Paul Osborne
Head coach
Paul Osborne has been head coach at Celtic Dolphins since 2022 and served as assistant head coach prior to that.
Qualifications under his belt include level 2 swimming coach, level 2 open water coach and level 1 water polo coach. He brings this wealth of experience to every training session, keeping training fresh and engaging as he leads and coaches our Celtic Dolphin squads, and sometimes, helps to coach the Wales International women at Water Polo.
As well as a passion for developing and strengthening new generations of swimmers, Paul is still a keen swimmer himself. Paul still swims competitively and enjoys ultra endurance swimming, particularly in the beautiful waters of the Lake District where he competes every year.
David Hughes
As a former competitive swimmer with Swansea Valley and the City of Swansea, it’s wonderful to be able to help develop the next generation of swimmers at Celtic Dolphins and help them to achieve their ambitions.
As a level 2 Coach and Open Water coach, I love seeing the development of skills and confidence in the swimmers and seeing them achieve their potential.
Martin Butler
Martin started coaching with Celtic Dolphins as a parent volunteer in 2012. With boys of his own in swimming club and being an ex-Swansea Valley Club swimmer, he was keen to help out. Martin thoroughly enjoyed the experience so took it further to gain coaching and teaching qualifications.
Martin has since gone on to obtain multiple coaching qualifications and currently coaches groups within both the development and competitive squads at Celtic Dolphins.
Helping swimmers to achieve their potential can certainly be a challenge as a coach, but it’s a challenge Martin enjoys. ‘It’s incredibly rewarding, seeing the kids acquiring new skills and learning something new every swim session’.
Dean Morgan
Dean is a qualified swimming teacher, a Level 1 and Level 2 swim coach, and a qualified strength and conditioning trainer.
As a former competitive swimmer, Dean brings extensive experience and commitment to the club. His background as a Welsh Junior and Senior International swimmer gives him a strong understanding of the demands of high-level competition and swimmer development.
Dean’s coaching philosophy is built on the belief that every young swimmer has the potential to excel. He focuses on developing strong technical skills while encouraging a genuine passion for the sport. His holistic approach supports both the physical and mental well-being of his swimmers, helping them set personal goals, build discipline, and develop resilience.
Beyond the pool, Dean aims to instil values that benefits his athletes in all aspects of life. His commitment to developing talent, combined with his passion for swimming, is reflected in his dedication to helping each athlete progress and succeed both in and out of the water.
Faith Goodliffe
Faiths background is in swim teaching, supported by Level 1 and 2 teaching qualifications and over 12 years of experience as a swim teacher. Faith also holds a Level 1 Coaching qualification and a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science. She is currently undertaking a PhD in Sport and Exercise Science, with research focusing on physical activity in children. Faith has particular experience in supporting swimmers with additional needs, creating inclusive environments that enable every child to progress and enjoy sport.
Her undergraduate dissertation found that children who learn to swim in shallower pools often develop faster turning skills, highlighting the importance of early learning environments in technical development.
‘I coach because the culture at Celtic Dolphins is unlike anything I have experienced before; it represents what all clubs should aspire to. Having competed at the Swim Wales National Championships consistently for over a decade, and most recently at the World Masters Championships, I have spent much of my life in high-performance environments. What makes this club unique, and so refreshing, is its commitment to putting children’s well-being first. Here, the development of the athlete is a natural outcome of young people enjoying the process and embracing the challenge of pushing themselves’.
+ SWIM.REST.REPEAT.
Our friendly and encouraging approach to coaching, will meet you where you’re at in your swimming journey and get you competing before you know it.
