Coaches
Kevin Clements has been
involved with the sport of swimming for over 30 years and coached
at the 2012 London Olympic Games. He is a Southern California
native, growing up in Rowland Heights and attending Rowland High
School. In 2005, Coach Kevin landed his first coaching position as
the Head Coach of a summer league program called the
Roland Run Stingrays in Maryland, and won the league
championships in his first year. Following the '05 summer, Coach
Kevin knew he found his second passion, moving on from athlete to
coach.
- College (2005-2014) - In 2005, Coach
Kevin started his collegiate coaching career at the University of
Maryland. In his first year, he coached UMD’s first ACC
Champion in the 400 IM. After a three year stint at UMD, he took a
position at Louisiana State University for two years before landing
at the University of Southern California from 2010-2014. Coach
Kevin helped the Trojans earn four Top-4 finishes at the NCAA
Championships. Throughout his collegiate coaching career,
Coach Kevin has been integral in the continued development of over
25 Olympians from nearly 15 different countries at both the 2008
and 2012 Olympic Games. He’s also coached over 100 NCAA
qualifiers, 20+ NCAA Champions, World and American Record
Holders.
- 2012 Olympic Games - Coached Austrian swimmer
Markus Rogan to the Semi-Final of the 200 IM.
- JSerra Catholic High School
(2014-present) - In 2014, Coach Kevin left college
coaching and took over the Head Coach position at JSerra Catholic
High School. In his first year, he won the inaugural 2015 CIF
State Championships. Over his tenure, JSerra has won over 10
Trinity League event titles, 5 CIF event titles, 3 CIF State event
titles while also setting 3 CIF State records, held over a 3.5 team
gpa every year, and has had 3 Valedictorians come through the
Swimming & Diving program.
- SOCA (2022-present) – Coach Kevin and his
wife Jaqi created South Orange County Aquatics in August of 2022 as
a family owned team. The club earned it’s first team title in
2025 – winning the Small Team Division at the Summer Age
Group Championships in Riverside.
As an athlete, Coach Kevin earned a scholarship to swim at
Auburn University and continued improving throughout college,
ultimately swimming professionally for Speedo. He was a
standout swimmer, competing on the USA Swimming National Team from
1999-2004. His collegiate
achievements include:
- 5-Time SEC Individual
Champion
- 14-Time NCAA All-American
- 4-Time SEC Team Champion (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
- 2-Time SEC Conference Scoring Champion (2001 & 2002)
- 5-Time Auburn record holder (1650 fr, 500 fr, 400 IM, 400m fr,
400m IM)
- 1999 NCAA Team Champion
- 1999 World University Games (800m fr)
- Auburn High Point Champion (2000 NCAA Championships)
- American Record Holder in the 400 IM (2000 NCAA
Championships)
- 2000 USA Olympic Trials (3rd - 200m IM; 4th - 400m IM; 5th - 400m
fr)
- 2001 World University Games (1st - 400m IM, WUG Record; 2nd -
200m IM)
After his collegiate
career, Coach Kevin swam professionally for Speedo while training
with Michael Phelps and
the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. His professional achievements
include:
- 2002 Pan-American Team (200m IM, 400m IM)
- 2003 World Championships (2nd - 4x200 fr relay; 7th - 200 IM)
- 2003 World Ranking: 3rd - 200 IM (2nd fastest in US History);
11th – 400 IM (4th in US); 30th – 200 Br (8th in
US);
- 2004 U.S. National Champion (400 IM)
- 2004 USA Olympic Trials (5th - 200 IM)
- 5-Time USA National Team member
Coach Kevin graduated from
Auburn University with a degree in graphic design. He is married to
his wife Jaqi,
and the couple have three children.
Head Assistant Coach Fernando Soraggi joined SOCA in 2024 having served as a swimming coach for over 20 years. Coach Fernando grew up in Sáo Paulo, Brazil and earned degrees in Physical Therapy and International Business with a focus in Foreign Commerce. Coach Fernando was a nationally ranked swimmer in Brazil before turning to coaching full-time in 1997 as a learn-to-swim instructor and swim coach in Florida. From there, he worked at various swim camps over the next decade, gaining knowledge from high-level programs like the University of Georgia under legendary coach Jack Buaerle.
In 2018, Coach Fernando landed his first coaching job in California, working with the Mission Viejo Nadadores under Head Coach Mark Schubert. He left MVN in 2021 and began coaching with The Swim Team Barracudas before coming to SOCA. Over the years Coach Fernando has worked with numerous Olympians and Nationally ranked swimmers including Ahmed Hafnaoui, Marwan Elkamash, Ous Mellouli, Isaac Fleig, Kai Van Westring, Anders Stairs, Will Galant, Dylan Porges, Arturo Perez, David Heron, Justina Kozan, Katie Krom, Ashley Twichell, Haley Anderson and Macky Hodges. He has also worked under legendary coaches like Jon Urbanchek, Jim Montrella, Jack Nelson, Don Gamrbil and his father Fernando Soraggi Sr.
With his vast knowledge and elite-level experience, Coach Fernando will be working alongside Head Coach Kevin Clements in developing the SR & National swimmers.
Kayleigh Walsh joined SOCA in 2024 and serves as the Head Age Group coach for the Green and Blue groups. Coach Walsh grew up in New Hampshire and started swimming competitively at the age of 12. She’s been around the sport of swimming ever since. Coach Walsh swam on a club swim team for 10 years and on her Varsity team for all 4 years of high school.
Coach Walsh graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Biology and Neuroscience. Three years later, she earned her Master’s in Clinical Research Management and Regulatory Affairs from Regis College while working for various pharmaceutical and MedTech companies. In 2020, she earned her MBA through Regis College’s online program.
Coach Walsh has previous experience coaching club swim teams, high school, and teaching swim lessons to kids who are just learning how to swim. She loves the sport of swimming and has a true passion for coaching. When not on deck, Coach Walsh works in quality assurance and clinical compliance for a large MedTech company. In her free time, she loves spending time with family and friends and is married to her husband Andrew.
Mikayla Barre joined SOCA in 2025 and serves as the assistant coach for the Green and Blue groups. Coach Barre is a SOCA alum, graduating from Crean Lutheran High School in 2024. She continued her swimming with Concordia University in Irvine where she is pursuing a degree in graphic design. Coach Barre brings great energy to the pool deck and a unique perspective for our younger swimmers as she is still competing in college.
Mark Schubert joined SOCA in 2025
and serves as the lead coach for the JR Elite group and his Pro
Group. Coach Schubert has an illustrious career in swimming which
spans decades. He is an American Hall of Fame swim
coach that was also the USA Swimming National Team Director. He
helped launch one of the best club swim programs in history as the
head coach of the Mission
Viejo Nadadores from
1972 to 1985, and 2016 to 2022 - coaching athletes to the highest
level, earning 17 Olympic medals, 124 National titles, 88 American
Records and 21 World Records. Coach Schubert was a long-serving
Olympic coach, landing a position with Team USA on every Olympics
from 1984-2008. Coach Schubert also served as the head
swimming coach for the University of Texas women (1989-1992)
where he won the NCAA Championships in 1990 and 1991. He then
became the head coach at the University of Southern
California (1992-2006),
winning a 3rd NCAA Championship in 1997 with the women's
team.
Coach Schubert has been integral in the overall development and
success of a countless number of prominent swimmers in American
history. We are honored to have him on deck as part of South Orange
County Aquatics and look forward to the positive impact he will
make on our club's future.
