Our Coaches

Coach Cal and his daugher, Patsy M*C*A*L COACHING STAFF Coach Cal Elder began swimming in 1973 and was a top ranked swimmer in his day. While attending college at Indiana University, he continued his swimming career under the legendary Doc Counsilman. Coach Cal has been coaching swimmers of all ages and abilities for over 25 years. He truly specializes in teaching people the correct way to swim. Although Coach Cal is well-known for being the best in Birmingham in teaching younger kids the art of competitive swimming, he also has expertise in successfully coaching the older, high school aged kids. While the Aquatics Director at a YMCA in Ohio, Coach Cal's high school team achieved unmatched success while he was there. In addition, some went on to achieve All American status. Coach Cal has coached numerous Top 16 Individual and Relay Age Group qualifiers as well as many Southeastern Conference champions. Coach Dawn Motter Todd began swimming in 1981 and got her start coaching summer league swimming in 1992. She has had experience with youth swimmers in Birmingham, Atlanta and Baldwin County, AL. She particularly enjoys working with young swimmers who are just beginning their team experience. Helping young people to find success and be proud of their accomplishments - however small - is a top priority for Coach Dawn. Coach Buck Crowe is a Birmingham native who began coaching with Coach Cal at the Levite Jewish Community Center in 1996, followed him to assist at Mountain Brook Swim Tennis and now at M*C*A*L. Additionally, he swam on the Division III varsity team at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts and is a self described water polo devotee having played at the club level for Wheaton from 2000-04. He specializes in fine tuning strokes and speeding up starts, turns, and finishes. Although primarily concerned with swimmers' consistent improvement, he is particularly thrilled when his swimmers do all the little things right. Coach Paige Tatarek joins the M*C*A*L family this year to head up the Lakeshore program. Coach Paige will be working with the Recruits and Sergeants at Lakeshore on Fridays and Sundays. Paige was a long-time coach at Birmingham Country Club before retiring to take care of her family and run her own business. She is married and has two children - one of whom, Hannon, is a 6 & Under swimmer. WELCOME PAIGE! Tommy Elliott joins M*C*A*L as the MOS trainer (M*C*A*L Onland Strength Training). Tommy is from Icon Performance and is an Exercise Physiologist, Performance Enhancement Specialist, a Clinical Exercise Specialist and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Tommy will work with our Raiders and Captains on Tuesdays and Thursdays helping them build muscle endurance, strength, speed and agility. Coach Liz Elder (Coach Cal's wife) began swimming competitively at age 4. A Southeastern top ranked swimmer, she continued swimming through high school. She and Coach Cal swam on the same team growing up and even life guarded together. They have known each other since junior high school. Coach Liz doesn't do much coaching anymore. In between driving her 4 children here and there, Coach Liz works behind the scenes updating the website and tending to all the adminstrative duties required to run a swim team. Coach Liz also heads up our M*C*A*L Masters Team. Visit the M*C*A*L MASTERS page for more information. Magic City Aquatic League is blessed to have these highly qualified, highly regarded swim coaches dedicated to the success of your children. For more information about the M*C*A*L swim program, contact Coach Cal Elder at 205-541-4737 or email Cal Elder. ©2007 Magic City Aquatic League. All rights reserved.