Coaches and Instructors

Coaches and Directors

Kelly Collier

Coach Kelly started swimming competitively at age six and since then swimming has been a huge part of her life. She qualified for TAGS throughout middle school and high school with her club teams, LAC and Dallas Mustangs. She was also on the Varsity swim team at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, TX where she qualified for State Sophomore through Senior year. She received a scholarship to swim for Ouachita Baptist University and qualified for Nationals and was an All-American. In 2001 she broke the school records individually in the 100 Fly and 200 Fly and as a member of the 200 and 400 Medley Relays and the 200, 400, and 800 Free Relays. In 2000 she was named Arkansas Coaches NSISL Swimmer of the Year and Most Outstanding Athlete at Ouachita 1999-2000. During college she taught swim lessons and coached summer league programs. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and Finance. She worked as a loan processor and a finance assistant before becoming a swim coach.

 

In 2012, she was elected as a board member as treasurer of Longview Swim Club and filled that position until she moved to Montgomery in 2014. She was assistant and lead coach at MARC from 2018-2024. During her time there she coached several TAGS and Sectional swimmers. She was selected by the Gulf in 2021 to attend the LEAD Conference. The Gulf also selected her as 2022 Lead Coach at Dual in the Pool for the 11-12 boys, 2023 Lead Coach at Open Water Nationals for the 11-12 girls and 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 as Team Manager for Open Water Nationals and 2026 Team Manager for Dual in The Pool.

 

Kelly is married to Chris Collier. Together they have five children who all grew up in competitive swimming. Their son Andrew lives and works in Pennsylvania and was actively involved in both swimming and triathlons. Their daughter Melissa swam at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and lives in Eau Clare, WI. Their son Ben participated in summer league and high school swimming and also was a relief pitcher for Edgewood College. He lives in Dane, WI and is training to become a fire fighter. Their daughter Kaelynn was as a Sectional swimmer and Regional champion in high school and attends the University of Arkansas, and their son Brayden is a member of the Sam Houston State University after transferring from Ouachita Baptist University where he swam his first year.


Natalie Pickett

Team Manager

Email: manager@nehaswimming.com

Growing up in a small town often means there is not a local swim team. However, my mom drove me to the area YMCA, where I was able to take swimming lessons. Like most kids raised in the country, I spent the hot Texas summers swimming in my family's pool. As an adult, I started working at a recreating complex, in the childcare center. Due to my supervisor also being the Aquatics Director, I often found myself in the pool office. One day, a swim instructor was unable to come in for their shift, so I was asked to cover. Thus, began my love of the sport of swimming. I guess you could say, I started teaching swimming lessons by accident.


I am fortunate that other employees saw the potential in me and began taking time after work to teach me the ins and outs of the sport. I was eager to learn all I could about swimming and saftey while swimming. I went on to certify as an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. I did not want to stop there, because I could see the eagerness in my students to do more than just lessons. I found a USA Swim Team that alos had a US Masters Team (adult swim team). I joined a team to learn drills and observe how practices are managed.


My quest for knowledge kept my determination strong. I got certified as an US Masters Coach Level 2, an ASCA Level 2 Coach, Swim Lesson University, and several other certifications. In 2012, I started my first USA Swim Team and was the head coach for 10 years. In an effort to provide opportunities for swimmers with a variety of abilities, I started teaching Swim Angelfish (swimmers with special needs). This led to me starting a Special Olympic Swimming Team. Changes happen in life, and I ended up in a new place. I have been fortunate enough to find a home with NEHA.

David Fahrenholz

Coach

David joined NEHA in November of 2021 and works predominantly with the Copper and Bronze groups. As an age group swimmer with the Sweet Home Sealions, Aurora Aquatic Dolphins, and Southtown Aquatic Racers, he learned a variety of different coaching styles and methods. During his high school time at East Aurora, he became an All American freestyler and also swam four years at Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, NY where he also played club lacrosse and earned his bachelors degree. David taught six years at the Gow School where he taught English, ran a dorm, coached soccer, football, lacrosse and earned his M.ED from SUNY Buffalo State in 1998. David is married with four children two of which swim with NEHA. 

Larissa Fahrenholz

Coach

Larissa “Lari” Cunningham Fahrenholz has a lifelong connection to swimming, beginning as a summer league swimmer in Beaumont through age 19. As a parent and community leader, she returned to the sport as a dedicated NWAL official when her children joined the Woodland Hills Wahoos.


With certifications including TISDO, Stroke and Turn, and Computers Official, Lari has supported swim meets across roles that require precision, fairness, and teamwork. Her background in education and marketing further enhances her ability to promote team growth and engage families within the swimming community.


Lari is passionate about developing youth through sport and remains committed to supporting swim programs that build character, discipline, and community.

Asa Lawrence

Coach

Coach Asa Lawrence is a local product who swam for Spring High School and The Dads Club. He won the 50 yard Freestyle at the 1982 Short Course Junior Nationals. After high school Asa accepted a scholarship to swim for Eddie Reese at the University of Texas. While at UT he became a 7-time NCAA All American, the Southwest Conference Champion in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle. Asa was the 1987 U.S. Open gold medalist in the 50 meter freestyle. He was a member of two USA National Swim Teams: the 1986 World Aquatic Championships held in Madrid, Spain and the 1987 World University Games held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. Both times Asa earned a Gold Medal as a member of the USA Men’s 4x100 meter Freestyle Relay. He has been coaching since 1988 and focuses on techniques and aspects of competitive swimming.

Isaiah Juneau

Coach

My name is Isaiah Juneau, I began my swimming career in 10th grade after being homeschooled for 9 years. I had never done sports up until this point but fell in love with it as a sophomore in high school and decided it was something I wanted to do at the collegiate level. 


I committed to Urbana university my senior year of high school but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the school had to shut down due to insufficient funding. I ended up following the coach from Urbana to the University of Pikeville and became the first member of the swim team. I swam for 4 years and throughout that time I became the Assistant Coach and have been the Head coach of the EMC EELS for the past 3 years.


 I am so grateful for the opportunity to coach alongside NEHA and hope to continue helping the kids improvement each day.



Instructors