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Meet Our Coaching Staff

Our coaches are what make Lake Gators Swim Club unique and special.  They do it for the passion.  None of our coaches or support staff are paid for coaching.  Some benefit from private lessons, but not from the 4:30 am wake up to get ready to coach at 5:30 in the morning.

Cindi Wood

Co-Founder and Club President

Scott Mairose

Co-Founder and Head Coach

Stephen Crowley

Co-Founder and Coach

Tom Smith

Coach

Tamara Kozulina

Coach

Coach Cindi

I started swimming in my late 40’s after running marathons, duathlons and 70.3 Iron Man distance. I became involved with USMS (US Masters Swimming) and competed in 117 swims over the last 10 years. I have also been in 15 Open Water events around the country from 1-mile swims to 9 mile swims.

I love to coach and love to see swimmers grow and learn to love the water as much as I do! Being one of the Coaching staff on the Lake Gators is amazing, fun and energizing. 

Certifications and Achievements

USMS L3 Certified Coach
USMS Adult Learn To Swim Instructor
Special Olympic Certified Coach 2

Top Ten Achievement and 2 time All American Swimming Awards

USMS National Positions Held

Officials Committee Member 2025 - Present
Ad Hoc Adult Learn-to-Swim Programming Committee Member 2024 - Present

Current LMSC Offices Held
Florida LMSC Officials 


Coach Scott

I was a water baby! I was on my first swim team at the age of 4. I love the water and I would spend my summers immersed in a pool until I looked like a prune. 


At 16 I started coaching summer league teams while training 6 hours a day 6 days a week. From 16-18, I set 4 national age group records and went on to swim for the University of Georgia. A shoulder injury my sophomore year ended my days of competitive swimming.


I adjusted my focus to the mental side of sports.  My studies and passion have been how thoughts, beliefs, and the language we use impact our performance.  When I couldn't swim, I developed a mental and physical golf training program, taught workshops on overcoming fear and reducing stress, practice martial arts and advanced meditation, certified Sound Healer and Reiki Master, Energy and Frequency Healing practitioner. 


I was fortunate enough to find USMS and Cindi and we both found an outlet for our passion by creating Lake Gators Swim Club. 


I am truly blessed to have all of you in my life and it is a joy to see each of you at practice. Thank you for trusting us to help you reach your swimming and fitness goals!

Certifications and Achievements

USMS L3 Certified Coach
USMS Adult Learn To Swim Instructor
USAT Member

Coach Stephen

I’m a lifetime athlete. I started out in the bodybuilding world and became obsessed with strength training, health, fitness, and nutrition. I was a competitive amateur bodybuilder as a teen and young adult winning multiple title. 

I wanted to share my knowledge with others, so I became a personal trainer, helping others achieve their fitness goals. A client of mine who was a triathlete at the time looking to improve her overall strength, challenge me to a 1-mile run. Let’s just say it wasn’t great for me. From that point on I dived into the triathlon world learning everything I could. 

Because of this I fell in love with swimming, cycling, and running. Mostly because it challenged me to the fullest. Since then, I am always seeking ways to improve. Specially with swimming. I learned that swimming is not something one can muscle through, it is technique, balance, body position, using strength at the right time and so much more. 

I’m proud to be part of Lake Gators Swim club as I can share my knowledge to others and use my strength training background and apply it in the water. 

Certifications and Achievements

USMS L3 Certified Coach
Dry land and mobility specialist

USAT Member

Coach Tom
Coach Tamara

Before becoming a coach I was a professional triathlete for over 20 years. Competing in over 20 Ironman races, including Ironman Hawaii, World Championship, over 40 Ironman 70.3, and long-distance races all around the world. In 2004 I won the ITU Long Distance World Championship in Sweden. I was multiple times Ironman runner up including Ironman Florida, Ironman Austria, and Ironman Wisconsin. As well as a bronze medalist at Powerman World Championship in Zofingen. 6 times winner of the Tallahassee marathon.


After a long career as a competitive athlete and with a degree from the University of Science of Physical culture and sport in Ukraine. I started to coach athletes and helped them to get ready and be at their best for multiple races.

Certifications and Achievements

Notable Event Coaching and Race Experience

  • Ironman World Championship
  • ITU Long Course World Championship
  • Powerman Duathlon World Championship
  • ITU Duathlon European and World Championships
  • Strongman All Japan Triathlon
  • Ironman Barcelona
  • Ironman North America Championship (NY)
  • Ironman Florida
  • Ironman Arizona
  • Ironman Texas
  • Ironman 70.3 World Championship
  • Ironman New Zealand
  • The 6 World Marathon Majors
  • Tallahassee Marathon
  • ITU World cups