Coaching Staff

Piankhi Gibson

Head Coach

Head Coach and Executive Director, Piankhi Gibson brings creativity and innovation to the deck. As he often says, “we play swimming.” An Oakland native who learned to swim through Oakland Parks Recreation and Youth Development (OPRYD or OPR) programs; focus and drive took him out of Oakland to train with the Concord Terrapins and Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks. A 13- time All-American and US Open qualifier concluded a successful high school career, earning a scholarship to swim for Brett Hawke at Auburn University, where he pioneered the revolutionary aquatic training techniques he uses today–techniques that are sought after by swimmers (and other athletes) at the highest levels of sport.

In addition to extensive experience in the recreational, amateur and professional arenas, his Train to Race philosophy has helped teams and athletes win local, high school championships, earn All-Pro honors, Olympic and Paralympic medals.



Our coach is most proud to have been an active member of the Make a Splash Foundation for almost two decades and has supported numerous grass roots, recreational initiatives alongside his. sports technology pioneering, touting a profile with collaborations ranging from the Blue Mind Initiative, New Orleans Recreational Department to Finis, Inc.

A champion of  equity and inclusion - Piankhi is an advocate for diversity in sport. He believes sport is the last theatre of cultural chivalry, in so he actively provides opportunities for athletes of all backgrounds to harness the power of water for peak performance.