COACHING STAFF
COPS is a non-profit organization not associated with the City of Plano. ©2008 City of Plano Swimmers Incorporated
Steve Mateer - Head Coach
steve@planoswimming.org

Office Hours: M-Fri 2:00 pm- 4:30 pm

Steve began coaching with the COPS program in 1983 and took over the Head Age Group duties in
1985. In 1997, he was promoted to the Head Coach position.

During his twelve years as Head Age Group Coach he served as coach for the North All-Star Team,
as well as a coach for the Southwestern LSC Zone All-Star Team for three years, one year of which
he served as the Head Coach. In '88,'90,'92 and '94, Steve was named the American Swim
Coaches Association "Age Group Coach of the Year" for the North Texas LSC. He was also the
recipient of Swim Texas magazine's "Age Group Coach of the Year" in 1996.

Steve comes from a true swimming family in that both his brothers swam competitively; Mark, for the
University of Missouri at Rolla and Curt, for Illinois State University. Steve's swimming career began
at age six with the Sheridan Swim Club (Illinois) where his father served as a member of the Board
of Directors for four years and was Board President for two years. He was the high school team
captain for both the swimming and water polo teams in which his polo team was the Illinois State
Champion. He also swam for the University of Missouri. Steve is married, enjoys playing golf and
going fishing.
Ted Carson - Head Age Group Coach
ted@planoswimming.org

Office hours: Mon-Fri. 12:00-3:45pm

Ted grew up in Witchita Falls, Texas and swam there from the age of ten through high school and
then at Midwestern University.

After graduating from Texas Tech University Ted's first coaching job was in Moore, Oklahoma as the
head coach for both the high school and the club team. After five years in Moore, he moved to
Abilene, Texas where he was able to complete his Masters degree in Management and Human
Relations at Abilene Christian University.

Ted then moved to Midland and was there for 17 years. He started as the Head Age group coach
and later became the high school coach for MISD. In 1997, he was named Head Coach for the COM
swim team.

Ted has been married to his wife Marcia for over 30 years and they have two daughters. Both his
daughters swam in Midland and went on to swim Division I in college.
   

Colin McGrane - Age Group Assistant Coach
colin@planoswimming.org

Colin joined the COPS staff in the fall of 2005.  He grew up in Richardson, TX and began swimming
as a junior in high school.  He has coached country club level swimmers and for the City of
Richardson (COR) swim team for the past five years.  Colin is an art teacher at Memorial
Elementary School in Plano.  He is married and enjoys teaching children art and swimming.

Rodrigo Pereira - Senior and Age Group Assistant Coach
Rodrigo@planoswimming.org

Rodrigo joined the COPS staff in 2009. He began his swimming career in Brazil at age 5. After
moving to the U.S at age 10, Rodrigo took a few years off from swimming, returning to the sport
when he started high school.  His swimming career ended on a high note, receiving All-America
honors his senior year in high school. Rodrigo spent 6 years at the University of Texas, earning a BA
in History and an M.Ed in Sports Management.

Rodrigo began his coaching career right after high school, coaching summer league in Houston.
He was introduced to coaching USA swimming during his sophomore year in college, when he
worked with age group swimmers at Longhorn Aquatics. Rodrigo officially became a member of
USA swimming in 2007 when he joined the staff at Texas Gold Georgetown.

Emily Frasco-Smith - Age Group Assistant Coach
emily@planoswimming.org

Emily joined the COPS staff in the winter of 2006. She began her swimming career in Dallas, Texas
at the age of 7. She swam for COPS and Dallas Mustangs. She attended Ursuline Academy of
Dallas for high school, and was voted team captain her junior and senior years. She then went on to
Ohio University in Athens, Ohio to complete her swimming career, earning 4 varsity letters. Her
senior year she earned the title of Academic All-American.

Emily has coached two years as the assistant coach of Ursuline Academy, and two years as the
head coach of Stonebriar Country Club. She has a B.A. in early childhood education from Ohio
University and currently teaches second grade for Frisco ISD.

Chris Pritchett - Age Group Assistant Coach
chris@planoswimming.org

Chris joined the COPS staff in Sept 2008. Chris started swimming at age 12, a member of the
YMCA, and swam all 4 years at Plano Senior High. He was team captain his senior year. He now
attends Collin County Community College and is working towards his bachelor’s degree in Physical
Education. He also works for the City of Plano as a Water Safety Instructor and Swim Coach.

Sarah Howes - Age Group Assistant Coach
sarah@planoswimming.org

Sarah Howes started swimming at age 10 at the Plano YMCA and joined COPS at age 12.  After 3
years on COPS, she joined the Plano Senior High School Swim team for freshman and sophomore
year.  She graduated from Plano Senior High School in May 2008 and is currently attending Collin
County Community College getting her Associate's degree in Child Development.

Nicholas Johnson - Age Group Assistant Coach
nick@planoswimming.org

Nick grew up in El Paso and began swimming summer league at age six.  Nick later swam at the
club level and all four years in high school.  Nick attended the University of Texas of the Permian
Basin where he received four varsity letters for swimming.  In December of 2008 he received a B.S.
in Kinesiology and a B.A. in History.
Kristyn Heneghan - Age Group Assistant Coach
Kristyn@planoswimming.org
  Brandon Nelms- Senior Assistant Coach  
Brandon@planoswimming.org
Brandon joined the staff of COPS in the summer of 2009. Brandon received a swimming
scholarship to UNLV, where he achieved his Olympic Trials cut in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly
and was also the captain of the UNLV men's swim team his last 2 years.  Having received his
bachelors degree in Secondary Education, Brandon has just completed his second year teaching
12th grade economics at his alma mater, Plano Senior High School. Brandon is the assistant swim
coach for Plano Senior High and going to be starting his third year coaching and teaching this fall.  
Brandon recently got engaged and enjoys football, basketball, and spending time with his family.  
  Elisabeth Sandoval- Gold 2
Elisabeth@planoswimming.org
NO PICTURE
AVAILABLE
Theresa Cassara -  Membership Coordinator & Office Manager
theresa@planoswimming.org
City of Plano Swimmers  ~  2925 West 15th Street, Plano, TX 75075-7632  ~  972-398-7946(P)  ~  972-758-0556(F)