Head Swim Coach
Dave Kraft is entering his 27th season as the Head Coach of the Mill Creek Towne (MCT) Marlins.
Coach Dave is a Montgomery County Swim League (MCSL) veteran and continues to enjoy the fun of the summer league experience after over 40 years around the pool. He is proud of what we have built here at MCT. The Marlins have been very successful under his leadership, with many winning seasons, over 240 individuals and over 100 relays qualifying for MCSL All-Stars. But most importantly, he enjoys continuing the Marlin Spirit!
Prior to MCT, Dave swam for 11 years and coached for three more at Forest Knolls Swim Club in Silver Spring, and swam collegiately for Washington College. In addition to coaching at MCT, Dave is also the National Training Group Coach at Rockville Montgomery Swim Club – Olney (RMSC), where he has coached since 1996.
Over the years, Coach Dave's athletes have recorded over 400 nationally-ranked swims and over 140 1st place finishes at Age Group Championships. His swimmers have broken 87 Potomac Valley Swimming (PVS) records and two National Age Group records. Dave's RMSC swimmers have excelled at the collegiate level, with over 100 going on to compete for college teams (including 10 from MCT). They have also been successful nationally, with six swimmers competing at each of the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials (two from MCT), three at the 2021 Trials, and two more (including one more from MCT) at the 2024 Trials.
Dave won the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) PVS Age Group Coach of the Year Award in 2005, and became the first two-time recipient of the Award in 2009. Dave was inducted in the MCSL Hall of Fame in 2022.
When he’s not around the pool, Coach Dave teaches Calculus and Pre-calculus at Magruder High School. In his time away from work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife Kelly and daughters and MCT swimmers Amanda and Allison.
Kraft family photo captured at Coach Dave's induction into the MCSL Hall of Fame on July 12, 2022
Assistant Swim Coach
Welcome Back to the Creek Coach Julia!
Coach Julia Crocker is a Marlin Graduate from the Summer of 2018. Julia's swim journey began as an 8 & Under in 2008 on the Mill Creek Towne pool deck. Julia then returned every Summer following. Julia swam alongside siblings Jonathan and Jaynna as well as cousins Katie and Sarah. Each summer included growing lifelong friendships, making unforgettable memories, and getting the occasional best time.
Julia attended Good Counsel High School and then made way down to North Carolina to attend Campbell University from 2017-2021 graduating with a degree in Kinesiology. While at Campbell University, Julia played basketball for the Fighting Camels. She currently works for ATI Physical Therapy and coaches RMSC groups and clinics at Olney Indoor.
Although Julia's athletic career was spent mostly on the Basketball Court, her enthusiasm remained with swimming. Julia began coaching at the Montgomery County Stroke and Turn Clinic on Sunday nights while in High School. Upon returning to Maryland in 2021, she returned to coaching for the Stroke and Turn Clinic as well as coaching SwiMontgomery Clinics. Clinic coaching provided an opportunity to coach swimmers of all ages and skill levels. In 2022 Julia began coaching for Rockville Montgomery Swim Club-Olney. Julia worked with various groups ranging from the Minis', Junior, and Senior groups. Julia now works primarily with the Advanced Senior group.
Coach Julia looks forward to making this Summer at Mill Creek Towne enjoyable for everyone. She will be bringing the Marlin Spirit and love for summer swimming. She is ready to jump back into Cotten Eye Joe, Marlin Freezes', and all the fun.