Mary S Ruffin

Head Coach/CEO

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Mary Ruffin is the Head Coach and CEO of the Arlington Alligators. She is an ASCA Level 4 coach. She has been coaching for 33 years - 15 years with the Alligators! She has had the privilege of coaching multiple athletes to State, National and Olympic Trial level. The majority of the High School swimmers have continued their swimming career in college and return in the summers to train with the Alligators.

Mary has sat on the Illinois Board of review and has continuously volunteered her time with Illinois swimming through task forces, committee’s and coaching or managing team Illinois. She is currently a member of Illinois Swimming's Senior Committee.

• Mary was a High School State Champion, All-American, and Olympic Trial Qualifier during her own swimming career. Her love of the sport that she developed while swimming, is carried with her now as a coach.
• Strength of character, integrity and a strong work ethic, are some of the qualities she hopes to instill in all her swimmers.
• Her love the sport is only surpassed by her love for her family. She has been Married to Stuart for 27 years and is the extremely proud Mom of 4: Samantha, Stuart, Rebecca and Jeffrey.

Mary’s Favorites

Food: Roast Beef and Leg of Lamb
Pastime: Cooking, Kayaking and obviously Coaching!
Movie: Donovan’s Reef / Pretty Woman / Affair to Remember
Quote: "Walk the Walk, Don’t Talk the Talk" & "What I’m to be, I’m now becoming"

Christine. Orr

Assistant Coach

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Christine joined the Alligator coaching staff in 2009 and loves being a part of the Alligators.  Her involvement in swimming has spanned more than 30 years.  Christine swam as an age group swimmer, swam in high school at St. Viator High School, and continued on to swim in college at Indiana University.  Her continued involvement in the sport through coaching is her way of giving back to the sport.Christine lives in Kildeer with her husband, Mike, and their three children all of which are involved in the Alligators through the swim and masters programs.  She currently works for a Point-of-Purchase Display company and is actively involved in her neighborhood summer club.

Adam Clementi

Assistant Coach

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Adam is an Alligator through and through. He has been a part of the Alligator program longer than any other individual. Adam swam for the alligators for many years and continues to train with the team around his job and other coaching responsibilities. Adam is also the girls head coach at St. Viator and has at his side his wife Andrea. Adam is a dedicated coach and offers a love of team that is amazing. He offers a great deal to our athletes of all levels. ASCA level 3

Tom Blumenfeld

Assistant Coach

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Tom Blumenfeld swam as an age group swimmer from the age of 6 for Leaning Tower & High Ridge YMCA, as well as a USS Team in Skokie.  He swam on the Varsity team for 4 years in High School and was team captain his senior year.  He continued to swim in college as a long distance and butterfier at Northern Illinois University. Tom currently swims with the Alligator Aquatics master’s program and competes in local triathlons. Along with an extensive aquatics career, Tom has been an assistant coach for his daughter’s softball and soccer teams.

Tom also volunteers his time as our Treasurer. He is responsible for keeping the clubs financial records, and making sure the financial needs of the club are met. Swimming, coaching and volunteering his time for the Alligators comes alongside his being a CPA with Pawlan, Blumenfeld, Miscinski & Associates in Skokie  Tom has been a resident of Arlington Heights for 10 years with his wife Debbie and their 2 children Shannon and Leah

Laura Wilcher

Assistant Coach

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Laura coaches our Green and SilverGators and has been swimming with the Alligators since she was 9.  Her experience and her love of children help her to coach swimmers who have little experience. Laura lives with her family in Arlington Heights and is a student at Harper college. Laura is an ASCA level 2 coach.

Chase Olson

Assistant Coach

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Chase has been a part of the Alligator staff since Spring of 2010. Many of you knew him as a coach for the AHPD where he enjoyed working and coaching kids for 8 years.  That along with Chase’s swimming career allows him to work with all different levels of Alligators.  He is a college graduate of Wheaton College with a B.A. in History/Social Science. He is  Firefighter for the Glenview FireDept! Chase Is recently married to Katianne and  they live in nearby Mount Prospect.  Chase is an ASCA Level 2 coach.

Stuart R Ruffin

Assistant Coach

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Stuart swam for the Alligators all throughout his age group years. He has also coached for the team for 4 seasons before he left for college. Stuart currently a Senior at Northern Illinois University where he is finishing his Biology. He will be coaching all levels as a substitute throughout the year and will come to meets as often as his schedule allows.

In addition, Stuart is one of our Swim America instructors.

Jeffrey J Ruffin

Volunteer Coach

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Jeffrey has been a part of the Alligator family since he was 3! He has grown up and swam up through the various levels of the team. Jeffrey has been an assistant to our Spring Stroke clinic and is currently and instructor for our Alligator SwimAmerica lesson program. He is a Senior at Hersey HS and works with the swim team as a volunteer.

Rebecca M Ruffin

Assistant Coach

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Rebecca has been in the water her whole life. She started swimming for the Alligators when she was six and still continues to do so. She joined the coaching staff 5 years ago and has left a positive impact on our green, silver and Gold gators each and every practice. Becca is a Senior at Eastern Illinois University swimming and continuing her journey to a Biology degree. ASCA level 2

Steve Zimmermann

Assistant Coach

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Steve swam for the Alligators through his Freshman year in college. He has coached for us for 7 years. He is currently a student at NIU and commutes back to continue to coach with us when he can during the year. Steve also teaches swim lessons with our SwimAmerica program.