“Building Champions and Strengthening Community” is the driving passion behind the City of Plano Swimmers (COPS). Since 1971, COPS has been a staple in the North Texas community as a premier swim club. As one of the oldest and most historic swim clubs in the state of Texas, COPS was established as a competitive youth swim team but has evolved throughout the years to offer numerous programs to reach all levels of swimmers. At the core of the organization, COPS is dedicated to fostering excellence in swimming through technique, training, character development, and fun.

City of Plano Swimmers was formed because a group of parents were interested in supporting competitive swimming in their hometown. As a non-profit organization, COPS launched what would develop into one of the top swim clubs in the DFW area. COPS’ first head coach was Lee Wilson. Coach Wilson led the team with a tremendous desire to provide the best training to his swimmers that he could. He was followed by Terry Warner who led the team to several team championships. Experiencing growth, in 1978 the team hired Chris MacCurdy as head age group coach. Later, he become the head coach for the team. Coach MacCurdy led the team to national prominence in the ‘80s and ‘90s, with numerous state and national individual and team champions. COPS was now recognized as a prominent swim club on the national level.

Steve Mateer joined the team in the ‘90s.  As the head age group coach his teams produced numerous TAGS Champions. COPS was identified within the state of Texas as the competitive team to follow. Coach Mateer later became the head coach of the team. He increased the size of the team and its presence at TAGS, Juniors, Seniors, and Olympic Trials.

In the 2000s Coach Ted Carson was promoted from head age group coach to head coach. He would continue to build the program until his retirement in 2023. Under Coach Carson's directions COPS produced junior and senior nationally-ranked athletes as well as Olympic Trial qualifiers. Three national age group records were broken and three swimmers were selected for the National Junior Team and one for the Canadian National Junior Team. Coach Carson is also credited with having the vision to expand COPS to encourage swimming at a younger more novice level. In 2015 he founded the COPS Swim Academy for beginner swimmers. The Swim Academy is a quality learn-to-swim program that naturally feeds the competitive team, ensuring the growth and development of the team.

After Coach Carson’s retirement, Head Coach Greg Davis was tapped to continue the tradition of success and development of champions in and out of the pool. He has quickly set the tone for “pride in the past” and a “vision for the future.”

COPS is also home of the legendary swim meet “Greater Southwest,” which has been an on-going championship meet since 1982 in the DFW area. The meet boasts numerous teams attending from various states across the United States, drawing in highly competitive teams from Arkansas, California, Washington DC and Florida. Having the opportunity to compete in this championship-caliber swim meet is a rite of passage. The competition is steep, the intensity is contagious and the quest to win an armadillo is never ending.

THE FUTURE

In 2023, the COPS’ Board of Directors promoted Barbara Roselli as executive director of the City of Plano Swimmers. Mrs. Roselli served the team through the tenure of the three previous head coaches. With her leadership, the team is bringing to fruition a long shared dream for a dedicated COPS swim facility. COPS and the City of Plano are active partners and an example on how to work together to provide a comprehensive swim program to all children within the city. The COPS Center for Performance Swimming is that next step and is currently under construction. This one-of-a-kind 30,000 square foot facility will house four temperature-controlled pools and amenities to serve the swimming community. The COPS’ new facility will house the competitive team, the COPS Swim Academy, recreational programs, and adult fitness and wellness programs; a true collaboration of aquatic enthusiasts.