Ben Clark | Owner, Head Coach
Coach Ben has been involved in Cincinnati swimming as an athlete and coach for over 30 years, with most of the last two decades on deck for the Cincinnati Aquatic Club. He coached at every level of the program from 2004 to 2023, learning from and working alongside some of the highest quality teachers and trainers in the state. During his tenure, CAC achieved consecutive runner-up finishes at the Ohio Junior Olympics, back-to-back Small Team Championships in the late 2010’s, scores of team records and was an Ohio Age Group Coach of the Year nominee in 2016. Most recently he reestablished the Seahawks as a top 10 program in the state of Ohio.
In October of 2023, Coach Ben joined the City of Mason Manta Rays, learning from one of the most accomplished coaching staffs in the country. He worked alongside the award-winning Coach Trish Schoenlein to challenge swimmers, improve their strokes and skills, impart belief in the kids that they can do difficult things, and surprise themselves in positive ways.
Helping swimmers build foundational habits and make positive progressions from year-to-year is just as rewarding as coaching championship finalists, team record-breakers, and age group Sectional qualifiers. He believes in getting faster by getting better, and instills that in his swimmers, stressing significance over scoreboard. That aim of long-term development is woven through every set of every practice of every group he coaches. This puts his groups in position to stand out in their heats and perform at their best at the end of the season, including a state-high lifetime best percentage at the 2023 Junior Championship.
His path in the sport began as a swimmer at age 7 for Miami Hills (Go Dolphins), and he continued with the CAC Seahawks through 1998. There he was developed as a swimmer and a person by Coaches Benson Spurling and Kevin Rachal, and had the opportunity to contribute to state Junior Olympic and Senior team accomplishments, a 1995 CNCA national championship and an outstanding team culture.
Coach Ben is a graduate of St. Xavier High School, Ohio University, and Xavier University. When he is not on deck he enjoys reading, movies, board games, and spending time with his wife Megan, daughter Maren (10), and son Max (8).
MOST Leadership and Coaching Staff
Corey Dauw | Academy and Exemplar Coach
Coach Corey was introduced to the sport as a swimmer for Miami Hills Swim and Tennis Club and Milford High School and has been active in the swimming community ever since. After finishing school and several seasons leading his summer club, Corey began coaching year-round club swimming with the Milford Area Swim Team in 2005. During his 20 years with MAST he coached every level of the program from the entry level to Zone and Futures qualifiers. Additionally, Coach Corey spent eight years with the Milford High School swim team and oversaw three of the program’s four conference championships. Every season Coach Corey looks forward to helping swimmers develop to their fullest potential in and out of the water.
Carter Gaither | Academy 1 Lead
Above all else Coach Carter is a passionate ambassador for the sport. His most recent coaching experience has been with 8 & Under and he firmly believes the most experienced coaches should work with novice swimmers. He provides a foundation of technical skills and helps foster a love of the sport - two imperatives for success.
He swam competitively for 18 years, finishing his career and graduating from Boston University. Across that span he set dozens of team, league, and conference records. Post competition he continued his involvement in the sport through coaching. For 35+ years he has coached National Age Group top 25 qualifiers, Olympic Trials qualifiers, and champions at the local, state, national, and NCAA levels. He is excited to coach this winter and has a lot in store for the group!
Claire Mongenas | Academy and Exemplar Assistant
Coach Claire is a Mariemont alum and school record holder in the 100 Breaststroke. She began coaching with the Mariemont Aquatic Club in 2014 and worked primarily with the 11-12 age groups in her five years there. She stepped away in 2019 to start her own pastry and event planning business and is the proud owner of Claire’s Bakery. She and her husband Tim have two children, Gus (3) and Frankie (6 mos) and live right up the hill in Madeira.
Coach Claire works with the Academy 3 and Exemplar groups. She is also entering her second year as Head Coach of the Mariemont High School swim team, where she was recognized as the Boys Division II District Coach of the Year and Enquirer Coach of the Year in 2026.
Hannah Davis | Academy 3 and Exemplar Assistant Coach, Dryland coordinator
Coach Hannah got her start in the sport with the Milford Area Swim Team at age 11 under Coach Corey. She swam competitively through high school and at Wilmington College, where she graduated in 2021 with degrees in Exercise Science and Political Science. Hannah went on to receive a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Walsh University and is now a licensed OT working for several hospitals in the greater Cincinnati area.
Coach Hannah will be on deck with A3, E1 and E2 and is spearheading the creation of a team-wide dryland program. Her and her husband Freddy enjoy traveling, fitness, and playing with their shih-tzu.
Jax Painter | Academy 1 Assistant
Coach Jax is joining the staff in 2026 as an assistant coach for the A1 group. She swam competitively from age 5 to 19, and earned an athletic scholarship to Western Kentucky University. She coached summer club over the course of a decade, and returned to the pool deck the summer of 2026 for the Mariemont Summer Club. She believes swimming is the best sport to set kids up physically and mentally to be lifelong athletes. More than anything she values the friendships and connections she has made in the sport.
Coach Jax has three daughters and also teaches Pilates and yoga. Welcome, Coach Jax!