Coach Rachel Ellis is new to EDS.
She is from Austin, Texas and attended John B. Connelly High School in Austin and California State University, Bakersfield in Bakersfield. Growing up she was a Gymnast, played Volleyball, swam on Swim Teams, threw Shot Put and Discuss, rowed Crew and was a Percussionist who marched Snare. As a competitive swimmer, she was a sprinter with the main focus on Backstroke and Butterfly.  

She was Permanently Medically Retired from the US Army in September 2012 after eight years of service and three deployments to Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq with an injured hip and nerve damage in her left leg.  After being on bedrest for three years her doctor told her about the Wounded Warrior Swim Team at Fort Gordon.  She started working out with Coach Fred Lamback and started competing in Disability Swim Meets and became the team’s “Ringer”.   She has competed in the Fred Lamback Disability Swim Meet, The Wounded Warrior Games, The Roosevelt Games and the Dixie Games.  She usually swims around 2.5 - 3 miles at practice and is currently doing Lap Swimming, Open Water Long Distance Swimming, Yoga, and Boxing.

She has lots of coaching experiences and in 2015 she started coaching with ASL and focusing on the developmental groups.  She was a Head Coach at the Riverwood pool for ASL's Red Group, Head Coach at the Augusta Aquatic Center for ASL's Blue Group, Head Coach for the Lakeside High School Swim Team and a Head Coach for the Georgia's Zone Swim Team.

Currently she is the Head Coach for the Petersburg Racquet Club Summer League Swim Team, the Head Coach for the US Masters Swim Team and currently travels to all three ASL's pools coaching all the different groups. She has worked with Fred Lamback who runs swim programs for the mentally and/or physically disabled as well as for Wounded Warriors.  In addition, Coach Ellis and Coach Lamback have helped train athletes in the Tri-Augusta Triathlon Club for the swim portion.  She loves kids and has a passion for helping others.  She is very excited and honored to be a part of the EDS Panther Nation and looking forward to coaching our young swimmers and watching their progression and passion grow for a sport she loves so dearly.