Coaches

Patty Balch

Patty is the swim team's Assistant Coach. The 2008 swim season is her first year coaching at Torrey Pines. She also coaches the JV levels.

Patty graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a biology degree, where she swam for three years. After her first degree, Patty went onto Kalamazoo College for her secondary teaching certificate. Using this, she taught high school biology and coached swimming. For four years, Patty coached The Woodlands Swim Team, near Houston Texas. For the past five years, she has worked as a swim instructor and substitute swim coach at the Pacific Athletic Club in San Diego.

Please welcome Patty to the TPHS coaching staff.


Richard Contreras Richard Contreras is the Head Coach of the Torrey Pines Swim Team. He has been coaching the Torrey Pines team since 1996, and the head coach since 2003. He has been selected as CIF Division I coach of the year three times. Contreras graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a degree in history. Richard Contreras was a two-year starter on the Sierra College water polo team earning all league honors as a sophmore. He earned All League honors in the 200 Butterfly as a member of the Sierra College swim team.
Patty Balch Patty is the swim team's Assistant Coach. The 2008 swim season is her first year coaching at Torrey Pines. She also coaches the JV levels. Patty graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a biology degree, where she swam for three years. After her first degree, Patty went onto Kalamazoo College for her secondary teaching certificate. Using this, she taught high school biology and coached swimming. For four years, Patty coached The Woodlands Swim Team, near Houston Texas. For the past five years, she has worked as a swim instructor and substitute swim coach at the Pacific Athletic Club in San Diego. Please welcome Patty to the TPHS coaching staff.
Cherie Vivona