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 OF BANGKOK ELITE SWIM TEAM
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 secretary on the Thailand Swimming Association (TSA) committee and has represented Thailand as a National Coach at the SEA Age Group Championships in 2018, 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 PLOY
LEARN TO SWIM , RACE PERFORMANCE SQUAD & MASTER SQUAD COACH
With over 5 years of experience as a Learn to Swim and Squad coach at Kasetsart University Laboratory School, Coach Ploy brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the Bangkok Elite Swim Team. She also has 8 years of experience as a baby and toddler swimming instructor at Aquababies, further enriching her expertise in early aquatic education.
Coach Ploy holds several qualifications, including a Certificate in Aquatic Teaching – Baby and Pre-School (STA), a Safety Award for Teachers (STA), and a Certificate of Swimming Instruction from the Swimming Association of Thailand. A competitive swimmer herself, Coach Ploy competed in the Thailand University Games and reached the finals at the Thailand National Age Group Championships.
Having swum competitively since the age of 4, she is committed to passing on her knowledge and experience to nurture the next generation of swimmers. Coach Ploy loves teaching and finds great joy in helping her swimmers build confidence, develop their abilities, and reach new heights. Her dedication and experience make her an invaluable asset in guiding swimmers to achieve their personal best and advance to the next level.
COACH BOW
PRE-SQUAD AND LEARN TO SWIM COACH
Coach Bow has more than 6 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 INSTRUCTOR
Coach Mirin is a highly sought-after Learn to Swim coach at Bangkok Elite Swim Team, known for her engaging teaching style and being a favorite among children. She is consistently fully booked, reflecting her popularity and the trust parents place in her to guide their children in water safety and swimming skills.
With 4 years of experience as a baby and toddler swimming instructor, Coach Mirin specializes in early aquatic education. She holds a certificate as a Swim Australia Teacher of Babies and Toddlers from ASCTA, along with a Basic First Aid Course certification from the Thai Red Cross Society. A graduate of Srinakharinwirot University in Physical Education, she combines her academic background with practical expertise to create a fun and safe learning environment.
Coach Mirin is passionate about helping children gain confidence in the water, ensuring they feel both comfortable and happy as they develop essential swimming skills. Her approach not only focuses on skill-building but also emphasizes water safety, making her a beloved and trusted instructor for young swimmers.
COACH YOUSSEF
JUNIOR PERFORMSNCE SQUAD COACH
Coach Youssef started his swimming career in 1996, in France. He was coaching swimming in a school and his main duties were Teaching swimming and lifeguarding.
During this time he was coaching developmental swimmers from 6-10 years old , He then started to work with competition-level swimmers that were 10-13 years old. These ranged from developmental swimmers to French Championship level swimmers.
13 Qualified for the French Championships bring home a bronze medal in the 50 Fly.
Coach Youssef also has worked with 14-15 years old where he achieved 18 French Championship Qualifiers. Of the above he had 7 finalists swimming the 100 Breastroke, 50/100 Freestyle, and 50/100 Butterfly respectively.
His swimmers achieved a Silver in the 50m Butterfly and Gold in the 100 Butterfly with the meet record for a 15 year old.
He also has worked with swimmers 16-17 years old, Where 9 qualifed for the French Championhips. 1 made the final in the 200 Backstroke.
Couch Youssef’s diverse teaching experience, working with swimmers aged 6-16 years old will prove to be invaluable to BEST
He is excited to get started and share his knowledge with our team
COACH TOP
JUNIOR SQUAD AND LEARN TO SWIM COACH
Australia Swim Coaches & Teachers Certified.
Lead Coach for Bronze and Silver Squad.
Head Coach of Australian International School of Bangkok (AISB) 2020.
BEST Learn to Swim Teacher.
Thailand University Games Swimmer.
Thailand National Age Group Finalist.
Education:
Master’s Degree in Master of Business Administration (Management Program) – Ramkhamhaeng University.
Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science (Sports Management)-Kasem Bundit University.
Top has been swimming competitively since he was 9 years old. He has been teaching swim lessons for over 3 years. He absolutely loves teaching and really enjoys watching his swimmers grow in confidence and see their abilities and talents grow as well
COACH NAXX
LEARN TO SWIM COACH & STROKE CORRECTION SPECIALIST
Coach Naxx has been a swimming coach since 2018, with extensive experience working across various squads and private groups at Bangkok Elite Swim Team. Known for his expertise in teaching beginners aged 4 and above, he is particularly popular for his private lessons, consistently in demand due to his personalized approach and deep understanding of individual swimmer needs.
A former competitive swimmer with 14 years of experience, Coach Naxx has achieved significant success in the pool. His accomplishments include multiple medals at the Thailand Swimming Championships, with highlights such as a gold in the 200m Breaststroke in 2019 and bronze medals in 2020 and 2022.
Coach Naxx holds teaching certifications from the Australia Swimming Coach & Teacher Association and is certified in lifeguarding, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, and First Aid through the American Red Cross. His international experience includes lifeguarding in the USA and competing for Thailand in several regional competitions from 2015 to 2017.
Coach Naxx is passionate about fostering a strong foundation in swimming for beginners, ensuring they feel confident and safe in the water while steadily building their skills.
COACH TAR
LEARN TO SWIM COACH , STROKE CORRECTION SPECIALIST , PT CONSULTANT.
Coach Tar, a former competitive swimmer with 18 years of experience, has been coaching since 2018. He specializes in teaching beginners aged 5 and above and is a popular instructor for private lessons at Bangkok Elite Swim Team, known for his personalized approach and dedication to helping swimmers build confidence in the water.
In addition to his swimming expertise, Coach Tar is passionate about fitness and weight training. He is currently attending a Personal Trainer program to further his knowledge in this area, aiming to integrate his love for gym training into his coaching.
Certified by the Australia Swimming Coach & Teacher Association, Coach Tar has worked with various squads and partnered international schools. His swimming career includes numerous accomplishments, such as representing Thailand in the SEA Games 2022 and winning multiple gold medals at the ASEAN School Games and Asian School Swimming Championships. He also set a new National Youth Game record in 2016.
Coach Tar’s approach focuses on helping swimmers develop both technique and a love for the sport, while also promoting fitness and overall well-being.
