coachsteven@excelaquatics.org

Steven Murry started swimming with Excel Aquatics in 1998 and achieved team records in the 400-yard individual medley (IM), 1,000-yard freestyle, and 1,650-yard freestyle. 

Steven then went on to swim at Indiana University for three years where he obtained the team record for the 400-yard IM.  He was a top 16 finalist in three events (1,650-yard freestyle, 400-yard IM, and 200-yard IM) at the Big Ten Championships.  He was a three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Championships qualifier in the 400-yard IM and 200-yard IM; additionally, he was named an NCAA Division I All American and ranked 13th nationally in the 400-yard IM.

Steven swam at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials after qualifying in the 400-yard IM and 200-yard IM. 

After an injury, Steven finished his bachelor’s degree at Middle Tennessee State University.

Steven has worked in numerous roles with Excel Aquatics.  He started out as a swim instructor.  He was then the Murfreesboro Site Coordinator while he also served as the Masters Head Coach and Triathlete Assistant Coach.  In 2010, he was named the Head Age Group Coach and helped the program to become ranked in the top 50 nationally.

Steven has been the Head Coach and CEO for Excel Aquatics since 2014.  He has coached top 10 nationally ranked swimmers, U.S. Olympic Trial qualifiers, and a U.S. Junior National Team member at a team that consistently ranks in the top 100 teams in the country.  He has also helped the team’s programming expand to 10 facilities across four counties.

Steven enjoys seeing athletes learn new skills and work toward their personal goals.  He believes in cultivating a team environment where athletes celebrate their teammates’ success as much as their own success.  He carries over his values about teamwork while leading the staff.

Off the pool deck, Steven enjoys staying active through CrossFit and fishing.  He is a Tennessee native from Columbia and currently lives in Brentwood.  He met his wife in high school while they were both swimming for Excel Aquatics.

coachbenji@excelaquatics.org

Benji got his first coaching job in the summer of 1992 and has been coaching ever since. His first full-time coaching job was as the Head Coach at Binghamton University which was a NCAA Division 3 team that transitioned to Division 1 while he was there.

From there, he coached at the University of Arkansas, NW Arkansas Aquatics, Episcopal School of Jacksonville, South Carolina Swim Club, NOVA Aquatics and now Excel Aquatics (since 2018). Originally, Benji coached the 13-14 Group at Brentwood but has since transitioned to Senior Coaching.

Benji lives in Franklin with his bride Laura DeMotte and their three children, Sam, Abby and Macey, all of which have swum at Excel.

coachandreea@excelaquatics.org

Coach Andreea has been a professional swim coach for over 30 years. Having both parents as former swimmers and working as swim coaches, her passion for the sport of swimming started in very early ages. She started her coaching career in Romania and continued in the US. Coach Andreea has been with Excel Aquatics since 2004 and she is an ASCA level 4 coach. She developed swimmers that have competed and excelled at many levels, ranging from SES and Age Group Zones Champions, NCSA Finalist, Junior Nationals to competing at US Olympic Trials. 

In addition to having many championship titles and qualifiers with her swimmers throughout her career, she is also recognized to hold valuable skills on swim strokes and techniques. She strives for perfection in sports and character, while continuously motivating her swimmers to be the best athletes they can be in and out of the pool. She is ambitious with her swimmers’ growth & success, therefore continuously developing her skills and knowledge in sports and swimming arena through various educational learning streams.

Coach Andreea earned bachelor's degree in Economics Science with a Major in Tourism, and she also graduated from Romania National Coaching School. She resides in Gallatin with her husband and two daughters. When not on the pool deck you can find her in the water swimming, walking Nashville’s Greenways, hiking, paddle boarding, or reading. 

coachjj@excelaquatics.org

Coach JJ has been coaching since 2007. He began with Excel Aquatics in Fall of 2016 at the Brentwood location, assisting with the Teal Group. In May of 2018, Coach JJ took over as the Gallatin Site Coordinator, where he coaches today. Coach JJ leads the Senior Group, as well as assisting the Bronze groups. During his time at Gallatin, Coach JJ has been a part of developing five NCSA Junior National Qualifiers and maintains a consistent rate of Southeastern Championship qualifiers.

Before moving to Nashville in 2015, Coach JJ was coaching as an assistant with his alma mater, Ottawa-Glandorf High School in Ottawa, Ohio. In his eight years there, JJ helped in getting the team's first boy to qualify and compete at the state championship in an individual event. Coach JJ also helped to bring the school its first Western Buckeye League Championship in Men's or Women's Swimming in 2014.

coachcarrie@excelaquatics.org

Carrie Vaughan has been involved in swimming and athletics for the past 30 years. She grew up in Hollywood, FL where she spent her childhood going to the beach, water parks and swimming pools. In high school, she joined the swim and water polo teams and lifeguarded during the summer.

Coach Carrie was more competitive in water polo than swimming—competing with her Water Polo Team at High School States and Junior Nationals, as well as on an All-American High School Team in the Pan-American Games. She has always loved training, swim practice and being at the pool, so she started coaching 8 and under swimmers her senior year of high school—helping them to improve technique and gain confidence.

Coach Carrie took a break from the pool while attending college at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and starting a career as a healthcare writer and editor. However, she rediscovered her love of swimming after signing up her daughter for a summer swim team. She started coaching 10 and under athletes again and, throughout the years, has coached age group, senior and masters’ athletes, as well as Middle and High School Swim Teams.

Coach Carrie believes that swimming is a sport that is accessible to everyone and that you can start swimming at any age. Hard work, consistent training, and proper technique can help any swimmer improve and set them on a path for success. She also loves the life lessons that young athletes can learn through the sport of swimming, such as sportsmanship, goal setting and perseverance. She strives to instill these attributes in her athletes, so they realize as they head out into the world that, “They can do hard things and be successful.”

Throughout her coaching career, Coach Carrie has helped develop Southeastern qualifying swimmers, Age Group Sectional swimmers, High School State swimmers and many athletes who have gone on to swim in Colleges and Universities.

Coach Carrie has two children, a dog named Harley, and when she’s not at the pool likes to hike, read and watch movies. One day, she hopes to hike the John Muir Trail in California—all 211 miles.