Coaching Staff

Tidal Wave is very fortunate to have four very diverse and capable coaches. Their expertise extends not only to the water but fitness training as well.

Jim McGinnis Head Coach e-mail: Jim_Mcginnis@bellsouth.net
Jim McGinnis has been with Tidal Wave since April, 2002. Prior to coaching with Tidal Wave, Jim was Head Assistant Coach at Clemson University and coached at Dynamo Swim Club for five years prior to that. Coach Jim was named the 1999-2000 Georgia Age Group Coach of the Year. He coached three swimmers who won the Schlueter Stroke Award National Championships in 1998, and several of his swimmers have gone on to achieve Olympic Trial, Senior National, Junior National and Top 16 qualifying standards, as well as setting state and team records. Jim was a Senior National Qualifier who went on to be a four season varsity letter winner and team swim captain at The University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. He is married to his wife Shannon.

Gene Paliskis Associate Head Coach email: gpaliskis@gmail.com
Gene comes to us with nearly 20 years of coaching experience. He has coached swimmers of all levels, from the beginner to Senior National qualifiers. Most recently, Gene spent two years as the Head Coach of Dynamo’s Alpharetta facility. There, he was responsible for overseeing the day to day training of over 300 swimmers and his coaching staff. Prior to leading the Alpharetta facility, Gene served as Dynamo’s Head Age Group coach. During the time Gene held that position, he developed some great athletes and his facility produced a National Junior Team member four years in a row! Gene has been a well respected coach in Georgia Swimming for many years. He has been named Age Group Coach of the Year, Head Coach of the Georgia Zone Team, and run a number of camps for Georgia swimmers. Gene has also been active within the Georgia swimming LSC serving on a number of committees.

Lola Campbell Hartness Founder & Coach e-mail: lhartnes@kennesaw.edu
Lola Hartness has been coaching summer league, high school and USA swimming teams for more than 23 years. Lola was the original founder of Tidal Wave in 1998. She has coached many swimmers to the State and Regional levels. Lola is an instructor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Sport Science at Kennesaw State University. She holds the Master of Science degree in Physical Education from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. She began her swimming career in her hometown of Statesboro, Georgia, and went on to swim for Georgia Southern University while pursuing her undergraduate degree there. She has two children, Heather and Josh.

Coaches: (Click on coaches pictures to enlarge)