Coaches and Directors
Performance Group - Gold
Doug has dedicated his career to teaching and coaching youth athletics. After spending six years teaching and coaching in Kansas, Doug and his family moved to Parkville, Missouri, in 2004. Since then, he has been a valued teacher in the Park Hill School District for over 21 years.
Doug and his wife, Sarah, now reside in Platte City, Missouri, and have three children. Their son Rhett and his wife Kaleena live in Omaha, Nebraska; their son Caden and his wife Kylie live in Overland Park, Kansas; and their daughter Drew is a sophomore at the University of Arkansas.
Coach DeLay earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from McPherson College in Kansas and later obtained a master’s degree in Athletics and Activities Administration from William Woods University in Missouri.
Doug’s passion for swimming began at the age of 4, and he swam competitively through his teenage years. While he shifted his focus to playing and coaching basketball in college, his love for swimming resurfaced when his own children began competing. In 2016, Doug became the Head Coach of the Thousand Oaks Swim Team and has spent the past decade coaching the Otters. Additionally, he spent four years coaching boys’ and girls’ swimming at Platte County High School, where he helped foster a love of the sport among his athletes.
Outside of teaching and coaching, Doug enjoys spending time with his family and their three dogs. He also loves outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing, and traveling to destinations with warm weather and sandy beaches.
Performance Group - Silver
Danielle began teaching swim lessons in 2004 with the YMCA, working her way to the Park Hill Aquatic Center where she revised and expanded the swim lesson program to promote swimming as a lifelong skill. She oversees all aspects of those programs and the facility as the Aquatics Director. Danielle is also a certified Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor, and trained hundreds of lifeguards in the northland over the past 17 years.
Danielle joined the NLU coaching staff in 2008. She coached the Walnut Creek Creekers in 2009 where they placed 3rd for the small team division at Northland Conference Championships, their highest placing to date. She is our resident entries chair, record keeper, and has been running the timing system at the Northland Conference Championships since 2012. Some of her previous athletes went on to swim in college or are now coaching for NLU, including Emma, Lindsey, Logan, Claire, and Hannah.
- 2013 Missouri Valley Age Group Zones Coach (Topeka, KS)
- 2012 Missouri Valley Age Group Zones Coach (Columbus, IN)
Danielle ran Varsity track while at Park Hill High School and is still an active runner today. She earned her BA in English from UMKC in 2013.
In her spare time, Danielle enjoys cooking, reading, and playing Fortnite with Coach Sara and Logan. She has 2 dogs and 2 cats that keep her busy when she isn't at the pool.
Discovery, Journey, and Challenge
Sara swam her first race during a summer league swim meet in Carthage, MO at the age of 4. After that, she was hooked. She competed for the local YMCA, Jasper County Killer Whales, and NWAA before moving back to Southern California. In her time at Huntington Beach High School, she competed in swimming, track and field, and water polo. She was a state athlete, voted MVP multiple years, and was the varsity swim team captain her junior and senior year. She swam freshman and sophomore year of college for Drury University in Springfield,MO before an injury forced her to end swimming at a competitive level. She earned a bachelors degree in advertising and public relations with a minor in animal studies.
Sara taught swim lessons and spent time as a lifeguard during highschool. While at Drury, she coached the swim team at the YMCA and then moved over to Springfield Aquatics before heading back to California.
In her freetime, she is very active and enjoys anything outdoor related. She has 3 dogs and a cat. Sara is a huge sports fan, so she always has the football, baseball, or hockey game on! Sara is currently working towards a Psychology degree to eventually get her Masters. She is also training to swim the English Channel in June of 2026!
Discovery, Journey, and Challenge
Logan has been swimming for almost 20 years. He joined NLU at the age of 7 and went over to Club North in middle school where he stayed until freshman year. While in highschool, he was 4x state varsity swimmer at St. Pius. His main events included breaststroke and relays. He coached the St. Pius men's and women's swim teams for the 22-23 season. He is currently studying at Maple Woods and is undecided on a major.
Logan is lifeguard and Water Polo Instructor at the Park Hill Aquatic Center. Logan excels at stroke technique and relay starts. He coached our 2023 and 2024 ProAm team in Texas with great success.
In his freetime, Logan enjoys working out at the gym, playing basketball, fishing, golfing and skiing. He is resident shark expert and fun fact knower.
Discovery, Journey, and Challenge
Hannah swam for Hills of Walden summer team for 12 years and NLU 4 years. She swims for Park Hill South High School where she made State in 9th and 10th grade. She is currently a junior at PHS.
Hannah has been an athlete coach for Hills of Walden the last 4 years. She also teaches private swim lessons.
In her freetime, Hannah enjoys playing music. She plays the violin and viola in a few different orchestras.
Discovery, Journey, and Challenge
Maddie swam for NLU from ages 9-17. She focused on the 500 Freestyle while swimming for Park Hill High School. This is her first year coaching.
She works for the Aquatics Center as an instructor and assistant manager. Maddie is also a preschool teacher's assistant and teaches Sunday school at her church.
Maddie enjoys reading and coloring in her spare time.
Discovery, Journey, and Challenge
Lindsey swam for NLU for 8 years. She swam high school swim for Platte County High School. She made state every year and placed nurmerous times at varsity conference. Her favorite event was the 100 butterfly.
Lindsey also swam Northland conference for the Thoundsand Oaks Otters and Old Pike Sharks. She has also been teaching swim lessons since she was 16 years old. This will be Lindsey's 5th year coaching NLU.
She is currently finishing her Master's in dietetics at Mizzou. She hopes to become a registered dietitian!
Performance Group - Silver
Emma swam a summer at Mission Marlins before joining NLU where she spent 10 years. She was on the Park Hill Swim Team and competed at State twice. She swam for a semester at Simpson college before going to Iowa State Universtiy where she is currently studying marketing.
Emma swam long distance freestyle events, the 200 butterfly, and the 400 IM.
In her spare time, Emma enjoys reading and working out.
