AmberJax Staff

We are here to support your needs so please feel free to contact any of the coaches for questions related to workouts, meets or technique questions. For administrative questions including dues and billing, please contact our Team Administrator Susan Schuster at:
                                                     (904)  396-5751 x 1608 or

schusters@episcoaplhigh.org

Coaching Staff

Benji E DeMotte

Head Coach

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Coach DeMotte became the AmberJax swimming’s head Coach in March 2007. Among Head Coach Benjamin “Benji” DeMotte’s greatest accomplishments was coaching one of his swimmers to compete in the 2004 Olympics in the 50-freestyle, and recruiting Binghamton University ’s first Olympic medalist in the process.  His swimmers hold the Austrian 200-backstroke and Hungarian 50-freestyle records and he has coached seven All-Americans in Divisions I, II and III . Additionally, he has coached six Conference Athletes of the Year and earned the Conference Coach of the Year on six separate occasions.  His coaching career holds 11 conference records, 92 Binghamton team records, six University of Arkansas team records and he has coached four Binghamton Athletes of the Year. Benji was the head age group coach for the Northwest Arkansas Aquatics in Bentonville , Arkansas .  Before that, he held the positions of assistant coach for women’s swimming and diving at the University of Arkansas, associate and then head coach for men’s and women’s swimming and diving at Binghamton and president of the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Swimming Conference in Binghamton, New York.   Since joining the AmberJax the club has grown from 14 swimmers 1 facility and 1 coach with a national ranking of 1180th to over 250 swimmers 3 facilities 11 coaches 1 nutritionist, 1 team administrator and a national ranking of 168th.  
Benji earned his Bachelors of Science in exercise physiology from
Syracuse University in 1994 and his Masters in Business Administration from Binghamton University in 2002.
 

Cell: 904.735.7417
Pool: 904.396.5751, 1643

 

Doug Schuster

Head Age Group Coach

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Coach Schuster joined the Episcopal swimming staff in June 2007 as the head Age Group Coach. Before joining the Episcopal coaching staff, Coach Schuster most recently was an assistant coach for the Savannah swim team and served as the head high school coach in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  He has also been an age group coach with The Bolles School and the Coast Guard Swim Team in Mobile, Alabama Coach Schuster has knowledge and experience in all levels of age group and senior programs; including seasonal plans, practice structure, junior coach development, all phases of day or overnight camps, swim lessons, clinics, home meet preparation, championship meet prep. Coach Schuster consistently develops swimmers to their full potential.  Year after year swimmer reach national top 16 awards.  Coach Schuster has led the AmberJax JO team from a 36th place finish to 11th in just 2 years.   Coach Schuster is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and currently serves as Episcopal’s Director of Campus Safety & Security.

Cell: 904.868.1490
Office: 904.396.5751, 1607

Susan Schuster

Administrative Assistant

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Susan Schuster joined the staff of the AmberJax in June 2008 as the administrative assistant. Susan also currently serves as Episcopal’s Head of Attendance.

Susan’s swim experience is extensive; Susan held a similar position at Bolles for 8 years prior to her move to Episcopal High School. Susan was the Head age group coach with the Coast Guard Swim Team in Mobile, Alabama where she grew a 20 swimmer program to over 100.  During her tenure in Alabama the team quickly rose to South Alabama Champions and Susan was the GMSDL Coach of the year in 2000 & 2001. Susan grew up and competed for the Plantation Swim Team in Louisville, Kentucky through high school.  She was the first female swimmer at the University of Louisville. Susan is a graduate of the University of Louisville BS in Business.  During college Susan taught swimming and gymnastics for LouisvilleParks and Recreation Department.

Susan is married to Doug Schuster, Head Age Group Coach for the AmberJax swimming program, and mother of Stephanie and Taylor.

Office: 904.396.5751, 1608

Andy Bergren

Silver Group Coach/Website Manager

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Coach Bergren joined the AmberJax swimming staff in August 2008 after wrapping up a successful swimming career at Clemson University. Coach Bergren was a First Coast high school all-star and state champion in the 200 I.M. for Wolfson. After graduating high school, he received a swimming scholarship from Clemson University where he set numerous school records and received awards for both, “Performance of the Year” and “Coaches Award for Outstanding Leadership.”  He has extensive experience in the Jacksonville swimming community and throughout the state of Florida and still holds Florida age group records and a 13-14 Junior Olympic record in the 200 breast. He is currently earning his Masters in Business Administration from the University of North Florida. 

Stephanie L Schuster

Silver Group Coach/Senior Assistant

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Stephanie Schuster joined the Amberjax coaching staff in May of 2009. Currently she is an assistant coach for the Episcopal High School Swim Team and is one of two coaches for the silver group at the EHS location. Stephanie began swimming when she was ten years old in the state of Alabama with Brian Evans Swim Team. She swam three years in high school for The Bolles School and their club team. She is currently earning her bachelors degree in Social Science Education at the University of North Florida.

Chris George

Cecil Field Head Coach

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Coach Chris started working for the Amberjax in August of 2009 and is now the head coach at the Cecil Field location. He started swimming with Amberjax Swim Team in 1990 with Coach Randy Reese. He graduated from the Bolles School in 2004. As an eighth grader, he was a part of the 1999 High School Mythical National Championship team placing 7th at the State Championships of that year.  Chris was the 2003 state champion in the 500 freestyle and was selected to the All First Coast High School All-Star Team for all five years of his high school career. In 2004, Chris qualified for the US Olympic Trials and placed 9th in the 1500 meter freestyle.  After high school, Chris received a scholarship to swim at the University of Pittsburgh where he was a four year varsity lettermen for swimming.  During his tenure at the University of Pittsburgh, he held the fastest times in the 1650, 1000, and 500 yard freestyle as well as the 200 yard butterfly.  He again qualified for the 2008 US Olympic Trials in the 1500 meter Freestyle and the 400 meter IM.  Chris graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Communications and Rhetoric, Spanish, and a minor in Administration of Justice.  

Mike Dingfield

Gold Group Coach

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Pat Raisor

JCDS Age Group Coach

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Coach Pat joined the AmberJax coaching staff in August of 2009.  Pat began his swimming career in the state of Indiana.  While in high school, Pat won numerous sectional titles and was also recognized as an All-American.  Pat received a swimming scholarship from Clemson University in the fall of 2004.  Currently Coach Pat is an assistant Age Group coach at the JCDS location.

George Garcia

Senior Assistant Coach

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Coach Garcia joined the Episcopal swimming staff in January 2007. Coach Garcia was a First Coast high school all-star in Jacksonville. After high school he attended the University of Florida where he was a team manager for the Gator swimming and diving teams.  Coach Garcia was the head coach for the Ponte Vedra Country Club swim team and is currently the Associate Episcopal High School Head Swim Coach and the Senior Assistant swim coach with the Episcopal AmberJax year round swim team. Coach Garcia is also in his second year at Episcopal, teaching History for seventh and eighth grade.

Shannon Smithers

Age Group Coach JCDS

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Shannon S Blizzard

Age Group Coach

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Shannon Blizzard has been swimming for the Episcopal Amberjax since 2004 and holds numerous club records. Shannon graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School in 2009. While in high school, Shannon was All-Conference for 4 years, a state qualifier for all 4 years, and holds numerous school records. Also while in high school, Shannon was a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American for having over a 3.5 GPA and for having Junior Nationals qualifying times. Shannon has also qualified for Winter Nationals in the 100 Fly. Currently, she is attending Florida Gulf Coast University. At FGCU, she holds a freshman record and was All-Academic in the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association conference. 

Cameron J Pfahler

Age Group Coach

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Amanda Leann Singleton

Age Group Coach

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Amanda Singleton has been swimming in the Jacksonville area since 2003. She began swimming at Bartram Trail High School, as the teams first home schooled swimmer. After competing for them for 3 years, she competed on the first Women’s Diving Team at Bartram Trail her senior year. Her senior year Amanda signed with Pfeiffer University on a full ride. She completed her freshman year earning the title of All-Conference in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference.

After one year at Pfeiffer, Amanda returned to Jacksonville to attend and swim for the University of North Florida, where she is currently majoring in Nursing. Amanda competed for UNF for one season where she earned the status of All-Academic in the Costal Collegiate Swimming Association, as well as being awarded an athletic letter.

 

Axie J Phillips

Cecil Field Age Group Coach

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