About — MEMO Swim Team

Your newest MEMO coaches:

Adrien Downey

John MacDonald

Founded in 2011

MEMO is a (very) small local business

And MEMO is a swimming family of friends, of all different ages, backgrounds and abilities.

Coached and founded by Marcia Benjamin, MEMO began in 2011. In 2021 daughter Miriam came onboard to assist; in 2023 we gained John MacDonald and Adrien Downey.

Marcia Benjamin

Coached swimming since 1987, including the following levels: HS coach at Las Lomas and Holy Names High Schools; summer rec coach; Assistant Coach at San Francisco State University; Head Coach at Laney College; Physical Education Instructor at Laney/Merritt Colleges since 1992. Masters Coach at MEMO since 2011.

Proud Cal grad (Biophysics); MA with honors, St. Mary’s College (Sports Administration). ASCA Life Member, Level 3. USMS Coach, Level 4. Peggy Lucchese Memorial Award from Pacific Masters Swimming, 2002 and 2017. Pacific Masters Swimming Coach of the Year, 2014. Kerry O’Brien Coaches Award, 2013. Dorothy Donnelly USMS Service Award, 2006. Pacific Masters Distinguished Service Award, 1998. Frequent speaker at clinics, presentations, and seminars. Numerous publications.

Coach of the 2021 USMS Club of the Year! USMS Individual National Champion, 3X; Pacific Masters Swimmer of the Year, 1992. Pacific Masters LCM record holder, 3X; Pacific Masters Swimming High Point Award Winner, 2X; Pacific Masters Open Water Season Champion, 2X; USMS Pool All American, 2X; Long Distance All American, 1993; USMS Relay All American, 6X; All American, Laney College, 5X. Unbelievably, still the Laney College Record Holder in the 500 freestyle.

USMS National Committee member (Legislation; previously Awards and Recognition; Open Water; History and Archives; Long Distance); Pacific Masters Board Member. Open Water Points Awards.

60 Top Ten Individual swims; 56 Relay Top Ten times.

Miriam Benjamin

Swimming career:

Walnut Creek Aquabears (14 years); University of Chicago (2014-1016); Kings College London (2016-2017)

Sectionals qualifier, Open Water Nationals qualifier (2012, 2013); NCS semi-finalist; North American Challenge Cup team selection; Western Zone team selection, high point winner, and 400m freestyle champion

Coaches Award, University of Chicago; MVP high school

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Coaching career:

Lead coach of Junior and Navy groups at Albany Armada (2019-present); sent swimmers to Pacific Zone All-Stars and to numerous D3 colleges. Introduced Open Water swimming to Albany Armada. Selected as All Star coach for Pacific. Frequent Meet Director.