The team in the deep end.
Competitive swimmers, certified divers, and underwater athletes who've put in the hours. Every coach is trained in the full DEF methodology and committed to building water confidence from the very first session.
Matt Michalak
Founder of DEF Chicago and a certified free diver and scuba diver. Matt brings a taste of the ocean to the Midwest, leading every Sunday session at the UIC Natatorium with a focus on breath mastery, composure, and water confidence for athletes of every level.
Mel Robert
Competitive swimmer and CrossFit national-level competitor. Mel pairs elite conditioning with technical pool work, helping students build CO₂ tolerance, capacity, and the kind of relentless composure that wins both in the water and out.
Laura Soto
Lifelong competitive swimmer and underwater enthusiast. Laura coaches with the calm authority of someone who has lived in the pool — patient with first-timers, sharp with seasoned athletes, and obsessed with the technique that turns hesitation into confidence.
Augie Vullo
Active United States Coast Guard, open-water competitor, and underwater enthusiast. Augie brings real-world tactical aquatic experience to every session — the kind of training that prepares people not just to perform in the water, but to respond when it matters.
Ed Dolezal
Competitive swimmer with deep Illinois roots and a longtime love of the water. Ed pairs the discipline of high-level training with a coach's patience, helping athletes of every level get more comfortable, more efficient, and more confident underwater.