Coach Mo

Head Coach and Administrator

Monique Salles-Cunha van Gils comes from a coaching family that has helped produce Top 16 in the Nation swimmers, Olympic Gold Medalists, and World Record holders. Monique began her swimming career at a young age and continued it through college. In high school, at Fletcher, she was Valedictorian, All-American Scholar-Athlete, all-conference, all district and a State Finalist. She swam for two Division One programs in college, Duke University and University of North Florida. At UNF she had the longest-standing school record in the 100 breaststroke until she coached her own swimmer to break it, and she placed in the top 3 at conference in the 100 breaststroke.  Her wealth of knowledge and experience from her business degrees and Aquatic director background will certainly add to the enrichment of our swimmers.

Coach "Mo" started coaching the Queens's Harbor Wahoo's in 1998 where she developed children from the age of 4.  One such swimmer, Ryan Murphy, who started with Coach Mo at the age of 4 in the summer league is now dominating Worlds acknowledged the Salles Cunha family's knowledge of proper stroke technique in an interview with Florida Swim Network. While continuing to coach at Queen's Harbor, during the year she joined the coaching staff at North Florida Swimming, where she continued to instill proper stroke technique. From 2011-2013, Monique was the Assistant Coach for the University of North Florida's Women's Swim Team and helped her athletes achieve cuts for the Canadian Olympic Trials and place top three in the finals and CCSA. Monique has coached all levels of swimmers from teaching toddlers how to swim, age group swimmers, high school swimming, to masters (adult) swimmers.  She is excited to return to the coaching world at her childhood BAC and Fletcher pool!

Coach Jen

Assistant Head Coach

As a swimmer Coach Jen swam with two Hall of Fame coaches where she was a National Record Holder with Coach Sakamoto in Hawaii. In addition, she qualified for Olympic Trials under Coach Peter Daland of Los Angeles Athletic Club and USC. With 38 years of coaching experience she has had multiple nationally ranked swimmers, Olympic trial qualifiers, and many NCAA scholarship swimmers. In California, she developed Anthony Ervin as an age group swimmer who went on to win gold at the Olympics. She is the stroke technician that focuses on efficiency and speed. Swimmers from all over North East Florida come to Coach Jen for her expertise. 

Check out her full story on youtube: Swim Coaching Legend's Series: Jennifer Salles-Cunha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuzCQ5rSZ-w

Coach Jen does not like to take photos, so until we get her to agree for some updated ones.  Here is a blast from the past with Coach Andre and Coach Lucas (Quicksilver Swimming and Quicksilver-Santa Cruz) with the Murphy Family from our coaching days at Queen's Harbour Country Club's Wahoo Summer League Team.

Coach Lucas

Administrator & Advisor

2016 and 2017 Pacific Swimming Coach of the Year nominee. 2017and 2018 ASCA Coach of the Year nominee. 2022 ASCA Impact Coach of the Year nominee.  Lucas has coached Olympic Trialists and champions at the Jr. Olympic, Farwestern, Sectional, and Futures level. He is part of a coaching family that had a part in coaching two olympic gold medalists. He has coached a range of swimming abilities from beginning to Olympic Trials swimmers. 

Lucas' own accomplishments have been: Top 10 placing at Masters Nationals, 8 Time Florida State Finalist, 4 Individual Finals, Masters competitor and Multiple Event Winner, Jr. Olympic champion. He has 6 years of ocean lifeguarding experience, placing 2nd in the Swim, Paddle, Run at the East Coast Regional Lifeguarding Championship. He has also participated and placed top 10 in multiple open water swims. 

Lucas has a patient and relaxed coaching style that motivates each individual to rise to their own best, paired with a relentless focus on excellent technique.

Education: Lucas has a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from SDSU, a Master's Degree in Recreation and Sports Performance, with an emphasis in Coaching from Ohio University and is currently working on his Doctorate at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.