Alto Swim Club hired five full-time coaches for the 2026-27 season, expanding its staff across age-group, senior and learn-to-swim programs.

The Palo Alto-based club announced the hires Wednesday, Sept. 16, naming Ashlyn Varga, Jack Smithson, Daniel Ramm, Ryan Burch and Julie Jacobs as the new additions. The five fill roles in competitive age-group coaching, senior-level training and the club's learn-to-swim program.

Smithson joins as assistant coach for Senior 1 and lead coach for Varsity. Smithson spent four years coaching at Sunkist Swim Team in Jackson, Mississippi, leading the 8-and-under and 11-12 age groups. Smithson also ran a free learn-to-swim program in Jackson for three years, teaching water safety to hundreds of children. A former swimmer at Washington University in St. Louis, Smithson earned Scholastic All-America honors.

Varga and Ramm both join as age-group coaches. Varga previously coached at South Valley Makos, Almaden Valley Athletic Club and Leigh High School. Ramm brings more than 10 years of coaching experience, including seven years at AVAC Swim School, and swam competitively at De Anza College.

Burch, also an age-group coach, served as head coach of the Sactown Tsunami Swim Team and assistant coach at Cosumnes River College. He has more than a decade of coaching experience.

Jacobs takes over as learn-to-swim and pre-competitive programs director. She previously led age-group coaching and operations at TC Falcon Swim Club and has prior coaching experience at Alto, making her a returning staff member. The club said Jacobs focuses on water safety and stroke fundamentals for young swimmers.

The hires follow a summer in which Alto placed third out of more than 70 teams at the 2026 Age Group Championships. The club also finished fifth at Summer Sectionals in Walnut, where the boys' team placed second overall.

Nine team records fell at those meets.

At the 2026 Long Course Far Western Championships, Alto swimmers set one Pacific Swimming record and five club records. SwimSwam reported Alto placed fourth in boys' team scoring at Far Westerns with 388 points.

The American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) named Alto to its Top 50 Age Group Teams list in 2025. Head Age Group Coach Richie Barth was named to ASCA's Top 25 Age Group Coaches of the Year that same year.