Coaching Staff

Bill Schalz, Owner / Director of Swimming Operations / Elite Team - billschalz@comcast.net

Bill Schalz started his career in Dubuque, IA as the head coach for the Wahlert HS women's team.  While there, the Eagles compiled a 24-6 record and a top 10 finish at the Iowa High School State Meet.

From 1986-1994, Bill Schalz was the head coach of the Aurora YMCA Swim Team.  During those years, the national team grew from one swimmer to sixteen.   In 1984, Bill's last year, the Aurora YMCA finished 8th at YMCA Nationals. (Their highest finish ever)

Since 1988, Bill has been joined on the pool deck with his wife, Robin who as age group coach, has developed many of the swimmers who went on to national prominence.  Since 1994, Bill and Robin have been owners of the Academy Bullets Swim Club.

Todd Capen, Head Coach / Elite Team & Gold Team - nudas@aol.com

Todd started out with the Bullets as a swimmer on our National Team.  Todd was a member of the 1997 team that won the Junior National Meet in Orlando, FL.  In that meet, Todd was a member of three winning relays and finished top 8 in three individual events.  Todd went earned a swimming scholarship from Northwestern University, where he broke the team record in the 400 IM.  Todd competed at the 2000 USA Olympic Trials.

Todd joined the Bullets staff in 2001 as the Head Age Group Coach.  Todd also has been instrumental in working with Bill to grow the competitive and lesson programs to their current size.  Since Todd has joined the team, The Bullets have won their first ever Age Group State Championship (three total) and have never finish lower than 5th.  Todd has coached numerous State Champions and National Reportable Times. He has served on three Team Illinois Zone staffs.  Todd has been named Illinois Age Group Coach of the Year in both 2005 & 2006.  On August 1st, 2006, Todd Capen was named Head Coach of the team.

Kelly Capen, Head Age Group Coach / Silver 2 & Gold Team - kellswim@aol.com

Kelly began swimming competitively at the age of 11 for Foxjet Swim Club in Eden Prairie, MN.  She competed at the collegiate level for four years representing University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and was a Division III All-American.  After college, Kelly attended graduate school at Ball State where she also served as the Assistant Women's Coach for their swim team.  From 2002-2005, Kelly served as the Head Age Group Coach of the Naperville Riptide Swim Team.  Kelly has coached Olympic Trials qualifiers, Junior National qualifiers, Illinois State Champions, and numerous swimmers with National Reportable Times.

Colleen Weiler, Bronze Team Coach - cweiler81@yahoo.com

Colleen also started out with the Bullets as a swimmer.  Colleen has recently completed her Education degree at Aurora University and will be teaching Fourth Grade at Annunciation this fall.  This is Colleen's third season with our club.  Colleen works primarily with the Bronze Team where her swimming expertise has been invaluable. 

Laura Schaefer, Silver 1 & Bronze Team Coach - lschaefer01@aurora.edu

Laura began her swimming career with Bill on Westwind Wahoos before joining the Bullets.   Laura swam for Rosary HS and was a captain her senior season..  She began coaching in 2003 for the Geneva River Rats, primarily working with their 8&U swimmers.  Laura is currently a Junior at Aurora University and is pursuing a degree in Education.  Laura works with the Bronze Team as well as assisting with the Rosary HS Team.  Laura's knowledge of the sport has been a welcome addition to our younger athletes.  This will be Laura's second season with the Bullets Coaching Staff.

Kyle Capen, Senior Team, Swim Lessons Director - shadysig@hotmail.com

Kyle has been assisting with the Senior program for the past three years.  He was a a HS All-American at Naperville North HS and swam for the Bullets during his HS years.  Kyle swam at the varsity level for Washington University in St. Louis.  Kyle also has coached with Bill at Marmion Military Academy  for the past three years.  Kyle has worked with all levels of swimmers from beginning to the elite level.

Chris Colburn, Masters Team Coach - chriscolburn@gmail.com

Chris joins the Bullets Masters group for the first time in 2006.  He has been involved in swimming since 1980 and coaching since 1990.  A former Junior Nationals qualifier (North Baltimore) and prep school (Loyola Blakefield) and NCAA Divison III (Williams College) All-American, Chris has been swimming Masters since 1993.  Prior to his tenure at Bullets, he has worked with 6 different masters programs in Delaware, Massachusetts, and Illinois, and has also served as head coach at North Central College and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA).  Chris has worked with swimmers of all ages and ability levels, and has done some extensive research on breaststroke and quality-based training for adults.  When not on the pool deck or in the pool himself, Chris works as an IT engineer at IMSA.

Robin Schalz, Co-Owner

Robin started her career at her alma mater, West Chicago HS working with their age group team. Many of the swimmers that led the Wildcats to their 3rd place finish in the 1992 High School State Meet started their swimming careers with Robin.

Robin accepted the Head Age Group Coach position at the Aurora YMCA (1989-1994). While there, her swimmers broke nearly every age group record on the books. She also led the team to top five state finishes each year she was with the team.

Since 1994, Robin has been at The Academy Bullets Swim Club where she has developed some of the top swimmers in Illinois and has led the age group team to 6 top 10 finishes at the Junior Olympics.

Robin was also the freshman-sophomore coach for Rosary HS where she led the Beads to all three of their freshman-sophomore conference titles.