About Us
Our Story
It all started when a young man from New Zealand moved to the United States to swim in at the University of Iowa. Ian Bullock discovered his passion for swimming was fun to share. Upon graduation, Ian and Kara Bullock moved to Fort Smith, AR to coach and teach swimming for the Fort Smith Tideriders. They sprouted roots in the River Valley community while teaching thousands of young children how to swim. Since then, their children have taken their teaching methods and taught thousands more how to swim.
Coach Tom and Katie Bullock continue the Bullock swimming legacy. Tom and Katie met swimming competitively at Oklahoma Baptist University under the guise of Dr. Samuel Freas. Both are trained Lifeguard and CPR instructors that are passionate about water safety. The sport of swimming became more than a fun sport when they lost a teammate to drowning. Bullock Swim Ranch and Bullock Aquatics is born from their mutual love of the water.
T H E T E A M
Our Founders
Ian Bullock
"Mr. Ian"
Ian's love for the water started at a young age as a child in New Zealand. He spent much of his adolescences swimming in a pool and surfing in the ocean. He was a high school national record holder. Ian was recruited to the University of Iowa where he was caption of his team and an All American Scholarship swimmer. He holds many state records and top ten rankings.
He moved to Fort Smith, AR with his wife, Kara in 1982. He became the River Valley High School Swim Coach (coaching NHS, SHS, VBHS, AHS, GHS) and late the head coach and owner of the Fort Smith Tideriders Swim Team. He has dedicated his life to aquatic safety and sharing his love of swimming. He is a crucial part of the Fort Smith Parks and Recreation's renovation of Creekmore Pool.
Thomas Bullock
"Coach Tom"
Tom is the son of Ian Bullock and continue the Bullock legacy. He spent his entire life swimming. Growing up, you could find little Tom running around in a little red speedo ready to jump in any body of water. He followed his dad's foot steps with a successful competitive swimming career which later lead him to an accomplished collegiate swimming career. He swam at Missouri State University and later transferred to Oklahoma Baptist University to help start the very first team. As team captain, Tom helped the team win the NAIA National Championship Swimming and Diving title in the team's first year.
Tom returned home to become the River Valley High School Swim Coach and the head coach of the Fort Smith Tideriders Swim Team. If not in or around the pool, he can be found replaying elite swimming races or researching new techniques. Tom enjoys teaching kids how to have fun and be safe in the water.
Kathleen Bullock
"Mrs. Katie"
Katie is not a native Arkansan. She grew up moving between Texas, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma. The greatest consistency in her life was swimming. She worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor for different aquatic programs while competing for various swim teams making many friends along the way. She finished her high school swimming career as the Jenks High School Capitan of the 2011 State Championship Swim Team. Recruited to Oklahoma Baptist University's first Women's Swim and Dive Team, she met Tom and everything fell into place.
Since moving to the River Valley in 2015, she has adopted many of the Bullock swimming teaching techniques. In June 2020 she made the jump from a corporate life to full time swim lessons and motherhood. She and Tom have three (soon to be four) small children that they hope will love the water just as they do. Katie loves sharing her appreciation for swimming and the opportunities it has to offer.
