Rachael Zarate leads the Shark &Dolphin North Divisions at the HFFA and Davidson sites. A lifelong connectionto SwimMAC began when she joined the team as a young swimmer, and her coachingcareer started here after college. Rachael returned to SwimMAC in 2022 aftercoaching across the country, including roles as Head Age Group Coach andDryland Coordinator at Team Eugene, as well as coaching at Swim Torrance, theUniversity of Northern Colorado, and DePauw University. Her experience alsoincludes mentorship roles and team management positions in swimming governance.
In her role with SwimMAC, Rachael leads agroup of coaches and athletes within the Shark & Dolphin North Divisions,focusing on 11-14 year-olds. She develops strategies and training plans thatsupport athletes’ growth, encouraging them to push beyond their limits toaccomplish what they once thought was impossible. With a B.A. in Psychology, aminor in Visual Arts, and an M.A. in Sport Management, along with aswim-specific dryland certification, Rachael is equipped to support herathletes’ mental and physical development. Her coaching style integratespsychological insight and dryland training expertise, offering athletes awell-rounded approach to performance.
Rachael’s core values—hope, grit,adaptability, empathy, and purpose—are reflected in her dedication torelationship-building with athletes and her commitment to helping them findconfidence in new challenges. Known for her innovative approach to guidingathletes beyond their comfort zones, she aims to foster unified Shark &Dolphin divisions that prepare athletes for success in the senior ranks and beyond.
Influenced by mentors like Julio Zarate, RussKasl, and Jennifer Gibson, Rachael is passionate about instilling values ineach athlete she coaches, helping them realize their potential both in and outof the pool.