Edmonton Keyano Swim Club

MEET OUR STAFF

PAUL BIRMINGHAM
Head Coach EKSC
Head Coach University of Alberta

Paul is an Australian coach who took over the lead of Edmonton Keyano’s technical program in 2018-19. Prior to Keyano he spent 10 years as the National Head Coach for Malaysia. Prior to 2008, Paul spent 8 years as the Head Coach of a large club in Queensland, Australia; one of the most dense and competitive swimming communities in the world. He brings a wealth of High Performance experience and has been the attending Team Head Coach or coach of athletes at the following international events:

4 x Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016, 2024)
7 x World Championships (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023.2024)
3 x Commonwealth Games (2010, 2014, 2018)
3 x Asian Games (2010, 2014, 2018)
5 x South East Asian Games (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
2 x World University Games (2011, 2013)
2 x Olympic Youth Games (2010, 2014)
3 x World Junior Championships (2011, 2013, 2019)
3 x Commonwealth Youth Games (2008, 2011, 2015)
2 x Asian Youth Games (2009, 2013)
1 x Junior Pan Pacs (2022)
1 x Pan American Games (2023)

Chris Nelson
General Manager

Chris Nelson has been the General Manager with the Club since 2018. Prior to taking on this role Chris was a national coach with EKSC for many years. Over the years Chris has coached several swimmers to Canadian National teams including the World Championships as well as having numerous athletes set national and provincial records.
Chris has been a part of the swimming landscape in Edmonton his whole life and his knowledge and experience is invaluable to the program and the Province.

Matt BOWKOWY
DEVELOPMENT LEAD COACH

Matt is a NCCP level 3 coach with a Chartered designation from the coaches of Canada. I have been coaching in and around the Edmonton area since 2000. He was the Head Coach of the Leduc Otters Swim Club and the Silver Tide Swim Club where he was able to put a swimmer on Canada's 2009 World Aquatic Championship Team before joining the U of A as an assistant and starting Triton Swimming in 2009. He is excited to rejoin the Keyano Swim Club, who he swam with in the 90's, and to do it with his whole family makes it extra special.

PERFORMANCE STREAM COACHES

DESMOND LAM

HEAD AGE GROUP COACH

Desmond has been coaching with Keyano for over 10 years. He started his coaching career for the Vancouver Vikings Summer Club for the 6 summers before moving on with Keyano. He was formerly an assistant Coach for the Kinsmen groups and was the Head Satellite Coach before becoming Head Age Group Coach. Desmond has developed some of Keyano's top age group swimmers through the Provincial group. He will also be working with and supervising all the Sattelite coaches and programs.

ALEX WALLINGFORD

JUNIOR NATIONAL COACH

Alex has an impressive background which includes an education from University of Michigan. He has been a recipient of the Canadian Swim Coaches and Teacher Domestic Excellence Award twelve times. Alex is a Charter Professional Coach (ChPC) designation with Coaches of Canada where he is NCCP Level 3 fully certified.
Alex was the former Toronto Swim Club head coach securing several Team titles whlist their.
He has also had the opportunity to participate as a Coach selection to the 2010 and 2012 Junior Pan Pacific championships in Hawaii, 2009 Canadian NACC Team and the 2009-2010 Australian Youth tour team, the 2009 Canada Games Team Ontario staff, along with several National Junior Team training camps across Canada.

ROger Hanna

SENIOR NATIONAL/VARSITY ASSISTANT COACH
Roger has been coaching for 11 years, having fostered success at every level of the sport. From national finalists & provincial record holders to grass roots developmental. Prior to EKSC he led the national group with the Calgary Patriots and coached Team Alberta at the 2023 Canada Summer Games. Roger has coached across the country Including with GO Kingfish in Ottawa & LASC in Lethbridge. Roger was a Former Varsity and national level swimmer and thrives embracing an active lifestyle. He enjoys dabbling in any sport he can try and is an avid climber, hiker, cyclist, rower, and runner doing the occasional casual ultramarathon & iron man or even a masters swim meet.

Glen Playfair

SENIOR PROVINCIAL COACH

Glen has been coaching with Keyano on and off since 1999. Glen will be the Coach for the Bonnie Doon Gold and the Sr Provincial swimmers and is focused is on helping each swimmer achieve their swimming goals. He is NCCP Level 4 certified coach who has coached developmental athlete’s up to National Team athletes in multiple sports. Glen has been a 9x National Team Coach, [including Head Coach at World XC Championships]. He has also been the recipient of the Provincial developmental coach of the year award in 2 sports [4x], the Varsity Can-West Coach of the year award [3x], and the National Elite Coach of the Year. In this time his athletes have medaled at the provincial and national championships, and competed on National Team’s, [2 at the Olympic Games].

LEAD SATELITE COACHES

MARK PHILLIPS

LEAD COACH

Mark has been coaching with Keyano for many years and emphasizes long term swimmer development in the program. The confederation Gold coach, Mark is engaged with his swimmers and invested in their development. He leads by example for the younger coaches on staff

MATT BOWKOWY

DEVELOPMENT LEAD COACH

Matt is a NCCP level 3 coach with a Chartered designation from the coaches of Canada. I have been coaching in and around the Edmonton area since 2000. He was the Head Coach of the Leduc Otters Swim Club and the Silver Tide Swim Club where he was able to put a swimmer on Canada's 2009 World Aquatic Championship Team before joining the U of A as an assistant and starting Triton Swimming in 2009. He is excited to rejoin the Keyano Swim Club, who he swam with in the 90's, and to do it with his whole family makes it extra special.