Coaches

Ryan Claus- Head Coach

Head Coach Mens and Womens Swimming and Diving Team
Email – Rclaus@maine207.org
Direct line:  847-803-5866 - Classroom

 Coach Claus is starting his 9th season at Maine West. He is the head coach for both the Men’s and Women’s team at West.  He is very honored and excited to be a part of this program which is rich in history and tradition.

 His experience includes 9 years of high school coaching, 9 as the varsity coach for the boys team here at West and 8 as the varsity coach for the girls team. Prior to his commitments at Maine West Coach Claus coached 7 Years as Head Coach for the Naper Carriage Hill Swim Team, and worked 1 season as an age group coach with the Downers Grove Express.  During his tenure at  West athletes broke 15 school records, earned numerous All-Conference honors, 1 All-American award and 2 All-State selections. 

 While growing up in Naperville , Coach Claus attended Naperville Central High School , earning 4 Varsity letters in swimming and was a 4 time state qualifier/finalist and All American. After high school, he attended Miami University where he earned 4 varsity letters and was a member of the 1997 MAC championship team. Coach Claus has earned Bachelors  Degree’s in Health and Sports studies, Health Education, both at Miami and a Masters Degree in Health and P.E. He teaches Health Education and Anatomy at West.

 Coach Claus and his wife, Amy, and daughters Molly and Makenzie reside in Wheaton . In his free time, he enjoys fishing , the Cubs, anything outside, and most of all, being with his family.

Kevin Belleau - JV Swimming Coach

Coach Belleau is entereing his 2nd year as a special education teacher at Maine West and this will be his first year with our program. While growing up in Morton Grove he swam competitively until he was 12.  He attended Maine East High School, where he played soccer where he was awarded Varsity MVP his Senior year, basketball, and baseball where he was also MVP and played 3 yrs on Varsity. 

Coach Belleau began college at the University of Illinois where he studied for two years.  He then transferred to Bradley University in Peoria.  He continued to participate in athletics, competing on intermural softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and even swimming teams.  After receiving degrees in International Studies and Spanish, Coach Belleau went on to graduate school at Northeastern Illinois University to earn his master's degree in Special Education. 

Coach Belleau lives in Chicago, cheers for the Cubs, and continue to swim to try and stay in shape.  He  loves the outdoors - fishing, wakeboarding, kayaking, camping - and loves to be in the water. 

Mike Tuntland- Diving Coach

Diving Coach

Email- Mtuntland@maine207.org

Coach Tuntland is excited to be coaching at his alma matar; Maine West High School.  Coach Tuntland has been around the pool professionally for the last six years.  He began his coaching career launching the Des Plaines Park District’s Ducks Swim Team program in 2002.  While away at school, at Illinois State University, he also coached club team for the Olympia Country Swimmers and also was Girls Diving Coach for Olympia High School in Stanford, IL.  Most recently, Coach Tuntland has spearheaded the formation of the Des Plaines River Racers Swim Club that swims out of Maine West.

Coach Tuntland swam and dove competitively with the Maine West Warriors until he graduated in 2001.  Starting out as a diver, an unfortunate injury during his sophomore year put him on the sidelines for a season, but he returned to the pool as a swimmer.  He received Best Sportsmanship Honors and was named co-captain of the Warriors Swim Team during his senior year. 

  Coach Tuntland is excited to be back working with a program that gave him so much for his life.  One of his goals with all athletes is to help bring out their potential.  He never wants any athlete to have to walk away from the pool regretting “not trying something” during their time in high school.  He graduated from Illinois State University with a Degree in Middle Level Science and English Education and is a certified teacher.  He currently works as a substitute teaching middle school at St. Mary School and in District 207.

When not at the pool or in classroom, Coach Tuntland enjoys working on the mechanical side of pools.   He is the part-time pool mechanic for Mystic Waters and the Des Plaines Park District.  He also enjoys the outdoors doing such activities as camping, biking, and scuba diving with his friends.