Coach Brian Smith has more than 30 years of coaching experience across all levels of competitive swimming. Prior to joining the Hurricanes, Coach Brian spent 16 seasons at the University of Georgia and served as Associate Head Coach for ten years  During his time with UGA, he was instrumental in shaping the careers of numerous elite swimmers. He made significant contributions at Georgia, particularly in coaching sprinters. He served as the primary coach for numerous Georgia recordholders, including Michael Trice (50 and 100 freestyle, relays), Dillon Downing (50 and 100 freestyle, relays), Camden Murphy (100 butterfly, relays), Michael Arnold (50 freestyle, relays), Doug Reynolds (100 butterfly, relays), Taylor Dale (100 backstroke, relays), Olivia Smoliga (50 and 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, relays), Chelsea Britt (100 butterfly, relay), Chantal Van Landeghem (relays), and Veronica Burchill (relay).  He also helped the Women’s team achieve six straight SEC Championship titles from 2010-2016, and three NCAA National Championship titles in 2013, 2014, 2016. He helped secure the team’s twelve top ten NCAA team finishes, including three of the four Men's best program finishes ever.

While serving as the recruiting coordinator for Georgia Swim/Dive, Coach Smith consistently brought top-tier talent to Athens. Notably, in 2019, both the men’s and women’s freshman classes were ranked in the top five nationally, with six freshmen earning CSCAA All-America honors. His efforts were pivotal in securing Olympians Olivia Smoliga, Javier Acevedo and Nic Fink, along with other notable swimmers including Camden Murphy, Dakota Luther, Reese Branzell, and Columbus High School graduate and All-American, Jessica Graber.  

Coach Brian served as a USA Swimming National Team coach from 2014 to 2021 and served as the United States women's head coach at the 2018 Short Course World Championships in China, and as an assistant coach at the 2016 Short Course World Championships in Canada and the 2017 World University Games in Taiwan. Notably, he served as primary coach for National Team athletes Anne Marie Botek, Maddie Locus, Taylor Dale, and Olivia Smoliga.  

Coach Brian's coaching journey began in 1991 at Arizona State, where he worked as a graduate assistant and assistant coach. His subsequent roles at Rice University, FAST in Montana, Northern Arizona University, and Ohio University further honed his skills and contributed to his reputation as a leading coach in the swimming community.  

A 1990 graduate of Clark University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Smith also holds a master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Ohio University. 

Kayla has been coaching for the Hurricanes since 2015 and loves being on deck with the swimmers. She is passionate about swimming and was the Captain of her swim team in high school.  Kayla is a Level 2 Coach and especially enjoys working with age group and developmental swimmers. Kayla serves as the coach for our Cat 3 and Cat 5 athletes.

Melissa Johnson joins the Columbus Hurricanes swimming program after relocating from Iowa with her family where she has coached for the past 8 years. Melissa swam competitively from the age of 4 through her freshman year of college, when an injury pulled her out of swimming. She began coaching in Florida in 1998, while she was in college at the University of South Florida. After graduating from college in 2002, Melissa took a break from coaching until she moved to Iowa in 2011. Melissa has worked the past 8 years as an age group coach, working primarily with athletes 14 & under who regularly competed in state regional level championships. Melissa's has coached multiple medal winners at the age group championship meet level in both Florida and Iowa.

Melissa spends her summers working as an Aquatics Director for a youth camp in the mountains of Northeast Georgia where she manages and oversees all aquatic activities and aquatic staff for the camp. Melissa is also a certified lifeguard instructor and looks forward to having opportunities locally to teach and inspire future aquatics staff members. Melissa now lives in Midland with her husband and 4 daughters. She is a home-schooling mom to her three younger children, while her oldest is an adult and no longer in school. Melissa is passionate about fundraising and advocating for childhood cancer research after having one of her daughters go through treatment. She enjoys reading, bike riding and spending time with her daughters and husband. 

Melissa is excited to join the Columbus Hurricanes and looks forward to many years of memories with the swimmers and families here in Columbus.

Emmie is from Alaska and swam in college at Boise State University. She graduated in 2020 with a Bachelors in Biology and Chemistry.  She’s been very passionate for the sport from coaching at her club team back in Alaska to teaching swim lessons the last 4 years while in college. At BSU she swam 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly and was on the relays at conference. She is on the 200 medley relay team that holds the school record at BSU. 

Besides swimming , Emmie loves the outdoors, whether it’s camping, fishing, biking or just laying at the beach. Also a major Green Bay Packers fan, so if anyone wants to talk sports, she’s ready for it! She’s so excited to return to coaching with the Hurricanes!