Coach Kirk — along with his two dogs, Cricket and Lulu — comes to HCA from Colorado Springs, where he served as the National Team High Performance Specialist for the past three years.
With over 15 years of coaching experience, he has worked with everyone from age-group swimmers to Olympic medalists, U.S. National and National Junior Team members, and champions from the SEC, ACC and Big 10 conferences.
In addition to his significant on-deck coaching experience, Coach Kirk holds a PhD in Psychophysiology from Auburn University, where he focused on the language of learning, the mind-body connection, and performance under pressure. He also earned a Masters degree in Exercise Physiology and Human Performance from Indiana University, studying at the renowned Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming.
Coach Kirk is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience with the swimmers and student-athletes of Austin, Texas. He believes swimming is the ultimate sport for developing life skills — and he’s excited to partner with each athlete on their journey toward excellence.
Coaching Experience
National Team High Performance Specialist for USA Swimming
Attended the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with Team USA
Traveled to multiple World Championship Meets with Team USA
USA National Team Coach
Assistant Coach & Sprint Group Lead Coach at UNC-Chapel Hill
Assistant Coach, Mid-Stroke Group at Indiana University
Assistant Coach & Sprint Group Lead Coach at Auburn University
Head High School Coach, Bloomington South High School
Indiana High School Coach of the Year
National High School Federation Sectional Coach of the Year
ASCA World Clinic Presenter: “Limits to Superior Performance”
Coauthor of a book chapter in “The Science of Swimming Faster”
Elite Instructor at SwimLabs Swim School
Lead High Performance Age Group Coach at Denver Swim Academy
Head Coach of the Masters Program for Doc Masters at Indiana University
Head Senior Coach at Counsilman Center Swim Team
Education
Ph.D. in Psychophysiology, Auburn University
M.A. in Exercise Physiology and Human Performance, Indiana University
B.A. in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University
Kirk Grand
Head Coach
Chrissy Gentry
Head Age Group Coach
Coach Chrissy is a nationally respected coach known not only for her outstanding coaching abilities and athlete-focused development, but also for her leadership skills. With nearly two decades of coaching experience across both small and large teams, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to HCA and its swimmers.
Coach Chrissy spent nine foundational years with a USA swimming club in North Carolina before joining Lakeside Aquatic Club in Texas in 2015, where she served for over a decade as both Assistant Head Coach and Head Age Group Coach. She played a critical leadership role in building one of the nation’s strongest age group programs, regularly placing relays and individual swimmers in the Top 10 national rankings.
Under Coach Chrissy’s leadership, Lakeside consistently ranked among USA Swimming’s top teams in the country, produced multiple individual and relay TAGS Champions, and frequently earned Gold Medal Club recognition from USA Swimming’s Club Excellence program. Chrissy’s career also includes experience coaching both nationally and internationally, giving her a broad understanding of the sport at all levels. In addition, she is an active voice in the swimming community, currently serving on the USA Swimming Coaches Advisory Council.
Her coaching philosophy blends high-performance standards with a deep investment in people, creating a culture where athletes and staff are empowered to thrive. Coach Chrissy leads with integrity, clarity, and a commitment to doing things the right way — always with a long view toward sustainable success.
As a member of Williams College Women’s Swimming and Diving Team, Chrissy earned multiple All-American Honors.
Coach Chrissy is excited to start a new adventure in Austin with Hill Country Aquatics.
Coaching & Swimming Experience
Head Age Group Coach/Assistant Head Coach for Lakeside Aquatic Club, Dallas, TX
Head Age Group Coach of High Point Swim Club, High Point, NC
Aquatics Director/Swim Coach, The American School in Japan
Elected Member of USA Swimming Coaches Advisory Council, 2025-2028
Multiple-year ASCA Top 10 Age Group Coach of the Year
Presenter at ASCA 2023 World Clinic
Williams College Women’s Swimming and Diving, NCAA Div III All-American
Williams College Women’s Crew, NCAA Div III National Championship Team
Education
B.A. in Psychology, Williams College
Brett Ringgold
High Performance Development Coach
Coach Brett is deeply connected to Austin’s swimming community and brings a winning blend of elite competitive experience and technical expertise to Hill Country Aquatics. A native of Keller, Texas, Brett knows the state swimming landscape well and is committed to helping HCA swimmers reach their full potential.
As a member of the University of Texas Men’s Swimming and Diving Team, Brett was part of four NCAA Championship-winning teams and earned multiple individual Big 12 titles. Before UT, he represented the USA Swimming National Junior Team, capturing two medals at the FINA Junior World Championships.
Brett began his coaching career as a Volunteer Assistant for the University of Texas Men’s team and an Assistant Coach at Longhorn Aquatics. Holding a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Brett applies his deep understanding of biomechanics and fluid dynamics to swimming technique. This analytical perspective allows him to break down strokes scientifically and provide swimmers with precise, actionable feedback to optimize their efficiency and speed in the water. With his emphasis on stroke technique and his ability to clearly teach and communicate complex skills, Brett excels at helping swimmers refine their mechanics for maximum efficiency and speed.
At HCA, Brett works with swimmers across several groups, including Challenger, High Performance Prep, Senior, and High Performance.
We welcome him back to Austin along with his wife Quinn, their two children, and a lively flock of chickens.
Swimming & Coaching Experience
4x NCAA Champion at the University of Texas
2x USA Swimming Olympic Trials
2x Medalist FINA Junior World Swimming Championships
3x Individual Big 12 Champion
USA Swimming National Junior Team Member
10x Medalist Junior National Championships
Head Coach of New Tech High School Swim Team
Assistant Coach of Tiger Shark Swim Team
University of Texas Men’s Swimming and Diving Volunteer Assistant Coach
Assistant Swim Coach Longhorn Aquatics
Longhorns Swim Camp Instructor
Education
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas