Rory began his aquatics career as an athlete in South Florida, learning the highest levels of the sport from 6-time Olympic Coach Michael Lohberg. During his high school years, he trained alongside dozens of Olympians and World Record Holders including his primary training partner, Dara Torres. He led Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School to 2 State Championships and competed in the 100m freestyle at the 2008 US Olympic Trials. Rory earned a scholarship to swim at the University of South Carolina, where he earned a degree in exercise science with a minor in psychology. Upon completing his swimming career, Rory then joined Performance Aquatics, where he helped former ASCA Vice President and USAS Board Member Kathleen Prindle grow the program into one of the most successful in South Florida. During this time Rory assisted in coaching US Olympic Trial Qualifiers, National Champions, National Record Holders, and Olympians, as well as multiple Ironman World Championship qualifiers. He also served as Head Coach of FAU High School in Boca Raton FL, leading both the boysβ and girlsβ teams to their highest finishes in school history.
Rory is a USMS, USAS, and ASCA Level 2 Certified Coach and is certified as a SwimAmerica site supervisor. He served 2 terms on the USMS Open Water Committee, 2 years as the Sanctions Chair and 1 year as the Coaches Chair for the Florida Gold Coast LMSC. Rory has also competed in 2 Ironman Triathlons, including the North American Championship race in 2015, and is currently working on becoming a USMS Level 3 Coach.
Besides his experience as an athlete, Rory has worked professionally in the aquatics industry since 2011. He began as Aquatics Director at Longcreek Plantation in Blythewood, SC where he oversaw operations and programming, resurrecting a swim team that had not existed for decades. Upon graduating from college, he moved back home to oversee the brand-new recreational aquatics facility at Florida Atlantic University. Wanting to serve a more competitive demographic, Rory moved down the road to assist with the aquatic facility at the Grandview Preparatory School where he spearheaded several of the largest projects in the facilities 30+ year history and hosted dozens of college winter training camps each year.
Rory and his wife Christina relocated to Colorado in 2020 in search of cooler temperatures, better scenery, and nicer people! He has been certified as a Red Cross Lifeguard for over 12 years, a Swim America Site Supervisor for 8 years, and a Certified Pool Operator for 4 years. Rory is currently pursuing his Aquatic Professional Designation from the Association of Aquatics Professionals and is a member of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.