Jess Wilkie appointed new Head Age Group Coach

Jess Wilkie has been appointed to the position of Head Age Group Coach for PSC and will commence her role in September 2016.

Jess previously held the position of Junior Age Group Coach at Edinburgh based club, Warrender Baths. From 2013-2015 Jess was the Intermediate lead coach for Portobello SC also based in Edinburgh. Jess is a graduate from Edinburgh Napier University having read Sport & Exercise Science.

Commenting on her appointment, Jess said: I am looking forward to commencing my position of Head Age Group coach at Preston Swim Club in the coming season. In 2015-16 I coached the Junior Age Group squad at Warrender Baths Club, Edinburgh to National Age Group finals. Prior to that I coached at Portobello ASC, Edinburgh in seasons 2013-14 and 2014-15. I have also been lucky enough to coach at the BEST Centre, Mallorca for the past two years in the summer months, working with a variety of swimmers.

Coaching has followed on from a successful career as a swimmer. Starting at Heart of Midlothian ASC at the age of 10 and then moving on to the University of Edinburgh in 2011. In 2012 I was Scottish Age Group champion and Scottish Schools champion in the 100 free.

I have recently graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science following on from a diploma in Sports Coaching.

Samir Ahmed, Head Coach at Preston SC, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Jess to the team and look forward to working with her. I expect she will use the great experience she has accumulated with her previous clubs, which has helped her develop in to a Coach that clearly shows a lot of potential to deliver improved performances for us in the pool.”

The primary coaching role for Jess will be to focus on leading our A1 and A2 squads. Our existing team of age group coaches will assist Jess. This is a really exciting time for our age group swimmers as the club has had one of its most successful seasons at National level and will look to use that as fuel to inspire and motivate our next generation of aspiring champions.