Competitive Coaching Staff

Coach Raykovich has been selected as a USA National coach on numerous occasions, most recently in 2009, as Head Women's Coach of the National Youth Team competing at World Cup meets in Stockholm, Sweden, and Berlin, Germany. He has twice been honored as Pacific Swimming's George Haines Senior Coach of the Year and holds ASCA Level 5 certification, the highest level attainable. Raykovich is a highly sought after speaker, featured at the 2008 American Swim Coaches Association World Clinic, and a USA National Team Coaches member.

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Prior to his career at DACA, he was the Head Coach of the Women's Swimming program at the University of Tennessee from 1990 - 1993.

 

Under Coach Raykovich, DACA has been a fixture at the United States National Championships, consistently placing top - 10 in team scoring. In 2009, DACA placed top - 10 in all three team scoring races (men's, women's, and combined team) at the highest level of competition in the United States.

 

Mr. Raykovich has coached athletes that have represented the United States and other countries at every major swimming championship including the Olympic Games, World Championships, World University Games, and Pan Pacific Championships. Under his leadership, DACA has built a reputation for consistently developing elite young athletes that make an impact representing the United States on National Youth Teams. DACA student - athletes have been accepted to and have earned college swimming scholarships at every prominent school in the United States. Collegiate and High School Academic All - Americans from DACA make the honor roll every year.

 

Coach Raykovich' philosophy, in and out of the water, is one that allows the ambitious student - athlete to excel both in the pool and in the classroom. In this philosophy, goals and preparation must match and athletes are taught and expected to budget their time effectively. The ability to tailor a program for individual achievements in combination with team goals makes DACA's National Team a special place to train.

 

In addition to his coaching duties, Raykovich participates actively in swimming legislation and political bodies. A member of the Olympic International Operations Committee, Coach Raykovich has served as Chairman and member of a wide variety of National and local USA Swimming committees for over 25 years.

Coach Hopkins' swimmers have been amongst the country's elite, achieving national rankings, age group national championships, and junior national qualifying standards. She has guided athletes to Far Western titles, Western Zone Championships, national age group records, and high school All - American honors. Most importantly, Hopkins' swimmers have the technical and training background to compete successfully senior athletes at national and international level meets including the Olympic Games and the United States Olympic Trials.

 

Coach Hopkins' track record of excellence has been honored several times, most notably with the 2005 Pacific Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year award, and invitations to present at several

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coaching clinics, including the American Swim Coaches Association World Clinic. In addition, she has served as coach for multiple all - star and Western Zone teams.Coach Hopkins came to DACA in 2000 with a rich background in both coaching and education. Prior coaching positions included years with Conejo Simi Aquatics and Canyon Crest Swim Team in southern California, Klamath Falls Swim Team (Klamath Falls, Oregon), and Bakersfield's Garces High School. Hopkins also served as Age Group Director of Bakersfield Aquatics while teaching the 3rd and 4th grade at St. Joseph's in Waso, California.

 

Coach Hopkins believes that the key to DACA's success is the careful development of student - athletes at the age group level, with a focus on long term development and enjoyment. A solid foundation provides the platform on which Olympians stand.

 

Tammy currently resides in San Jose with her husband Sage, son Gunner, daughter Summer, and dog Belle.

A multi-sport athlete at Pioneer High School, Mike excelled in both swimming and soccer. In the pool, he was a CCS qualifier as a senior in 200 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly, and a Far Western qualifier for DACA coach Bill Thompson at San Jose Aquatics. He then moved on to De Anza College, where he captured Coast Conference Championship titles in the 200 and 1650 Freestyles. Mike was equally successful on the soccer pitch, helping Pioneer to a CCS title as a junior. Named most inspirational and most dedicated athlete several years, he served as Captain his senior year, leading his team to a runner up finish in the CCS Playoffs.

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After earning his Associates degree at De Anza College, Mike moved on to San Jose State University where he earning his Bachelors of Science in Aviation Operations. Since earning his degree, he has gone on to Delta Flight School, where he was certified as a flight instructor and earned his commercial license for single and multi-engine aircraft.

Under Christian's leadership in 2009, Saratoga swimmers captured 6 individual CCS titles, and 2 relay titles, including the national public high school record setting 400 Free Relay. 

 

Off the pool deck, Christian earned a bachelor's degree in anthropology from San Jose State University. He then moved on to the prestigious New York University, where he completed his master's degree in Museum Studies. After graduating from NYU, Christian spent time in Japan, as an Artist in Residence, where his work was displayed in museums. Currently, he is on staff as a ceramic tech at De Anza College.

 

Christian resides in San Jose, with wife Jamie, whom he met swimming for Pete Raykovich at De Anza College, and daughter Crimson.

Her favorite thing about coaching is seeing her athletes achieve goals they have worked hard for and watching them grow up and do awesome things in high school, college, and beyond.

 

Prior to joining the DACA staff, Annie enjoyed a swimming career spanning 17 years.  A senior national qualifier at age 13, Annie was a 2-time Olympic Trials competitor, finishing 9th in the 400 IM and 11th in the 800 Free in 2000.  The 1999 Junior National West High Point winner and Colorado Female Swimmer of the Year, Annie is the holder of 2 Junior West and more than 10 Colorado state records.  She was a multi-time finalist at the United States Senior Nationals, finishing a career high 4th in the 1500 in 2001, and 2nd in the Open Water 5K event in 2000, earning her a spot on the 2000 Open Water World Championship Team.  Annie went on to finish 8th in the 5K at the 2000 Open Water World Championships and earn bronze medals in the 400 IM and 1500 free at the 2001 Australian Youth Olympic Festival as a member of the United States National Junior Team. 

 

After graduating from Germantown Academy as a multi-time High School All-American, Annie attended the University of Michigan on a swimming scholarship, where she scored each year at the Big Ten Championship and had the honor of working with legendary coaches Bob Bowman, Jon Urbanchek, and Jim Richardson.  After co-captaining the Wolverines, and serving as Vice-President for the Michigan Student Athlete Advisory Council as a senior, Annie, along with her fellow senior women, was awarded the Frank E. Barnhard Award for Leadership in 2007.  She graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management.

 

Off the deck, Annie is highly involved in LSC Leadership.  She has worked on the Pacific Swimming Staff as Meet Management Coordinator since 2014, and served on multiple committees at both the Zone and LSC level.  She was selected as part of the prestigious American Swim Coaches Association Fellows Class in 2013. 

As a swimmer himself, Coach Ray competed for the Pinole Seals from 1974-1987, excelling as a breaststroker.  He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University in 1992.

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Ray coaches his athletes with the philosophy that “If they have fun they will come again tomorrow.  If they come again tomorrow, they will get better.”  Coach Ray resides in San Bruno with his wife (Michelle), two children (Gabrielle, 19, and Jack, 10), two dogs (Copper and Soxx), and cat (Zoomer).

Butterfly at the CCS Championship and contributing to the National High School Record setting 200 Freestyle Relay. As a senior, Mike also served as the 2001 Lancer's Team Captain. After graduating from St. Francis, Mike attended Boston College as a member of the Men's Swimming & Diving Team. He was a standout both in the water and the classroom, earning student-athlete honor role distinction, and finishing as a Top-16 finalist at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship.
 

Prior to joining the DACA Competitive Staff, Mike spent 2 years as the Head Varsity Boys and Girls Swimming Coach at Brookline High School (Massachusetts). As Head Coach at Brookline, Mike implemented highly successful training programs for both varsity teams. He was also involved with Charles River Aquatics as an Associate Swim Coach and Assistant Aquatics Director. Mike brings an infectious energy to the pool deck and believes that focused workouts along with a fun environment are the key to success in the water.