Paula Gordon
Head Coach
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Paula Gordon is the Head Coach of the Sioux Falls Seals Swim
Team. She joined the SEALS in April 2010 and holds a Level II
Teaching Certificate. She and her husband Rick have three
children. Paul is a junior at the University of Iowa,
majoring in Electrical Computer Engineering and swims for the
Hawkeyes. Haley is a 2010 graduate of Washington High School
and will join Paul at the University of Iowa and swim for the
Hawkeyes. Jack is a junior at Washington High School, where
he plays baseball for the Warriors, Sioux Falls East Legion and
also swims.
In addition to swimming, Paula is a K-5 PE teacher in the
Brandon Valley School District. She was their Certified
Athletic Trainer for ten years. Paula is a native of
Brookings, SD, where she was a charter member of the Brookings Swim
Club in the 1970's. She is a graduate of South Dakota State
University where she swam for the Jackrabbits, leading them to a
NCC Championship in 1982.
Bill Stoddard
Assistant Coach
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Bill Stoddard has
been a Coach for the Sioux Falls Seals since September
2001.
His love for and
involvement with swimming, however, began much earlier. At age 17,
he received his Water Safety Instructor Certification. Bill is a
graduate of Dakota State University in Madison, SD where he earned
a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a minor in Physical
Education. He completed his Coaching Internship at Auburn
University in Auburn, AL. In the past 25 years he has coached teams
in Rochester, MN and also in Parker, Wagner, Mitchell and Sioux
Falls, SD. His focus on stroke mechanics and swimming technique has
produced State record holders, State and Regional champions and
Zone and National qualifiers.
Ellen Steever
Assistant Coach
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Ellen Steever joined the
Seals Team as the assistant coach in the fall of 2008. She has been
involved with high school and middle school athletics since 1977.
Ellen obtained a BA from SDSU in 1982, majoring in Physical
Education . Over the years she has coached elementary through high
schools teams in gymnastics, volleyball, softball and soccer. Ellen
is currently a PE teacher with the Sioux Falls School district.
Ellen's son, Dawson, started swimming with the Seals in 2006. He
is a Junior at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls. His introduction
to the sport of swimming inspired her to obtain her swim coaching
credentials through USA swimming and the American Swim Coaches
Association. She currently holds Certification as a
Level I Coach through the American Swim Coaches Association
and is completing her Level II Certification.
Ellen's focus in coaching is teaching the importance of technique
and mechanics, coupled with good sportsmanship, motivation and fun
in sports.
