Coaches

Joey Fitzgerald – Head Coach  

Joey is returning for his 3rd season with the Tigersharks. He is an art teacher at Dalton High School, as well as the assistant swim coach.  

Joey began swimming with the Smyrna swim team where he was a champion diver as well.  He also swam with the Cobb Stingrays from 1986-1991.  

Joey's coaching experience began as an assistant coach with the Milford Chase summer swim team from 1990-1992.  He was the head coach for Milford Chase from 1993-1995, and he coached the Osborne High School swim team from 1999-2001.  

Joey is a 1998 graduate of the University of Georgia and taught in Cobb county for 3 years.  He worked a couple of years with YoungLife before joining the Dalton faculty.

Ashley Patrick – Assistant Coach  

Ashley Patrick is a sophomore majoring in Pre-pharmacy at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.  She graduated 6th in her class at Ringgold High School in 2004.  During high school, Ashley ran track, cross country, and played on the school soccer team. She volunteered at Hutcheson Medical Center and was involved in the Beta Club, FCA, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and the Y-Club.  

Ashley swam with the Tigersharks for the previous 6 seasons, and this will be her fourth year coaching the younger swimmers.  

Andrea Clifford – Assistant Coach  

Andrea Clifford is a Junior at Girls Preparatory School where she is on the Dean's list with a 4.25 GPA and a member of the National Honor Society.  She is originally from Buffalo, New York and moved to Chattanooga in 1996.  

Andrea began swimming competitively at the age of 8 and currently swims for GPS and Scenic City Aquatic Club.  She is a two time All American and currently holds 2 City Meet Records in the 100 IM and 50 Butterfly. She also holds a few Ringgold Tigershark records.  

Andrea is a certified swim instructor with Swim America and is looking forward to her second season coaching the AWESOME Ringgold Tigersharks.