Meet the Coaches
Coach Emily Ljubi
Head Girls and Boys Swimming Coach
Coach Emily is starting her 11th Season with the Demons.
I have been coaching the Westlake Demons Swimming and Diving Team since 2013. I spent the first four season as the assistant swim coach, and moved into the head coaching position in 2017.
Along with coaching at Westlake High School, I have coached in the past for Westlake Summer Recreation Swim Team, Cleveland Yacht Club Swim Team, and Lake Shore Swim Club. I have also lifeguarded and taught swim lessons through the Westlake Recreation Department for many years.
I attended Westlake High School where I was a 4 year varsity swimmer, senior captain a 4-year District Qualifier, and the 200 Medley Relay record holder. During all 4 years on the team, the Westlake Demons were SWC Conference Champions.
I was a founding member of the Westlake Waves Swim Team and swam for the team from 1998-2008.
Outside of coaching, I am the Early Childhood Education Teacher at West Shore Career Tech at Lakewood High School. I have been teaching at Lakewood for 10 years. I enjoy kayaking, Cleveland sports, and hanging out with my friends and family,
My favorite stroke is butterfly and my favorite high school events are the 200 IM and 100 fly.
This season, I am looking forward to a year filled with great competition, fun, and seeing everyone reach their goals!
Coach Betsy Karban
Head Diving Coach
Coach Karban is starting her 10th season with the Demons.
I have been coaching diving for Westlake High school for 10 years now. I have coached Diving off and on and part time since 1989 when my husband and I ran an Age Group Diving team in Michigan for 5 years. We also now run an Age Group Diving team out of Cleveland State University where my husband is the Diving coach. I also teach diving lessons at the Westlake Rec during the off season, fall and spring. I have worked with all levels of divers from the very beginner who has never dived before to High School State Qualifiers and Age Group National Champions and have coached all 3 levels, 1 Meter, 3 Meter and Platform.
During my time at Westlake, I have had teams as small as 5 divers to teams as large as 11 divers, which is unusual by the way. I have coached 3 State Qualifiers (1 made top 8 the 2 years he made it), 3 Conference Champions, several conference runner-ups and many dual meet winners.
Outside of Diving, I am an 8th Grade Art Teacher for Elyria City Schools, which I have been doing full time for 15 years. I was a graphic designer and started a family before going into teaching. I am married (34 years!) and have 2 grown children. I enjoy teaching art, coaching a sport I love and working with kids. It keeps me young.
Coach Rich Karban
Volunteer Diving Coach
Coach Karban is starting his 2nd season with the Demons.
Coach Steve Ljubi
Assistant Swimming Coach
Coach Steve is starting his 3rd season with the Demons.
I coached four years for the Olentangy Swimming Association. There I was the lead 10 and under coach and assistant high school coach.
I attend University of Mount Union, where I was a 4 year member of the swim team, specializing in distance freestyle and breaststroke. I was a 2 year letter winner, senior captain, and a 4 year qualifier for the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships.
I attended Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio, where I was a 4 year varsity swimmer and a 4-year District Qualifier.
I was a member of the Liberty Twp./Powell YMCA Swim Team and Westerville Aquatic Club.
Outside of coaching, I am the Senior Project Manager, Design and Service Center at Signet Jeweler. I enjoy kayaking, sand volleyball, Cleveland sports, and hanging out with my friends and family,
My favorite stroke is breaststroke and my favorite high school event is the 500 freestyle.
This season, I am looking forward to helping each of the swimmers reach their goals for the season.
Coach Conner Hartup
Assistant Swimming Coach
Coach Conner is starting his 2nd season with the Demons.
Coach Abbey Wilcox-Samide
Strength and Conditioning
Coach Abbey is starting her 2nd season with the Demons.