Meet our 2026 Coaching Staff
Coach Charley began with the Waves when she was 7 years old and will begin her Junior year at Duquesne University. At Duquesne, Charley is a Health Sciences Major on a Pre-Med Track. Coach Charley will be a 3-year member on Duquesne's NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Team.
Charley has competed in the YMCA, USA, PIAA and GSVAL programs and her specialty is Breaststroke and 200 Freestyle. She is a PIAA District 2/4 medal winner and a YMCA and PIAA State Qualifying Participant. During her four years at WAHS Charley was the recipient of the 2022-2023 & 2023-2024 Coaches Award for WAHS Swimming & Diving and the recipient of multiple Williamsport Waves Team Awards.
Charley has trained at state swim camps and summer rowing camp in Sunbury, swam locally, is lifeguard and scuba certified, holds multiple Red Cross certifications, and trains and competes her 5-year old black lab in the American Kennel Club's Fast CAT racing competitions.
This summer she is teaching private swim lessons, coaching for the WAVES, and taking advanced summer coursework towards her major. This is Charley's fifth year on the coaching staff and second year as head coach.
Coach Kendall swam locally for 13 years in the GSVAL, USA Swimming, & PIAA. She is an Eleven-Time (11!!) PIAA District 2/4 Champion and holds the 100 backstroke record at Williamsport Area High School. Kendall competed three years at the PIAA State Swimming and Diving Championships.
Kendall has been coaching and teaching swim lessons for four years. This year she is working at the Williamsport Country Club as a lifeguard. She is pursuing a Business Administration degree from the Pennsylvania State University (PSU--We Are...!!!)
Assistant Melissa brings years of swimming experience to the pool deck. At Williamsport High School, Melissa was a team captain and record holder in the 200 Medley and 200 Free relays. Coach Melissa has brought her expertise in stroke mechanics, especially in butterfly and freestyle, to the WAVES over the past five seasons and has two swimmers on the team. In the winter, she coaches the River Valley YMCA swim team. Coach Melissa is an elementary teacher at Jackson Elementary.
This is Annie Ross' official first year on the Waves Coaching Staff. She has participated on the East Lycoming YMCA and River Valley YMCA Winter Swim Teams. She is recuperating and strengthening a shoulder injury this summer and will be giving her 100% efforts to coaching while at the pool. Annie is a first-year letter winner for the Williamsport Millionaires Girls Swim Team, placing 3rd in the 100 Breaststroke and 8th in the 50 Free at Districts as a Freshman last year. She will be entering her sophomore swim season this fall. Annie is lifeguarding at the Williamsport Country Club, plays club and high school soccer for Williamsport and boasts great grades as she is on the Honor Roll at WAHS.
Coach Chad was a competitive swimmer from the age of 7 on the Williamsport Summer Swim Team to Williamsport YMCA to WAHS through NCAA swimming at Allegheny College. He used his many years of swimming to transition into coaching. He is a previous head coach at WAHS, where he coached Coach Brett Johnson and Coach Melissa Love- Ritchey. He most recently coached the East Lycoming Eels YMCA winter team for five years and returned to coaching the WAVES as a volunteer coach last eight seasons. Coach Chad holds his doctorate in education and is the Assistant Principal and Curriculum Director for the Saint John Neumann Regional Academy.
Dr. Brett Johnson: Coach Brett was a standout swimmer for both the Williamsport Millionaires in high school and for the South Williamsport Summer Swim Team. Brett learned proper stroke technique from long-time coach Betty Balzer (along with Coach Melissa) when he was a young swimmer and that talent translated into a PIAA State qualifier in high school.
Coach Brett Johnson is the current head coach of the Williamsport Millionaires Boys and Girls Swim Teams and looks forward to bring his love for the sport and his experience to all swimmers this summer season. Coach Johnson is coming off of an extraordinary High School season as his top swimmer finished 2nd in the Boys 100 Breaststroke at the State Championships. His boys' team were league champions, while his girls' team were runners up. Both the Boys and Girls teams were PIAA District IV Champions this past year.
Dr. Johnson is co-owner of Johnson Chiropractic where he had practiced alongside his father for the past 8 years. Coach Brett practices Advanced Biostructural Correction (ABC Technique) and specializes in Fitness and Sports Training (FAST), helping students prepare for their athletic best.
Daniel begins his first year officially coaching for the Waves. Daniel has always displayed himself as a leader in and out of the water. This past winter/spring he was a State Qualifier for River Valley YMCA Winter Swim Team and a Jr and Zone Champs qualifier for WASC, the local USA Swimming club. This Fall Daniel will join the WAHS Millionaires as a freshman.
Ryan Saxe is a first-year letter winner for the Millionaires and swam the 200 Free and 500 Free at districts this past season. He will begin his Junior year at South Williamsport Area School District this fall. In addition to swimming, he enjoys skiing, fishing and plays percussion. Ryan looks forward to working with younger swimmers this summer to help them fall in love with competitive swimming.
