Thomas Thorum – Director of Aquatics – Head Coach

Salt Lake Swimming & Tennis Club’s Director of Aquatics has been involved in competitive swimming for over 30 years. Tommy learned to swim, coach, train and teach from his father, Tom Thorum Sr., whom he credits with creating one of the finest swim programs in the state and country.

Tommy went on to coach and teach swimming at the Fort Douglas Hidden Valley Country Club from 1989-1997. During this time, the Fort’s swim team was undefeated and produced multiple collegiate swimmers. Tommy also coached and taught swimming at Salt Lake Swimming & Tennis Club in 1998—this was the first season in over 16 years that the Club’s swim team went undefeated and won the Conference Championship. Tommy will returning for his fourth year as Director of Aquatics.

In early 2011, Thomas Thorum, was named the 2011 Best of State Recreational Coach, he was presented with this prestigious award on June 4, 2011 at the Awards Gala.

Angela Bennion – Swim Coach – Instructor

Since learning how to swim here, Angela Bennion has swam for the Tennis Club every summer and now begins her first summer as coach. She is a two-time 5A high school state champion in the 100 free for Skyline High School. Currently she is on the Brigham Young University swim team, where she specializes in the 100 and 200 free.

Clair Binder – Swim Coach – Instructor

Claire has had a life-long love and passion for swimming even before she entered her first swimming pool.  She grew up in Texas and began swimming competitively at the age of seven. Claire taught lessons and coached both summer league and age group swimming for 10 years.  The majority of those years were spent fostering this enthusiasm in swimmers under the age of 10.  When she is out of the water she enjoys cheering for her three children, as they are all are year-round competitive swimmers. Claire has recently begun training and competing in triathlons. Her latest endeavor is writing a children’s story about the healing power of recognizing and following the passion (in her case it was swimming) we are born with.

Brandon Bowen – Diving Coach – Instructor

Brandon has participated in swimming and diving at the Tennis Club since the age of 7. He won the diving conference championships multiple times. He trained and competed with S.L.A.P. diving through the age of 16. He was the 4A Region diving champion his freshman and sophomore year at East High School. Brandon was the assistant dive coach at Tennis Club with his sister, Tricia, before leaving to serve a mission in Indiana. He is looking forward to continuing the championship diving tradition.

Matt Farr – Swim Coach – Instructor

Matt Far has been swimming since the age of six, and it all started at the Salt Lake Swimming & Tennis Club. Matt started competitively when he was 11 and continued through High School at Judge Memorial Catholic High School. Matt went on to attend the University of Puget Sound and helped UPS take 2nd place in the Conference Championship. Matt has been with the Salt Lake Swimming & Tennis Club since 2002 and is looking forward to coming back for his 7th year as a swim coach and instructor.

Sara – Swim Coach – Instructor

Sara has been swimming in the Utah Country Club Swim & Dive League since she was 8—at both Northcrest and Tennis Club. She graduated from Olympus High School—where she was an honor student and a Robert Bryan Memorial Scholarship recipient—where she served as Swim Team Captain from 2008–2010. Sara was a Utah 4A State Swimming Championship medalist in the 200 free, 100 freestyle, and 500 freestyle; a Utah State Champion in the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay; and a 2010 Region 6 Champion in the 500 freestyle. Sara was an Olympus High Schools Region Champions 2010 team member, 4A State Championship Runner-Up, and Academic All-Region 2010.
A native of Salt Lake City, Sara is currently enrolled at University of Utah. Along with swimming, Sara enjoys running and biking. Sara is excited to be a part of the coaching staff and is looking forward to a great summer with the Tennis Club!

Nick Philpot – Swim Coach – Instructor

Nick swam for the University of Utah Swimming & Diving Team for four years (2004-2008) and was a Mountain West Conference finalist in the 400 yard I.M. Other primary events included the 200 I.M., 200 Breastroke, and 200 Freestyle. Prior to swimming for Utah, Nick was a four-time Utah 4A State Champion in the 100 and 200 Freestyle and school record-holder/team captain for East High School. Nick also trained and competed for Steiner Youth Aquatics Club (SYAC).
Nick began swimming for the Salt Lake Swimming & Tennis Club in 1993 at the age of 7 and finished 10 years later. Nick still holds multiple Tennis Club swimming records. Nick is currently attending medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin and will be returning to coach his third consecutive summer.