About us
Nationally recognized.
Community driven.
Dad’s Club Aquatics is Houston’s most historic swimming and aquatics facility. Founded in 1948, we offer an unparalleled tradition of excellence in swim programming for every level and age, from new learners to competitive athletes.
Nationally recognized for our highly successful Dad’s Club Swim Team, we’re locally known for comprehensive programming that provides a path for every swimmer, including lessons for all ages, developmental training, and specialty fitness, instructional and certification programs. We offer programs year-round from our permanent location, where a 50-meter long-course pool, a 33-yard pool and a 25-yard family pool form the heart of our facility.
As a membership-based, non-profit organization, we provide a safe, diverse and welcoming environment for individuals and families alike. Members are key to our community and the ongoing support of our facility. Our passionate and tenured staff of expert instructors, coaches and aquatics professionals are dedicated to upholding our reputation for swimming excellence and to providing innovative programs for generations to come.
there’s history in our name
Why are we called “Dad’s Club”? Our facility was first founded as a youth center in 1948 by a group of area dads. In 1952, they undertook the construction of a pool on the site, which officially opened in 1953. We’ve been in operation ever since.
the dad's club timeline
1948
A youth center, which was used as a community center and recreation building, was constructed on the property. Sometime before 1957, a Boy Scout house was also built.
1952
Following the recommendations of Louis Cutrer, plans were created for a swimming pool and a kitchen for the youth center. The Lions Club donated funds for the kitchen project and the new pool officially opened on June 12, 1953.
1953
The first pool was 33-1/3 yards in length and included a one-meter and a three-meter diving board. Before the summer of 1956, a bulkhead was installed to make the distance 25 yards for AAU-sanctioned swimming competition. There were five lanes. Dressing rooms and bathrooms were also constructed and shared with the community center.
1958–59
Thanks to Bill Baker, the outdoor pool was heated and enclosed. The pool was the only indoor pool in Houston with competition diving boards through the early 1970s. For this reason, divers from the Shamrock Swim Team trained here in the winters, and Kuni Schultz helped coach them.
1963
The indoor 25-yard pool became a reality through a generous donation from the Bill Williams Capon Dinner Group. Parents and coaches worked diligently to make it a fast, efficient pool. John Dickinson, father of three swimmers, designed the gutters and specified the depth to minimize backwash and enhance swimmer performance. The lanes were wide and the lane ropes were cutting edge. Large sliding doors on both the north and south sides provided ventilation and kept the water temperature cool enough for workouts. The areas beyond the pool deck included a coach's office, a storage area, a pump room and bleachers on the north side. There were no dressing rooms or restrooms in the new pool building. Both pools were used for training, but the majority of swim workouts were held in the new pool, leaving the 33-1/3- yard pool for lessons, synchronized swimming and diving practice.
1964
The Dad's Club Swim Team donated 10 acres to the YMCA. The YMCA took over management of the facilities and added buildings over a period of years.
1970-72
Construction began and was completed on the 50-meter outdoor pool. Richard and Ann Quick, along with R.B. Little (father of two swimmers), were the momentum behind the project. The Quicks donated $1,000 toward the cost, and swim team families underwrote the financing for construction.
1993
The Dad's Club Swim Team became an independent entity, separate from the YMCA, although still steered by nine board members. The swim club continued to use the YMCA pools, as well as share swimming and fitness facilities with the YMCA, on the north side of the Katy Freeway at Voss Road.
2002
The 25-yard indoor competition pool was demolished during the expansion of the I-10 Katy Freeway. The Dad’s Club Swim Team signed a seven-year lease agreement with the YMCA for $1.00 per year for the remaining six acres, two pools, gym, locker rooms and offices. At the end of seven years, and if Dad’s Club Swim Team was still operational, the YMCA would give the property back to Dad’s Club.
2007
The YMCA lease had a provision to purchase the land for $1,000,000 and terminate the lease. The Dad's Club Swim Team signed an earnest money contract to buy back the land it donated to the YMCA in 1964, and the Westside YMCA sold six acres back to Dad's Club. The sale had a provision in it that if Dad’s Club Swim Team was still operational after five years, the Westside YMCA would return the $1,000,000 to the Dad’s Club Swim Team. This action occurred in July 2012 and the $1,000,000 bank loan was paid off. The City of Spring Valley passed a resolution to help the Dad's Club remain at 1006 Voss Road, its home for 54 years.
2013
A two-phase project began with funding provided through generous donations from local foundations, fundraising events with contributions from members, swim parents, and local businesses, as well as personal donations by board members. The renovation of existing facilities to maintain good working conditions took place. This included re-roofing of the office buildings, complete renovation of the changing rooms, new air conditioning, replacement of windows and doors, and code-compliant electrical wiring.
2014
Construction was completed on a new 25-yard outdoor community pool. It served as a neighborhood pool during the summer and as a training and competition pool during the rest of the year. Included in the project was a building with washrooms, a place for pool equipment, and recreational areas for patrons to enjoy during the summer months. The pool has an L-shaped design with a zero-depth entry set away from the seven swim lanes.
2019
A capital campaign allowed for the 50-meter outdoor pool resurfacing and updated pool equipment. Today, a new property and facilities master plan has been created to make the Dad’s Club right for the present and the future, bringing the pools and buildings up to the same standard of excellence as the programs that Dad’s Club provides.
Our core values
At Dad’s Club Aquatics, we believe swimming teaches lessons for life. We take great pride in watching swimmers of every level and age grow in ability, self-confidence and resilience, whether through learning a fundamental stroke, advancing in physical fitness or winning in competition. Through the sport of swimming and a family-friendly atmosphere, we celebrate individual accomplishment and promote personal responsibility to teach life lessons that benefit the individual and community far beyond the pool’s edge.
Meet our administrative staff
Linda Kutac
Executive Director
The daughter of a US Army Officer, Linda Kutac moved with her family to a new community every three years. On bases in Europe, the Pacific and across the US, family and swim team were the two constants in Linda’s life.
While in college, Linda managed several pools and taught swimming lessons in low-income and diverse communities. Her athletic endeavors continued to flourish, but in another collegiate watersport: women’s rowing. The sport helped teach her about working together in synchrony to achieve goals we might never imagine are within our reach.
Linda is licensed as a Registered Nurse with advanced nursing certifications in mental health and substance abuse. She directed the nursing departments of several hospitals and youth residential treatment centers. Drawing on her background, Linda served as a quality improvement and risk management consultant for a national hospital corporation, where she was tasked with starting up new hospitals and reviving others across the country.
Linda served on the Dad’s Club Swim Team board of directors for five years. In 2006, she returned to aquatics full time as Dad’s Club’s executive director. Alongside her seasoned management team, the organization continues to break records: More than 50% of Dad’s Club staff have been with the organization for more than eight years.
Active in her church and married for more than 25 years, Linda has two grown children, both of whom are swimmers, multisport college athletes and Aggies. She loves her two dogs, key lime pie, the Fourth of July and her “corner office” across from the gym.
Eva Mueller
Aquatics Director
Eva Mueller is the Aquatics Director for the Dad’s Club Aquatic Center. She started swimming at the age of 3 and never looked back. After mastering the butterfly in the baby pool, Eva swam competitively from age 5 to 18. She joined Dad’s Club in February of 2007.
As the aquatics director, Eva understands that all children learn differently, and she works with her instructors and students on providing age- and skill- appropriate swim lessons for all. Eva teaches swim lessons, coaches our STREAMLINE clinic and works with our summer league swim team, the Spring Valley Dolphins. In addition to managing the Dad’s Club Swim Start program, she helped found the “Project Swim for Life” water safety and swim lesson program for Spring Branch ISD and has been recognized by the district for her dedication to student wellness.
Eva attended Sam Houston State University, where she majored in kinesiology and minored in special education. She has been married for over 25 years and has three daughters, all of whom have worked at Dad’s Club.
Rey Aguilar
Swim Team Head Coach
In 2022, Swim Team Head Coach Rey Aguilar celebrated his twenty-second year with Dad’s Club and his twelfth as head coach. Rey has worked with all age groups, from beginner to national-level swimmers, and his dedication, knowledge and enthusiasm guide his swimmers to outstanding performances at every level. Rey’s swimmers have gone on to swim in college and NCAA championships. Many are nationally ranked and have qualified and placed at state, junior national, national, Olympic Trials, and international-level competitions. Rey has been selected as a Zones and All-Star coach, and he’s served as head coach for the Gulf All-Star select team. He has been a member and chair of the TSA All-Star committee and has also served on the board of Gulf Swimming. In 2019, Rey was named the Gulf LSC Coach of the Year.
Rey is a former Dad’s Club swimmer and was part of El Salvador’s national team, where he represented the country in numerous international competitions. He earned a degree in business marketing and advertising from the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
Bonnie Bajon
Accounts Coordinator
Bonnie Bajon has been affiliated with Dad’s Club since 2006. Her daughter swam with Dad’s Club from the age of 6 through high school. As a swim parent, Bonnie was on the Dad’s Club board of directors from 2012-2015 and she began working part time as Dad’s Club’s Account Representative in late 2015. In 2021, Bonnie was promoted to a full-time position as the Accounts Coordinator, where she continues to work closely with the facility and swim team membership. In addition, Bonnie has re-opened the Dolphin Shop, where she heads up merchandise and sales.
Bonnie is originally from New Orleans. She earned a BS in criminal justice from Southeastern Louisiana University and her paralegal certification from the University of New Orleans. She holds a Texas Adjuster's License and worked as a claims analyst and compliance coordinator in Houston for 15 years.
Professional Development
Our administrative staff, coaches and instructors stay up to date on new insights and innovations in swim programming and competition through regular clinics, conferences, safety certifications and staff in-services.
Join us
Dad’s Club is recognized as a leader in swimming instruction and competition. We invite you to explore our open positions.
Our Board of directors
Dad's Club Aquatic Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization operated by its members. Our board of directors comprises up to 15 directors, two-thirds of whom must be parents or legal guardians of swimmer(s) actively participating on our USA Swimming team (ST), with one-third from the adult general membership of the club, aka facility members (FM).
Open board meetings are held every third Monday of the month at 6:30pm in the Steve Farad Room (Studio A). Elections are held annually at the end of October and in conjunction with the Swim Marathon fundraiser.
