Meet The Coaches
Fleet Swimming Coaches
All photo credit on this page goes to Kris Evans Photography
Maryanne Svoboda
Head Age Group Coach: AG Black & Red
Coach Maryanne is the newly named Head Age Group Coach for FLEET. She has stepped into this role after serving on staff with the Age Group program since 2008. She is an active member of our LSC (Local Swim Committee) and currently serves as Gulf Age Group Chair on the Gulf board. Coach Maryanne has also served on staff for several Select Teams. Most recently, the Duel in the Pool and Open Water Select Team. She is also involved with USA Swimming through the Women in Governance program and enjoys working with female coaches to help them find their role in the sport. Finally, she has participated in the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Ambassador program in recruiting coaches to continue their education in swimming.
Coach Maryanne began her swimming career at the age of 8 with her neighborhood team, the Carriage Lane Splashers. This led to her joining FLEET in 1997 and eventually swimming for Jersey Village High School and the University of Houston, where she graduated with a degree in Psychology. She enjoys swimming for the FLEET MASTERS program and competes in US Masters Open Water events.
Coach Maryanne is married to Jim Svoboda, the head swim coach of Klein High School. Together, they have 4 children who are all swimmers. JR (14), Caroline (13), Rosie (10) & Luke (8).
Colin Kennedy
Junior Black
Email: coachcolin@fleetswimming.com
Coach Colin has been coaching since 2003 in St. Louis, MO with his neighborhood summer league and the club team he grew up swimming for. Coached all levels, from learn-to-swim to Olympic Trials qualifiers. Prior to joining FLEET, he was the Head Age Group Coach of the Flyers Aquatic Swim Team, Parkway Swim Club National Prep Coach, Head Coach of the Parkway Swim Club before moving to Fleet to take the Head Age Group Coach position. He's had over 100 individual USA Swimming Top 20 swims, including 43 Top 10 and 37 USA Swimming Top 20 Relays including 25 in the Top 10 (with the #1 9-10 Boys 400 FR LCM Relay in 2019). Had 1 swimmer set a TAGS record and 9 individual TAGS Champions in multiple events, numerous TAGS winning relays. We've won multiple TAGS team high point awards, and had 1 individual high point winner. We earned the Bill Nixon Team Sportsmanship award in 2021 and the Allen Salinas Gulf Team Sportsmanship Award twice. His swimmers have set 75 Fleet Team Records (including relays) and counting.
- He is an ASCA Level-4 Coach
- 2012 Ozark Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year
- 2017 Gulf Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year
- 2021 Fitter Faster ASCA Age Group Coach of the Year
- Fleet has been a Top 50 12 & Under team through ASCA for 5+ years with 2021 being the highest with Fleet finishing 2nd.
Leah Ortiz
Senior Red
Email: coachleah@fleetswimming.com
Coach Leah is a born and raised Houstonian with a deep connection to both the Cypress area and FLEET, having previously been a swimmer and coach for the club. She is an alumna of Cypress Creek High School where she achieved All-American status and broke the 200 free record and two relay records (the relay records are still in place today!).
After high school, Coach Leah swam for the University of Houston, where she studied health and human development. In 2010, she began her coaching career teaching lessons at Fleet First while attending UH. After college, she began coaching age group swimmers for Fleet in 2017, and since then she has worked with all age groups. Coach Leah is excited to return to FLEET to work with Age Group Gold and Age Group White swimmers! And yes… she is Coach Maryanne’s sister!
Coach Angel
Bronze & Silver @ Bridgeland
Sarah Roe
Junior Red
Email: coachsarah@fleetswimming.com
Coach Sarah, originally from Detroit, Michigan, has been involved in competitive swimming since the age of 7, starting her swimming journey with the Tippecanoe Swim Club in West Lafayette, Indiana. Coach Sarah continued her age group swimming, and completed her high school swimming in Montana where she was a state champion in several events during her four-year varsity career. Coach Sarah was also a High School All American in the 50 and 100 freestyle, with honorable mentions in the 200 free and 100 backstroke. Coach Sarah qualified for and swam at U.S. Jr Nationals (West) at the age of 14 and 15. At age 16, Coach Sarah left her home and family in Montana to train in California with the Mission Viejo Nadadores from 1986-1988. While in Mission Viejo, Coach Sarah qualified for and swam at U.S. Senior Nationals in 1986, 1987, and 1988. Sr. Nationals in Orlando, Florida in 1988 saw Coach Sarah’s hard work pay off with her qualification to Olympic Trials in the 50 and 100 Meter Freestyle. Finally, as a scholarship athlete, Coach Sarah wrapped up her swimming career in 1989 at Arizona State University.
After leaving ASU and stepping away from swimming, Coach Sarah relocated to Calgary, Alberta where she got married, graduated valedictorian from college with a degree in Early Childhood Education and had her three amazing kids. After a 10-year stint teaching preschool and kindergarten and being home with her kids, Sarah found herself back in the swimming world when she was offered the novice coaching job at the Nose Creek Swim Association, where she then coached for five years.
In 2012 life relocated coach Sarah to the Houston area, and she found herself teaching swimming lessons as well as managing the customer service team at FINS in the Woodlands. In her fifth year at FINS Sarah had the opportunity to slide back into coaching for TeamFINS in Spring. In 2018 Premier Aquatics Club of Klein (PACK) and TeamFINS merged into one team (PACK) and Coach Sarah continued coaching for PACK through March of 2021 when she joined Fleet.
Outside of the pool, Coach Sarah enjoys hiking, fitness, animals, gardening, making jewelry, decorating cakes, and most of all spending time with family.
Josh Green
Age Group Gold & White @ Bridgeland
Email: coachjosh@fleetswimming.com
Coach Josh is entering his 5th year of coaching and his 3rd year with Fleet. His coaching journey began with the Lakewood Forest Lightning for 1 season before joining Fleet as an assistant coach. Coach Josh has worked with every level as an assistant and continues assisting on weekends and over the summer.
Coach Josh started with Bronze and Silver, teaching fundamental basics in all four strokes to new swimmers and preparing them for the 100 IM. He then moved on to Gold and White, still working fundamentals but now continuing with building good habits and teaching how to train for the next levels. Coach Josh has had many successful swims from his swimmers including 10u Gulf qualifiers, 11-12 Gulf qualifiers and 10u TAGS qualifiers.
Coach Josh is currently working on his bachelor’s in science education with a secondary in physics. When not coaching or doing school you will find coach Josh in the kitchen cooking or at the gym/pool working out, if he’s not in bed sleeping.
Chris Ellis
Director of Water Polo
We are excited to welcome Chris Ellis as the new Head Coach of Fleet Water Polo. A respected leader within the Texas water polo community, Coach Chris brings an extensive background as both an athlete and coach, along with a deep commitment to player development and creating positive experiences for athletes and families.
Coach Chris began his playing career at Jersey Village HS here in Houston, where he fell in love with the sport. Following his high school career Coach Chris went on to play at Iona College, an experience that helped shape a lifelong passion for the sport. Following a successful playing career, he returned to Texas and began his coaching career in 2016.
Coach Chris has served as the head coach for multiple clubs throughout the Greater Houston area, earning a reputation for developing skilled, confident, and competitive athletes. His coaching philosophy emphasizes long-term athlete development, accountability, teamwork, and creating an environment where every player has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Coach Ellis's leadership extends beyond the club and high school levels through his involvement with the Olympic Development Program (ODP). From 2018 to 2020, he served as the Southwest Zone Girls Cadet Team Head Coach and currently serves as the Southwest Zone – South Boys Zone Head Coach, identifying and developing some of the region's most promising young athletes.
A lifelong student of sport, Coach Chris also brings a unique perspective through his extensive experience as an official. He has officiated UIL State Tournament semifinal and championship matches and previously served as the TASO District 1 Director and Houston Assigner from 2022 through 2024. This broad understanding of competition provides valuable insight into athlete development, game management, and the rules of the game.
Coach Ellis is excited to build upon the strong foundation of Fleet’s program while expanding opportunities for athletes and families. His vision is centered on creating a positive, competitive environment that prioritizes individual development, team success, and a lifelong passion for water polo.
Please join us in welcoming Coach Chris to his new role. We look forward to the next chapter of our program under his leadership.
