Coaches

 Meet our 2024-2025 Coaches! 

Tim Floyd - Head Coach

Profile:

• Teacher Edmonton Public School Board
• Head Water Polo Coach - Thunderbirds Water Polo Club
• National Level III Coaching Certification 
• Edmonton Master Swim Club: Canadian Gold Medal Champion 2015 & 2016
• 35 years of Water Polo Coaching experience

History/Accomplishments: 

• Founder/ Head Coach Thunderbirds Water Polo Club: 2004 - Present
• Water Polo Coach Edmonton Water Polo Club (Tsunami): 1988 - 2004 
• Introduced age group water polo in Edmonton with co-coach Nelson Lai
• Swim Coach Royal Glenora Swim Club - 1978-1986
• Founder/Swim Coach Huma Swim Club 1987-1991
• Swim Coach Ross Shep High School 1980-2012, the water polo team won the greatest number of City Championships, of all sport teams at Ross Shep, 2014 Champions (waterpolo was eliminated from all Edmonton school athletic programs in 2012)        
• Some past athletes:
  • Canadian Olympic Women’s Team - Jana Salat
  • Canadian Junior Women’s Team - Merin Oleschuk
  • Canadian Universaide Men’s Team - Luke Murtha
  • Numerous accomplished athletes on University scholarships or playing in Canada & USA

Lindy Justice - Edmonton Kinsmen Aquatic Centre Coaching Staff

Experience:
2019-2020 NCAA water polo player (athletic and academic scholarships)
Junior Olympics x 4 years: Santa Barbara 805 water polo team, 1 yr North Allegheny
Water polo player 2011-2020
Started playing water polo at 10 yrs old with Thunderbirds
ASSA competitive swimmer x 12 yrs
Alberta Water Polo referee x 3 yrs
3 rd year Thunderbirds water polo coach
ASSA competitive swim coach x 5 yrs

Academics and Awards:
2024 Graduate: University of Alberta: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University of Alberta: Faculty of Nursing: Honors
U-Sports Academic All Canadian award
University of Alberta Track and Field athlete x 2 years
McKendree University, Faculty of Science: President’s List: 4.0 GPA
Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society award
2020 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-Academic Award
2020 Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Women’s All-Academic Team Award
2019 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Scholarship
USA Water Polo Academic All American Award x 2 yrs
2019 Vimy Ridge Academy Female Athlete of the Year
2019 Edmonton Public School District Health and Wellness award
2018 Vimy Ridge Academy Female Athlete of the Year
Multisport Athlete:
2022 CALTAF track classic/Canadian Summer Games trials (gold: javelin)
2022 and 2021 Outdoor Track and Field Provincials (gold: javelin)
2017 and 2016: ASSA Top Female Provincial Swimmer award
2019 Junior Olympics 18U Water Polo: Silver Medalist
2019 Water Polo Canada U19 League Nationals: Silver Medalist
2018 Water Polo Canada Senior League Nationals: Silver Medalist
2017 Junior Olympics 16U Water Polo: Bronze Medalist
2015 Western Canadian Gold Medalist: U14 Water Polo (Thunderbirds)
2015 Western Canada Top Defensive Award
2015 Honorary Citizen of Calgary Award

Kendra Justice - Edmonton Kinsmen Aquatic Centre & Sherwood Park Satellite Program Coaching Staff

Experience:
Water polo player 2011-2024
Junior Olympics x 4 years: Santa Barbara 805 water polo team
Most recent NCL team: Vancouver Pacific Storm
Started playing water polo at 5 yrs old with Thunderbirds
ASSA competitive swimmer x 12 years
3 rd year Thunderbirds water polo coach
ASSA competitive swim coach x 2 yrs

Academics and awards:
University of Alberta: Faculty of Nursing
2024 graduate from Vimy Ridge Academy: Honours with Distinction
USA Water Polo Academic All American Award 4.0 GPA x 2 years
2024, 2023, 2022: Thunderbirds 18u MVP
2023, 2022: Thunderbirds 18u Offensive player of the year
2023 Vimy Ridge Academy CORE athlete of the year
2022 Vimy Ridge Academy Elite athlete of the year
2020 Vimy Ridge Academy Junior High athlete of the year

Multisport athlete:
2024 signed with University of Alberta: Track and Field team
2024 Bell Olympic trials/u20 Canadian nationals: u20 national javelin standard qualifier
2023 Legions u18 Canadian nationals: silver medalist (javelin)/Team Alberta
Canadian national medalist x 5 (javelin, shot put, weight throw)
Ranked #1 in Canada for javelin (u18: 2023, 2006: 2022)
2024 and 2023 Outdoor Track and Field Provincials (gold: javelin)
2024 ASAA high school provincials (gold/provincial record: javelin, silver: discus)
2023: Alberta Summer Games (gold/ASG provincial record: javelin, discus: gold)
Provincial gold medalist x 3 yrs: Thunderbirds water polo team

Gerilyn Yanew - Edmonton Terwillegar Recreation Centre Coaching Staff

Experience:
Thunderbirds water polo player x 4 yrs
7 th year Thunderbirds water polo coach
ASSA competitive swimmer x 2 yrs
ASSA competitive swim coach x 1yr
Water Polo Achievements:
AWPA Fall Provincials 2013 U14, gold
Alberta Open 2015 U14, silver
Western National Championships U14 2015, gold
Alberta Open 2016 U16, gold
Winter League Provincials U16 2016, gold
NCL Western National Championships U16 2016, silver

Education:
University of Alberta: Double majoring in History and Anthropology (4th year)

Interests:
Highland dance, Music (bagpipes/saxophone/singer), Art, Reading,
Spending time with friends, family and dog: Bowser

Elias Ferro - Edmonton Terwillegar Recreation Centre & Sherwood Park Satellite Program Coaching Staff

Experience:
Thunderbirds water polo club player 11 years
2nd year Thunderbirds water polo coach
Alberta Water Polo provincial medalist (multiple years)
ASSA competitive swimmer x 10 yrs (provincial medalist x multiple years)

Interests:
Hockey, Oilers watch parties, Spending time with friends

Kael Ferro - Edmonton Terwillegar Recreation Centre & Sherwood Park Satellite Program Coaching Staff

Experience:
Thunderbirds water polo player x 11 years
2nd year Thunderbirds water polo coach
Alberta Water Polo provincial medalist (multiple years)
ASSA competitive swimmer x 10 yrs (provincial medalist x multiple years)

Interests:
Basketball, Music, Coaching

Julianna Ferro - Edmonton Terwillegar Recreation Centre & Sherwood Park Satellite Program Coaching Staff

Tatum Ferro - Edmonton Terwillegar Recreation Centre & Sherwood Park Satellite Program Coaching Staff

Sport is ‘fuel’ for the soul;

 It should be available to everyone, regardless

Of their age, size or ability!

The love of sport needs to be shared;

Athletic ability, Respect, Team work, Confidence, Friendship

And a sense of community will follow.