors. He is married to his lovely wife Janine and they reside in Beverly Hills.
Coach Owen is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Coaching. A lifelong swimmer, Owen has been competing since the age of four and has developed a deep passion for the sport. Prior to joining the coaching staff, Owen spent three years coaching with Beachwood Recreation Association and served as a student coach for the Michigan State Swim Club for two years. Prior to Michigan State, Owen was a member of the John Carroll University Swim Team.
Owen is dedicated to helping swimmers build confidence, reach their goals, and develop a lifelong love for swimming. He strives to create a positive, supportive, and fun team environment where every athlete can grow both in and out of the pool. Outside of coaching, Owen enjoys spending time up north and hanging out with his dog, Sadie.
