Coaches
Amy Behm - USA Head Coach/SAAA Assistant Coach/JCC Aquatic Director
Born: Albuquerque, NM, raised in Santa Fe, NM
Age started swimming: Age 4 (under protest)
Family: Husband – Herb; Daughter – Katie (18) is a member of New Mexico State University (in Las Cruces, NM) swim team and is studying Animal Science; Son – Herbie (17) attends Catalina Foothills High School and is a member of Tucson FORD Aquatics.
Favorite things: Amy enjoys being with her family, coaching and inspiring others, studying the Bible and being with friends.
Swimming Accomplishments: Throughout Amy’s age group, high school and college swimming career, she set several school, State, Regional (now referred -to as “Zones”) and one Junior National record. She consistently ranked in the top 25 of her age group in several events- including breaststrokes and IM’s. Beginning as a 6&Under, Amy’s first NM state record occurred in the 50m free (while swimming breaststroke) and continued thru her age group career. In 1978 at the AAU Junior National Short Course Championships held in Durham, NC, Amy set a Jr National record in the 200 IM. Because of her performance at this National meet, Amy was invited to train with the US Developmental Swim Team the following summer in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center. Here she met George McMillion who was instrumental in recruiting Amy to attend and swim for Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Amy swam for SMU for 2.5 years on a full swimming scholarship and set school records in the 200 IM, 100 breaststroke and 400 Medley Relay. She received All-American honors as well. Amy qualified for the 1980 Olympic Trials in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 and 200 meter breaststroke. Unfortunately, the United States boycotted this Olympics due to the US protest of the Russians invasion of Afghanistan. The following summer Amy swam for Schroeder YMCA out of Brown Deer, Wisconsin and finished 8th in the 400 IM at the USA Sr National Swimming Championships held in Brown Deer, WI.
From 1998-2007, Amy was Head Coach for St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, NM. She was named the “2007-2008 New Mexico High School Swim Coach of the Year” and was New Mexico’s National NISCA Representative. Under her leadership, this small private school’s team (750 total enrollment - 7th thru 12th grade) grew from 4 socially oriented swimmers to over 50 disciplined, dedicated, team-oriented swimmers. Numerous school records, three NMHS state records, two HS All-Americans, one NMHS Swimmer of the Year, and one NMHS Coach of the year honors were recorded while Amy was Head coach for a short 9 seasons. Overall team rankings achieved were 3rd place for boys and 5th place for girls in a state where all HS swim teams, regardless of size, competed in one State Championship meet (5A-A). While coaching at St. Michael’s, Amy was an assistant coach at Kirtland Aquatic Club at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM for two years.
Other Accomplishments: Currently, and for the past 22 years, Amy and her husband, Herb, have run Pueblo Bonito Bed & Breakfast Inn in Santa Fe, NM.
Amy joined the Stingrays in January 2008.
Michael Lorimer - Head SAAA Coach, Asst. USA Coach, Head Masters Coach
Born: Toronto, Canada, moved to Tucson at age 10
Age started swimming: Age 12
Favorite things: Michael likes to coach swimming, camp, fish and travel (when he gets the chance!)
Favorite events to swim: 100 Free, 200 Free
Swimming Accomplishments: Michael was on the 1st State championship swim team for Catalina Foothills High School. He broke the 200 Free record while at Foothills. Michael was a member of the Hillenbrand of Tucson (HOT) swim team which later became FORD Aquatics.
Other accomplishments: Michael is a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Communcations and Business.
Michael joined the Stingrays 4 ½ years ago as an Age Group and Master’s coach.
Kiely Lavery – USA Assistant Coach/ SAAA Assistant Coach
Born: Houston, TX, raised in Jackson, MS
Age started swimming: Age 10 (year-round swimming)
Favorite things: Kiely likes hiking, yoga, travelling, shopping and hanging out with friends
Favorite events to swim: 100 Free, 200 Free and 100 Breast
Swimming Accomplishments: Kiely swam at the University of Alabama her freshman year. She has been coaching swimming since 1999 varying from Master, Year Around, and Summer League.
Other accomplishments: Kiely transferred to the University of Arizona two years ago and is currently a senior majoring in Nutritional Sciences.
Kiely joined the Stingrays in April 2007.