Staff

Michelle Sanchez is one of CAT's Senior Prep coaches. She has been coaching for 11 years but started with CAT in January 2022. She has been swimming for over 20 years, starting with her summer team the Secaucus Seahawks at 5 years old, eventually moving to Stevens Sharks in Hoboken and finally to Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics in Manhattan. She swam until she graduated high school from Immaculate Heart Academy and traded her suit for some heavy weights and powerlifting during her undergraduate studies in Pittsburgh. A lifelong learner, Michelle earned her BS in biology, MS in kinesiology, and Ph.D. in health and exercise science with the goal of educating and working with people to improve their health and overall quality of life. She strives to educate her swimmers on the importance of total health with the goal of helping swimmers experience genuine enjoyment and fulfillment in the sport so they continue swimming in the long run. She has coached swimmers at all levels, from learn-to-swim lessons to Futures qualifiers. 

Michelle considers herself a jack of all trades, always looking to learn a new skill or gain some new experiences through adventures, classes, exploration, and research. She plays 20 different musical instruments, can fly planes, sail motorboats and sailboats, modify and maintain cars, loves to cook, and will try anything twice. When she's not at the pool, you can find Michelle exploring with Moana, her Portuguese Water Dog, playing music, catching up on anime, or reading. 

If you ever need to find Michelle at a meet, look for the cowboy hat and the socks!