Steven Riches - Head Coach, Boys & Girls Swimming
Coach Riches has been a resident of Irvine since 1976. He swam competitively and played water polo in high school. Steve has been a certified lifeguard, swimming instructor and swim coach since 1969. He served as the Aquatic Director for the Conejo Valley YMCA in Ventura County, and Head Coach of their Dolphin Swim Team. When Steve moved to Orange County, he developed aquatic programs for the Saddleback Valley YMCA, and lead their 'Learn-to-Swim' program. Steve also worked as an SCAF high school and NCAA swimming and water polo referee. Steve served as the Head Coach of the Irvine Swim League (ISL) Courtside Stingrays for nine years, and selected as the Irvine Swim Leage Coach of the Year in 2012. Prior to coaching at Portola High School, he was a member of the boys and girls swim coaching staff at Northwood High School in Irvine, Ca.
In 2024, Coach Riches was selected by the Orange County Register Sportswriters a the Coach of the Year.
Coach Riches is also the Director of Aquatics, Head Coach and founder of the USA Swimming, SwimNation Aquatics club swim team. Formerly, he was the founder and Head Coach of Patriot Aquatics Swimming in Irvine, Calilfornia.
Bryan Dedeaux - Varsity Strength & Conditioning Coach
Bryan Dedeaux began his coaching career in 1990 with the Colony Red Hots ISL swim team in Irvine, California. In 1999, he joined the Mission Viejo Nadadores to enhance his coaching skills at a more competitive level. Bryan's versatility allowed him to coach at all levels and ages within the program before taking on the role of 10 and under division director in 2004.
In 2010, Bryan was honored with the Southern California Age Group Coach of the Year award. He was also a presenter at the ASCA and USA Swimming world clinics.
In 2017, Bryan became the Mission Viejo Nadadores dryland director, and subsequently began coaching the Varsity Boys and Girls swim team at Portola High School in strength and conditioning training. Coach Dedeaux has completed the national certification to be a Certified Functional Strength Coach. In 2019, Bryan joined the USA Swimming SET Swim Team as the Head Age Group Coach.
In 2020, he returned to the Nadadores as the 11/12 Division Director, and by 2023, he led the Nadadores Age Group program as the Head Age Group Coach. During this time he helped the team achieve ASCA's top 50 Age Group status three years in a row.
Bryan recently accepted the position of Associate Head Coach, Age Group Swimming, at the USA Swimming Club Team SwimNation Aquatics.
Veronica Heidke - Assistant Coach, Boys & Girls Swimming
Coach Heidke played water polo and swam for Irvine High School. After high school, she attending Santa Barbara City College, where she was a member of their water polo team. She is also a certified lifeguard and certified swim instructor. Veronica is currently the Head Varsity Coach for Portola High School Girls Water polo.
Veronica is an assistant age-group swim coach at SwimNation Aquatics. She is also the Lead Girls Waterpolo coach at SwimNation Aquatics.
Coach Heidke is currently attending college, working on completing her secondary school teaching credential.
Alexander Phipps - Assistant Coach, Boys & Girls Swimming
Coach Phipps played water polo and swam for Portola High School. He is currently attending college, with an interest in forenics.
Alex is an assistant senior-group swim coach at SwimNation Aquatics. He is also an assistant age-group Waterpolo coach at SwimNation Aquatics.
