BEST Coaches
COACH XAVIER IDOUX
HEAD COACH AND DIRECTOR OF SWIMMING
French National Swimming Coach – INSEP (at the national training center) 09/18 – 09/20
Has coached many top swimmers to national and international level. Below are some of the more notable achievements of his swimmers
– Lara Grangeon : Bronze medal 25Km and 4th place in 10Km with qualification for Tokyo Olympics Games at the 2019 world championship.
4th place in 200 fly in short course world championships in 2018.
– Jules Wallart : gold medal in COMEN cup 2019 3rd European junior championships in 10km
-Clément Kukla : silver medal in COMEN cup 2019
-Sacha Velly : French record holder 15 and 16Yo in 1500 free 15’19″ and European junior champion in 7,5Km
During his time with National team he worked with Philippe Lucas (the worlds best open water trainer in 2017 awarded by FINA) 09/18 – now
-Sharon Van Rouwendaal (Olympic champion) Netherlands
-Marc Antoine Olivier (Olympic medalist) French
Lara Grangeon (world medalist) French
-David Aubry (world medalist in pool) French
-Océane Cassignol (world champion) French
-Samantha Arevalo (world medalist) Ecuador
-Anya Egorova (European medalist in pool) Russian
-Anastasiia Kirpichnikova 55’13 5Km in pool best time ever in world
He has also recorded fantastic results in younger age group swimmers his youngest swimmer being, Sacha Velley (2005) swam 15’19 for 1500 freestyle 50m pool (French record for 15Yo and 16Yo ) – 09/02 – 09/18
He has also been involved in swim coaching roles both as ‘Head’ Coach and in other roles during – 09/02 – 09/18
His biggest achievement is with Fantine Lesaffre, A French IM swimmer. Along with many other swimmers on the French national team.
COACH BANKK JITPAIROJ
GENERAL MANAGER &
LEAD COACH OF NATIONAL PERFORMANCE SQUAD
Coach Bank currently serves as the General Manager of Bangkok Elite Swim Team and the Lead Coach of the National Performance squad. With over 8 years of experience in international school swimming programs, she has been an Age Group National Coach since 2018, specializing in preparing youth athletes for national-level competitions.
Her focus is on developing youth swimmers to excel at the National Championship level, serving as a key contributor to the Thai swimming team. She holds the position of the Thailand Aquatics Association (TAA) committee and has represented Thailand as a National Coach at the SEA Age Group Championships in 2025, the Asian Age Group Championships in 2019, and the SEA Games in 2019. As a former National Record Holder in the 50m Breaststroke from 2007 to 2009, her background in competitive swimming provides valuable insight in helping swimmers maximize their performance.
With a Level 4 ASCA qualification and lifeguard certification, Coach Bank is dedicated to fostering a high-performance environment where swimmers can achieve their goals and succeed as part of a team committed to excellence.
COACH DANIEL JOBES
HEAD COACH AT KINGS COLLEGE BANGKOK – SEP 22- PRESENT
5 Years as Lead Age Group Coach at BEST.
3 years in Learn To Swim Development and Junior Squads at BEST.
ASCTA Bronze License Holder.
Certified Lifeguard.
Coach Dan has been ever-present in BEST’s coaching team since its opening in 2013-2014.
He has been a vital part of creating BEST’s standing as one of the premier clubs in
Thailand.
Currently, he is the ‘Head Coach of the King’s College Bangkok Swim Team. He has already increased competition attendance, and performance and has overseen the team to grow to over 130 swimmers.
He was the ‘Head Coach’ at Brighton College Bangkok where he had led the team to its first home swim meet, where they finished 3rd. With a 96% PB rate during the lead-up and the Festival itself. Looking forward, his goal is to establish the ‘Bobcats’ as a top tier school swim team. That he did, moving the team into the next tier of international school sport. While increasing competitive levels swimmers at the school
As BEST grew Coach Dan’s success and management at the learn-to-swim level opened up opportunities to coach the Junior and Age Group squads. His philosophy of LTAD has qualified over 200 swimmers for Thai Open (Nationals). Holding 5 meet records at St Martins Cup, Numerous records at qualifying meets around the country, 3 Relay Records, Placing finalists and scoring many high point trophies at many events around Thailand and Internationally.
He has also represented ‘Bangkok’ at the National Youth Games in 2019. During this he led our team of 5 swimmers to qualify for the finals later in the year.
He has also studied the CSCS (Certified Strength And Conditioning Specialist) and has a strong understanding of the biomechanical demands of swimming and translating them from land to pool.
COACH YOUSSEF
JUNIOR PERFORMSNCE SQUAD COACH
Coach Youssef began his coaching journey in France in 1996, where he developed his expertise through years of working with swimmers across a wide range of age groups and competitive levels. Early in his career, he coached swimmers aged 6 to 10 in both swimming and lifesaving, later progressing to guide swimmers aged 10 to 13, many of whom qualified for the French National Championships. Among them, 13 athletes qualified, with one securing a bronze medal in the 50m Butterfly.
As he continued to work with athletes aged 14 to 15, Coach Youssef achieved remarkable success, with 18 swimmers qualifying for the French Championships. Seven of those reached the finals in events including the 100m Breaststroke, 50m and 100m Freestyle, and 50m and 100m Butterfly. His swimmers earned a silver medal in the 50m Butterfly and a gold in the 100m Butterfly, the latter breaking the meet record for the 15-year-old age group.
In the 16–17 age category, Coach Youssef helped nine swimmers qualify for the French Championships, including one finalist in the 200m Backstroke—further proving his consistent ability to develop athletes through every stage of their progression.
In 2025, Coach Youssef continued his success on the international stage by guiding his swimmers to Golds and Bronzes medal at the SEA Age Group Swimming Championships 2025, demonstrating his ability to prepare athletes for high-level regional competition.
With over two decades of coaching experience and a proven track record of producing high-performance swimmers across all age groups, Coach Youssef brings deep technical knowledge, structured development planning, and a passion for coaching. His diverse background and international experience make him an invaluable part of the BEST coaching team.
COACH TOP
JUNIOR SQUAD AND LEARN TO SWIM COACH
ASCA Certified Level 3
ASCA Certified Level 2
Australia Swim Coaches & Teachers Certified.
Coach Top is an experienced swim coach with a deep passion for youth development. He currently leads our Junior Squad and supports our Learn to Swim program with a strong focus on technique, progression, and confidence-building. With over 8 years of swim teaching experience and a background as a competitive swimmer himself, Coach Top combines technical knowledge with a nurturing coaching style that resonates with young athletes.
His past leadership roles include Head Coach at the Australian International School of Bangkok (2020) and Brighton College Bangkok (2021–2022), where he successfully developed age-group swimmers in both school and club environments.
As a former Thailand University Games swimmer and National Age Group finalist, Coach Top understands the athlete’s journey firsthand. He brings that experience into every session, helping young swimmers unlock their potential and build a strong foundation for future competition.
In 2025, Coach Top achieved a major coaching milestone by guiding his Junior Squad swimmers to multiple medals at the Thailand National Age Group Championships—a testament to his ability to prepare young athletes for success on the national stage.
Coach Top has been involved in swimming since the age of 9 and continues to find great joy in watching his swimmers grow in skill, confidence, and love for the sport. His energy, experience, and dedication make him a key figure in the long-term development of the next generation of swimmers.
COACH PLOY
HEAD COACH – St. ANDREW S107
ASCA Certified Level 3
ASCA Certified Level 2
ASCA Certified Level 1
Coach Ploy is a certified and experienced swim coach with a strong foundation in both early aquatic education and competitive swimming development. With over five years of coaching experience at Kasetsart University Laboratory School and eight years as a baby and toddler instructor at Aquababies Thailand, she has developed a deep understanding of the swimmer’s journey from the first splash to competitive racing.
Currently serving as Head Coach at St. Andrews International School Sukhumvit 107, she oversees the school’s swim program and athlete development. In addition to her coaching role, Coach Ploy also serves on the Open Water Sports Committee under the Thailand Swimming Association, contributing her expertise to the development of long-distance and open water disciplines at the national level.
Having been involved in swimming since the age of four, Coach Ploy is passionate about helping swimmers build confidence, technical skill, and a love for the sport. Her dedication, knowledge, and leadership continue to make a lasting impact across all age groups and levels of the swimming community.
COACH JEREMY
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING / RECOVERY EXPERTISE / SWIMMING COACH
Jérémy Russe is a highly experienced strength and conditioning coach with a deep background in high-performance training, athletic development, and swimmer-specific injury prevention. He holds certifications in physical training, sports science, and swim coaching, and has spent several years working with competitive athletes at all levels, including four seasons at Neptune Club de France.
At the club, Jérémy is responsible for designing and implementing the full gym and dryland training pathway across all squad levels—Elite, National Performance, Junior Performance, Junior, and Pre-Squad. His programming emphasizes long-term athlete development, strength progression by age and maturity, mobility, and muscular balance. He is particularly specialized in shoulder injury prevention, a critical focus for swimmers, with a strong track record of helping athletes stay healthy and perform at their best.
In addition to leading the strength and conditioning program, Jérémy actively supports the Master Squad with customized fitness and recovery strategies. He also works closely with the Learn to Swim program, helping to develop body awareness, movement quality, and early athletic foundations for young swimmers as they progress through the pathway.
Jérémy also delivers high-performance strength and conditioning sessions open to athletes from other sports or swimmers outside of the competitive squads who are seeking elite-level physical development. His training offering includes Pilates sessions aimed at improving core control, flexibility, and stability, as well as guided ice bath recovery sessions to enhance post-training recovery and reduce fatigue.
With a calm and detail-oriented coaching style, combined with a passion for evidence-based practice and continuous learning, Jérémy plays a key role in supporting the holistic development of athletes throughout the club.
COACH BOW
PRE-SQUAD AND LEARN TO SWIM COACH
ASCA Certified Level 3
ASCA Certified Level 2
ASCA Certified Level 1
Coach Bow has more than 8 years of experience as a swimming instructor and has been instrumental in the development of Learn to Swim programs. At her previous swim school, she played a key role in establishing the Learn to Swim program, teaching from beginner to advanced levels for over a year and a half. She also served as an instructor at Silver Star Swimming Pool for 2 years.
Certified by the Swimming Association of Thailand, Coach Bow holds a Certificate of Swimming Instruction and is also certified as a teacher of babies and toddlers through the ASCTA Swim Australia program. This specialized qualification enables her to effectively teach young children, fostering their early development in swimming.
As a competitive swimmer, Coach Bow participated in the Thailand University Games and earned two silver medals in freestyle and mixed relays at the 2019 National University Games. Her background also includes competing in national sports and youth sports events from 2010 to 2015.
Coach Bow’s passion for coaching began in high school, where she worked as an assistant coach and fell in love with swim teaching. She takes great pride in watching her swimmers grow and develop under her guidance. Coach Bow believes in the importance of making the learning process fun, with a focus on building a strong foundation and instilling a lifelong love for the sport.
COACH MIRIN
LEARN TO SWIM EXPERTISE
ASCA Certified Level 3
ASCA Certified Level 2
ASCA Certified Level 1
Coach Mirin is one of the most beloved Learn to Swim coaches at Bangkok Elite Swim Team. Known for her warmth, patience, and joyful energy, she creates a positive first experience in the water that children remember and look forward to. It’s no surprise that her classes are consistently fully booked—children adore her, and parents deeply trust her to build both skill and confidence in their young swimmers.
With over four years of specialized experience teaching babies and toddlers, Coach Mirin holds a Swim Australia Teacher of Babies and Toddlers certification (ASCTA) and a Basic First Aid certification from the Thai Red Cross Society. She is a graduate of Srinakharinwirot University, majoring in Physical Education, and expertly blends academic insight with practical teaching skill.
Her teaching approach emphasizes essential water safety and foundational technique, ensuring every child feels comfortable and secure. What makes her truly outstanding is her ability to not only teach beginners but also lay the groundwork for those who may later advance into competitive swimming with excellent stroke fundamentals, strong body awareness, and a love for the sport.
Whether it’s a child entering the pool for the first time or one preparing for the next level, Coach Mirin brings unmatched dedication and heart to every lesson. Her consistent care, cheerfulness, and structured yet fun approach make her one of the most popular and respected Learn to Swim coaches at the club.
COACH BAITONG
LEARN TO SWIM COACH
TAA Certified Level 1
ASCTA Certified Level 1
With 13 years of experience as a competitive swimmer, Coach Baitong brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the pool. Her impressive athletic career includes competing annually in the Thailand Swimming Championship from 2015-2022 and in the Satit Games from 2017-2022, where she consistently delivered strong performances in the 100-meter butterfly.
Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her professional credentials. Coach Baitong holds certifications from the Thailand Swimming Association Level 1 and ASCTA. for Learn to Swim. She is also certified in basic life support by the Thai Red Cross Society, ensuring the highest standards of safety for her students.
Highly sought-after for private sessions at the Bangkok Elite Swim Team, Coach Baitong has built a reputation for her effective teaching methods and technical proficiency. She began her competitive journey at the age of 7 and is now dedicated to passing on her vast knowledge and experience. Her coaching philosophy goes beyond simply teaching students to swim she instills discipline, helps them set clear goals, and builds the confidence and skills needed to achieve their aspiration
