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FOUNDERS: RAY MITCHELL AND DIANA DAYMOND


RAY MITCHELL        

  • Founder: College Swim Recruiting:  2009
  • Director Terrapins Swim Team 1989 – present
  • Terrapins Head Coach 1989 - 2008

 Ray has coached for 33 years at all levels of competitive swimming; USA Swimming, High School, Collegiate and summer league. He formed the Terrapins Swim team in 1989. Ray was the USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year for 1998, 1999 and 2003 and the Pacific Swimming Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2003. He is the only coach in the history of USA Swimming to be awarded the Developmental Coach of the Year 3 times. He has qualified more swimmers to the USA National Junior team than any other coach in US history. He has coached National Champions Kate Dwelley, Lauren Rogers, Laura Davis and Natalie Coughlin. His swimmers have qualified for USA Swimming National “A” and “B” teams, World Championships, Pan Am games, World University Games, Pan Pacific Games and Goodwill Games teams. Since 1989 his teams have racked up over 30 top ten finishes at the USA Junior and Senior National levels, winning National titles in 1997 and 2000. His swimmers have also broke  numerous Regional, National and American Records.

 Ray has developed over 150 High School All-Americans, over 300 NAG ranked swimmers and many National and Olympic trial finalists. He has served as the Head Women’s coach for the USA National Junior team, coached numerous USA World Cup teams and also served on the USA Swimming Club Excellence task force and the Athlete Tracking task force.

 Ray has also spent over 30 years assisting swimmers with their collegiate aspirations and helping them gain admissions to the finest Universities in the USA. Ray’s swimmers have attended Stanford, UC Berkeley, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Fordham, Syracuse, USC and many other top schools. Ray personally knows most top USA Collegiate coaches and his swimmers have been top recruits by many of these great USA coaches. 

 Ray helps coach the Terrapins National Group  during the summer months and administrates the club’s  business affairs. Ray is currently on the USA Swimming National coaching staff.  He and his wife Cindy have a 11 year old son, Chase.


Diana Daymond

  • Founder: College Swim Recruiting 2009
  • Founder: Diana Daymond College Admission Advising 2007
  • Head Coach: Hong Kong Island Stingrays 1997-2003
  • Head Coach: Jakarta Aquadragons: 1990-1994

Diana has been deeply involved in competitive swimming for over 40 years as a swimmer, coach and swimming parent. Drawing on her vast aquatic experience  in combination with almost 30  years spent living and working overseas Diana founded College Swim Recruiting after mentoring a number of International swimmers to successful applications to their dream swimming schools such as Harvard, Princeton and UC Berkeley.

As a teenager Diana was a Nationally ranked butterflyer, qualifying for Olympic Trials, multiple National Championships and the Collegiate National Championships representing UC Davis.  She has also held Chilean  and USA Masters National Records.  After graduation from US Berkeley with a degree in developmental Psychology, Diana went on to study Architecture at MIT. Diana guided her own children in the college admission process which found them matriculating and swimming at Wellesley, Princeton and Columbia.

While practicing as an architect, designer and printmaker Diana continued to work with youth of all ages in museum education and in the pool with a particular passion for inspiring her high school swimmers.  Dangling the goal of a college swimming career proved to be a great motivator. Using knowledge gained as an MIT interviewer and as a student of admission practices, Diana coached her swimmers in the complete application process to acceptances at top Ivy League schools and other highly selective colleges. With a growing reputation,  her college admission advising business was born.

Diana advises students with a wide range of interests, academic levels and backgrounds but has unique knowledge of the admission process for artists, engineers, swimmers and other athletes. Successful applicants often showcase a special talent or passion. Guiding students to discover and demonstrate their passions is Diana's super strength. Artists must compile an impressive portfolio and recruited athletes need to perform at a very high level then campaign to capture  the attention of coaches. All applicants need to meet a colleges academic expectations and put together an impressive application.

For recruits,  expertise came through working closely with  elite coaches in California. Diana integrated this range of  experience to  develop her signature program which combines the process  of college  athletic recruiting with the demanding requirements of selective schools. Success continued with the admission of  dozens of students in some of the very best academic and swimming schools.

Many of Diana's students have been based overseas learning of Diana's placement success and expertise during her almost thirty years living abroad in Chile, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.  Her expatriate experience  allows Diana to bring deep knowledge when guiding international students or American high schoolers based over seas. Diana is now back home in Northern California continuing to counsel students by internet or in person. For all her students, Diana brings a passion to advising where the quality of the process and personal growth  is as important as the outcome.

Diana is a dedicated student of admission trends as the founder of Diana Daymond College Admission Advising. She is constantly updating her knowledge of new and changing admission practices such as course  and testing requirements, campus and athletic updates, financial aid and work experience opportunities. Diana's degree in psychology is always evident in her prioritizing a students mental heath, happiness and personal growth. Diana is currently gaining the latest knowledge and guidance skills through enrollment in the UC Berkeley Extension Program for Collage Admission and Career Guidance.

When not advising high schoolers you will find Diana still racing in the pool or prowling museums, leading book groups  and creating her art.

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