Coaches and Directors
Coach Tyler Kerns joined the CMSA Coaching Staff in 2006 and currently serves as the club’s Head Coach. During his time with CMSA, Tyler has coached swimmers from novice to USA Swimming Senior National qualifiers.
Coach Tyler is also very involved in the administrative and legislative side of the sport. He has served on the Southeastern Swimming Board of Directors since 2011, serving 6 years as the Age Group Chair, 4 years as Finance Chair, and 2 years as Treasurer. Tyler has also represented Southeastern Swimming at the USA Swimming National Convention and has served on the Southern Zone Age Group committee.
Tyler graduated from the University of South Alabama receiving his degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management. Tyler married Amanda (Berry) in October 2008. Amanda and Tyler have two children, Kennedy and Colton. Tyler enjoys all sports and has a special appreciation for the level of commitment and skill it takes to be a successful athlete.
Growing up in Hunstville, AL, Megan has been involved in Southeastern Swimming for the past 18 years, as both an athlete and a coach. Megan comes to us from Auburn University, working as an age group coach with Auburn Aquatics for 2 years, an associate coach for Auburn Masters Swimming for 2 years, and as a student intern with Auburn Swimming and Diving for their 2017-2018 season. She was mentored by legendary coach Sergio Lopez Miro.
Graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and a Masters of Science in Health Promotion, Megan loves the science behind swimming. She has experience working with all levels, from swim lessons to professional-level athletes. Megan helped lead our age-group team to multiple SES high-point winning teams, as well as two ASCA Top 100 Age Group Program awards. She is currently pursuing a second Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Auburn University. Megan has a passion working with disabled athletes and making swimming more accessible.
Brian Evans is the Head Site Coach for CMSA West and has over 39 years experience as a competitive swim coach. He formed the competitive program at the Providence Wellness Center location in 1997 after 14 years as an Age Group swim coach with CMSA and GMAA. As the West site head coach, Brian equally divides his coaching duties among both the Competitive Team and the Non-Competitive group members. Over the years, Brian has developed numerous City of Mobile, State of Alabama and Southeastern Champions as well as Nationally ranked swimmers.
Brian has earned a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Physical Education form the University of South Alabama and an Athletic Trainers degree from the United States Sports Academy.
He recently retired after 37 years as an Adapted and Regular Physical Education Specialist with the Mobile County Public School system. He is also the current Owner, Aquatics Director and Head Swim Team Coach of West Mobile Swim Club. He is a member of Luke 4:18 Fellowship Church, has been married to his wife Debbie for 39 years and they have four daughters and six grandchildren.
Coach Shawn Drake joined the CMSA Coaching Staff in September of 2022. She serves as an Assistant Coach leading the Senior 1 group. Prior to moving to Mobile, AL, she coached in Arkansas Swimming LSC from 1993-1997 and 2002-2022. She has coached swimmers from novice to USA Swimming Senior National qualifiers. In April 2022, Shawn was inducted into the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame for her service to Arkansas Swimming. She served as General Chair (6 years), Vice Chair (2 years), Safe Sports Coordinator (2 years), and Assistant Zone Coach (3 years). As General Chair, she directed the completion of LEAP programs (Level 1 & 2) for Arkansas and represented the Arkansas LSC at multiple USA Swimming National Conventions.
Shawn graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi receiving her doctorate (PhD) in Exercise Physiology. She received a Master in Exercise Science and a Master in Physical Therapy from Arkansas State University. She holds certifications as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (National Strength and Conditioning Association), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Program Director, ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist and ACSM Exercise is Medicine- Level 3. She has published several articles related to swimming in the Journal of Swimming Research and the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Shawn plans to continue research in swimming while at CMSA.
Shawn currently serves as the Chair of Physical Therapy at the University of South Alabama teaching courses in clinical exercise physiology, cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal content areas. As a physical therapist, she specializes in physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises and is certified in Schroth-based physical therapy through the Barcelona Physical Therapy School. She accepts patients through the department's faculty practice clinic.
Shawn is married to Jim and they have two children, Logan and Caroline. Logan is attending the University of Southern Mississippi and Caroline is attending Louisiana State University. Shawn enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach, playing tennis and practicing yoga.
Aiden is a former CMSA swimmer turned coach, working with our Little Fish, AG1, and occasional lessons instructor. He has spent many a summer working with West Mobile Swim Club, helping share his love of swimming with current and future BigFish families. He is currently studying Physical Therapy at the University of South Alabama.
Gloria is a long-time super swim mom of two CMSA alumni. She is the current head coach of Lake Forest Swim Club and Daphne High School. She works with our guppies group, Little Fish, passing on her extensive knowledge onto the next generation of CMSA swimmers.
Cheryl has been immersed in the swimming world for the last 25
years. She grew up as a competitive year-round swimmer in
Southeastern Swimming and swam collegiately at the University of
West Florida. She started coaching and instructing children in
competitive swimming in 2014, working with teams such as Greater
Pensacola Aquatic Club and Auburn Aquatics. In 2016 she
expanded her skills with adult swimmers and triathletes in the US
Masters Swimming League. Cheryl is both USMS and USA Swimming
certified, working with our masters team here at CMSA. Her
passion for the swimming world is contagious and believes this is a
lifelong sport for anyone. Whether you are a triathlete looking to
be faster in the water, or a person looking for a low impact
exercise, practices are personalized and adjusted to each
swimmer’s level of fitness from swimming enthusiast to
competitive swimmer/triathlete. She structures her
practices around the fundamentals of swimming and technique
for all four strokes to minimize injury and build stamina. Cheryl
is enthusiastic and truly cares about every athlete she comes into
contact with.
