Coaches
Meet our coaches
Our coaching staff come from a range of athletic backgrounds — artistic swimming, water polo, swim, soccer, volleyball and dance.
Shannon Kelly Jones
Head Coach
Shannon is a distinguished artistic swimmer and coach, known for her elite athleticism and creative vision. Her career includes performances in music videos for LL Cool J, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Lady Gaga at Hearst Castle. As head coach of the Riverside Aquettes she inspires young athletes with a philosophy built on confidence, discipline, teamwork and joy. A respected choreographer, she creates routines that showcase her swimmers’ strengths — and led the team to the California State Games Championship in 2025 and again in 2026.
Sue Baross Nesbitt
Artistic Swim Coach & Consultant
Sue is stepping back from full-time coaching but will remain a consultant for RAQ. She is an internationally renowned coach, consultant and athlete whose influence spans more than fifty years. As a competitor she helped the Santa Clara Aquamaids secure their first World Team title in 1973, earned numerous national and international medals, and was inducted into several halls of fame. As a coach she led teams in Canada, Australia and the United States to championship success — including the Riverside Aquettes’ 2006 National Junior title. She returned to competition in 2018, winning multiple Masters world titles.
Autumn Jones
Swim & Artistic Coach
Bio - Coming Soon
Laura Richards
Volunteer Artistic Swim Coach
Laura competed nationally with RAQ for six years, and her daughter is now an artistic swimmer with the club. Alongside helping with practices and choreography, she has trained as a Level 2 DTC judge and represents the club at competitions.
Madi Mingee
Swim Coach
On the pool deck the swimmers call her Coach M&M. Madi graduated from the University of Arizona in May 2026 with a BSc in Human Development and Family Science and a minor in counseling, and hopes to work in child psychology or family therapy. She started at RAQ as a swimmer more than ten years ago, and coaches because she loves watching athletes grow in confidence — in the water and out of it.
Ryleigh Hicks
Swim Coach
Coach Ryleigh brings over twelve years of club swimming and three years of high school swim experience, plus coaching time with RAQ and Riverside Aquatics Association. She is studying Elementary Education at Riverside City College, and enjoys mentoring young athletes and building their skills and confidence.
Come and meet them
Our coaches run the free swim test every Monday at 5:00 PM at Shamel Park. Register online first — it is the easiest way to meet them and ask anything you like.