Courtesy of Coronado Swim Team Elite.
Coronado, CA – Sunday, August 24, 2025 — Coronado Swim Team Elite (CSTE) today announced the appointment of Sam Hoekstra as its new Head Coach, following an exhaustive nationwide search led by International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee and four-time U.S. Olympic Coach David Marsh, owner and advisor of CSTE.
An elite coach, NCAA All-American at the University of Louisville, and former University of Michigan swimmer, Hoekstra is known as a detail-driven innovator in the sport. Most recently, he served as Associate Head Coach at The Race Club under Gary Hall Sr., where he helped world-class swimmers maximize performance through cutting-edge technical development.
Hoekstra has also led club and high school programs in Michigan since 2013, including serving as the Aquatics Director and Head Coach at Byron Center High School, Byron Center Aquatics, and West Ottawa Swim Club. In addition, he has been an Elite Clinician with the Fitter & Faster Swim Tour, where he is recognized for guiding athletes to breakthrough moments that translate directly into competitive success.
Hoekstra’s coaching philosophy emphasizes training with purpose — quality over quantity — and aligns squarely with CSTE’s mission, with a focus on:
• Event-specific training that benefits all swimmers
• Innovation and integrated stroke analysis
• Building mental preparation and confidence alongside physical skills
• Keeping practices engaging, with curiosity and fun at the center
“Sam represents the next generation of great swim leaders,” said David Marsh, CSTE Owner & Advisor. “He knows what it takes to compete at the highest levels — and how to teach it. With his innovative mindset and our top-tier staff, we’re building a world-class performance environment in San Diego, from recreational swimming and our innovative Polo+ program to high-performance age-group training and the most elite levels of the sport. Our aim is clear: make CSTE a Top 10 USA Swimming club.”
A Coaching Network Built for High Performance
Sam will be supported daily by CSTE’s outstanding coaches Jon Burkett and Anna Bai, who continue to play critical roles in swimmer development, as well as Mel Eisenhamer, who provides ongoing administrative support. Jon brings deep technical expertise as a former NC State and Michigan swimmer, while Anna has built a strong foundation in CSTE’s age-group program by blending fun with fundamentals. Mel ensures continuity across CSTE’s operations and team administration.
CSTE has gradually built an extended coaching network that will provide consulting, clinics, mentorship, and on-deck support as needed.
This network includes:
• Peter Linn — Legendary Head Coach of Eastern Michigan, who also worked with the University of
Michigan during the Jon Urbanchek and Bob Bowman era. His technical insight is among the most
respected in the sport.
• Javi Sossa — Former UNC Associate Head Coach and Team Elite coach, who has guided Olympians
and NCAA All-Americans.
• Rachel Klinker — Former Cal Berkeley All-American and U.S. National Team member, joining
CSTE’s daily coaching staff in October.
• Marko Djordjevic — Head Men’s and Women’s Coach at UC San Diego, collaborating with CSTE
to strengthen athlete development pathways.
Together, this team ensures CSTE’s swimmers have access to one of the most experienced and innovative
coaching environments in the country — right here in San Diego.
Training at World-Class Facilities in Coronado and at UCSD
CSTE will continue to train at San Diego’s premier aquatic facilities, including the Coronado Community Aquatics Center and UC San Diego’s Canyonview Aquatic Center.
• UCSD Canyonview Aquatic Center: Two outdoor 50m x 25yd Olympic-size pools
• Coronado Community Center: Outdoor 50m x 25yd Olympic-size pool plus a
recreational/instructional pool with panoramic views of the bay and Coronado Bridge
CSTE extends deep gratitude to its community partners — UCSD and the City of Coronado — for their
continued support.
About Sam Hoekstra
Hoekstra’s journey blends natural talent, discipline, and technical mastery. As a swimmer, he was an NCAA All-American at the University of Louisville and competed for the University of Michigan, setting relay records and racing at the highest collegiate levels. As a coach, he is known for precise, accessible instruction that yields measurable improvements in underwaters, stroke efficiency, body line, and propulsion.
“Each practice is an opportunity to get 1% better,” Hoekstra said. “We’ll build curiosity, confidence, and
championship habits — one detail at a time.”
Hoekstra brings a well-rounded background to CSTE, with expertise in coaching, strength and conditioning, video analytics, nutrition, and recovery. He also has an extensive water polo background, becoming the only player in Michigan history to earn All-American honors both in the field and in goal. He later spent six years as a successful high school girls’ water polo head coach. Hoekstra studied Exercise Science at the University of Louisville. Originally from Michigan, he and his wife Lauren have been married for 14 years and are raising three
daughters. They relocated to San Diego earlier this year.
About David Marsh
David Marsh is one of swimming’s most decorated coaches. A 2021 International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, Marsh currently serves as Associate Head Coach at the University of California, Berkeley, where he helped the Golden Bears men’s team capture back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2022 and 2023. He is founder of Team Elite Aquatics and served as Head Coach of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Team and Assistant Coach for the 1996, 2000, and 2012 U.S. Men’s Olympic Teams. From 1990–2007, he led Auburn University to 12 NCAA team championships and coached more than 60 Olympians from over 20 nations.
Marsh later served as CEO/Head Elite Coach of SwimMAC Carolina, winning three consecutive USA Swimming Club Excellence titles — a first in the sport. He has also coached at UC San Diego and in the International Swimming League (ISL). He continues to serve as Professional Adviser to the Israel Swimming Association.
About Coronado Swim Team Elite
Coronado Swim Team Elite (CSTE) is San Diego’s premier competitive swim program, developing swimmers from entry-level to the international stage. The goal for the team is to grow CSTE into one of the Top 10 clubs in the nation and raise the level of aquatics throughout Southern California, while providing a supportive, fun, and challenging environment for swimmers of all levels. Guided by advisor David Marsh’s vision of technical innovation and athlete-first coaching, CSTE supports:
• Recreational and age-group swimming
• The innovative Polo+ program for water polo players
• Collegiate, national, and international-level athletes
• Open water programs to expand opportunities for athletes and aquatic enthusiasts in the western U.S.
• A first-of-its-kind remote team membership, including training programs, skill progression, and open
access to CSTE practices and camps
CSTE is expanding San Diego’s reputation as a hub for high-performance swimming and preparing athletes
for success at the pinnacle of the sport.
Media Contact:
David Marsh
CSTE – Owner/Advisor
[email protected]
740-425-5515
I see Peter Linn mentioned. He still hasn’t come out and said anything about Eastern Michigan dropping men’s swimming. So sad
I believe this is the same guy who did 100 days straight of 50 Frees OTB. That was fun and so impressive to watch. Good luck dude!
Im confused. Marsh owns a team in Coronado? Is this a management company running a pool that has water polo/swim team/group activities at this pool? I feel like Marsh tried this concept before and it didn’t take.
He also has several used cars he wants to sell you.