Coach Jody knows what it’s like to swim on a national level. Her lifetime of competitive swimming experience enhances diligent coaching expertise to benefit swimmers at every level at Race Pace Club AZ. As a former national Junior Olympic medalist and state record holder in the 400 IM, she went on to earn silver and bronze at the National Sports Festival and qualify for the Olympic Trials under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Bob Gillett. 

In 2020, after training with RPC for 6 months, she made a comeback at the Arizona Senior Olympics, taking home 3 gold and 2 silver medals and setting the state record in the 50 freestyle for her age group. Jody’s love of the sport and astonishing success with the Ultra Short Race Pace Training method in just a few months training with the team  brought her onto the deck shortly thereafter. She’s a USA Swimming & US Masters Certified Coach, ASCA Level 2, a, with additional credentials and experience in fitness training, conditioning & recovery, and nutrition coaching.

Her Coaching Philosophy: Helping Swimmers Build From Within

Coach Jody brings a thoughtful, individualized approach to every swimmer she works with. Rather than relying on external rewards or consequences, Coach Jody focuses on helping athletes tap into their own inner drive and personal motivation. 

Her coaching begins by meeting each swimmer exactly where they are—reviewing what they’ve been working on with previous coaches and evaluating whether those fundamentals have been truly mastered. Her technical progression always starts with the basics: streamline, breathing, and efficient body position. Only after these elements are consistently performed does she begin introducing subtle stroke refinements. 

Coach Jody is clear in her philosophy: advanced technique layered on poor fundamentals not only stalls progress—it increases the risk of shoulder, knee, and other injuries. Swimmers who work with her are expected to commit to foundational change and take ownership of their development. 

Beyond technique, Coach Jody’s approach is deeply rooted in developing the whole athlete—especially mentally. Her goal is to help swimmers move from limbic, emotion-driven thinking (which depends on external rewards and fear-based motivation) toward cortical thinking: mature, long-term decision-making that comes from within. By helping swimmers take responsibility for their own goals and actions, she empowers them to think more deeply, make better choices, and grow not just as athletes, but as self-driven individuals.

Coach Sean Emery was the original vision behind Race Pace Club AZ. He brings over 20 years of swim coaching experience and is one of the top USRPT coaches in the western U.S. He’s produced national finalists, state champions, state record holders, and swimmers ranked in the national Top 10. A certified ASCA Level 3 coach and SwimAmerica Site Supervisor, Sean has coached at every level — from age group to high school to elite club swimmers. His athletes have earned titles at the TYR Showcase, Far Westerns, and Arizona State Championships. As a former Florida State University swimmer and Exercise Physiology major, Sean combines race-focused training with a deep understanding of athlete development. His coaching is all about racing smart, training with purpose, and building confidence in and out of the pool.

You’ll see Coach Sean on deck a couple of times a week offering his expertise to swimmers of all experience levels and supporting coaching staff with his extensive base of knowledge.