ANDREA NUNEZ-SMITH is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach, elite triathlete, and lifelong endurance sports enthusiast. Originally from Austin, Texas, Andrea grew up as a competitive swimmer before competing in triathlon at the University of Arizona, where she also ran for the Wildcats’ NCAA Division I cross-country team. During her collegiate career, she competed in both regional and national triathlon events, developing a strong foundation as a well-rounded endurance athlete.

After graduation, Andrea earned her professional triathlon license and has since competed primarily in 70.3 and Olympic-distance races across the country.

Andrea’s passion for coaching began early. At just 16 years old, she started coaching swim lessons and quickly discovered how much she enjoyed helping others build confidence, improve, and reach goals they once thought were out of reach.

Andrea has been part of NVDM Coaching since its beginning in 2020. Before becoming a coach with NVDM, Andrea was coached by Natasha Van Der Merwe herself, giving her the opportunity to experience Natasha’s coaching philosophy and methodology firsthand as an athlete. That experience allowed Andrea to learn the ins and outs of the NVDM approach from both sides of the coach-athlete relationship and has had a significant influence on the coach she is today.

Over the past six years, Andrea has coached athletes of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels—from complete beginners entering endurance sports for the first time to experienced and elite competitors chasing ambitious performance goals. Her experience spans swimming, cycling, running, triathlon, and a wide range of race distances.

Above all, Andrea believes great coaching starts with understanding the person behind the athlete. She makes it a priority to get to know her athletes not only through their training data and race goals, but also through their lives outside of sport. Her goal is to create training that challenges athletes while still fitting into the bigger picture of their lives.

Andrea strives to help athletes become stronger, more confident, and more knowledgeable while finding genuine joy in the process. Ultimately, she wants endurance sport to become something her athletes can enjoy, grow through, and continue pursuing for years to come.

Athletic Achievements

• 2nd Overall Female – 2026 Omaha 70.3

• 1st Overall Female Age Group – 2026 White Lake 70.3

• 1st Overall Female – 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Waco

• USA Aquathlon National Champion 2016

• 2nd Place – ITU Aquathlon Age Group World Championships

• Youngest Qualifier – IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in 2014

• University of Arizona Triathlon & NCAA Division I Cross-Country Athlete

• Waco 70.3 Swim Course Record Holder

• Sub-3 Marathoner / Boston Marathon Qualifier

• Multiple overall and age-group wins across the US

Coaching Highlights

• Coached multiple athletes to qualify for the IRONMAN 70.3 and IRONMAN World Championships

• Guided athletes through their first triathlon—from Sprint and Olympic distance through full IRONMAN events

• Coached athletes to personal bests across swimming, cycling, running, and triathlon

• Helped numerous athletes learn to swim and develop confidence in open water

• Supported athletes ranging from first-time finishers to age-group podium contenders