Our Coaches

Christine McElderry - Head Coach 

Christine has a passion for building swimmers by cultivating lifelong skills that apply both in the pool and out. After swimming competitively for eight years and teaching hundreds of swim lessons, Christine joined the UVRays coaching staff in 2008. Christine has filled a variety of roles for the team, including coaching every group from Swim School to Nationals. True to her passion, Christine earned her degree from BYU in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership (2013) and continues to study how best to serve swimmers. Her love of swimming and teaching youth has led to her coaching for Spanish Fork’s County Team (2008-9), head coach for Springville Seals (2011-12), and assisting with BYU’s meets (2011-19). It’s hard to get away from water when you love it so much, but when Christine manages, she enjoys backpacking and canyoneering with her husband and two boys.

Shanon Dowling - Senior Coach                      

Shanon has been coaching for UVRays since 2017 and currently serves as the Senior Coach. She has been with UVRays about 7 years now. She has coached for multiple high school teams in those 7 years along with a college team in Virginia. When it comes to coaching philosophy Shanon believes in the holistic development of each athlete. Accountability and independence are important qualities she tries to instill in her athletes. She has an immense passion for swimming and has since the age of 6. She feels honored to spend everyday with children who yearn for greatness and growth. Her favorite part of coaching is being a small part of a swimmers success in life and in the pool. "Pushing young kids to be the best version of themselves is why I do what I do".

Amber Conrad -  Assistant Coach

As a Texas swimmer, Amber started competing at the age of seven under Olympian coaches Josh Davis and Niel Walker. Swimming on the National Team during High School, she was a four-time District and State qualifier, NISCA All-American in the 50 Free and 100 Free, and Junior Nationals qualifier. Recruited to swim for Texas A & M as a sprinter, they won the SEC Championship in 2019. Amber has taught swim lessons for younger kids over the years and enjoys working with all ages. With the background of working with elite coaches, she recognizes the importance of a balanced training program with important emphasis on small details like under-waters, turns, and breathing that can make or break a swimmer. Amber is currently attending BYU pursuing a degree in Speech Pathology, loves living in Utah, and is super excited to work with the UV Rays!

Braden Tiffany - Assistant Coach

Braden Tiffany has been coaching with UVRays since 2022 and currently serves as the 11-12 Champs and Stingray coach, bringing 4 years of coaching experience. His coaching philosophy centers on creating an inclusive environment where every swimmer feels valued and has equal opportunities for success. He emphasizes self-discipline, perseverance, and resilience, believing that a balance of hard work and enjoyment leads to personal growth and achievement.

Braden holds a bachelor's degree in statistics from BYU (2023) and is currently pursuing a degree in sports coaching from West Virginia University. He is an ASCA Level 3 coach and the head swim coach at Timpview High School. As a competitive swimmer, he was a NISCA All-American and a Utah 6A State Record Holder. Outside of coaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two cats.

Erynn Swinson - Assistant Coach

Erynn is originally from St. George Utah, where she swam competitively for 15 years. Over the past several years she coached for her club in St. George, and is now excited to be a part of the UVRays team. She is currently working towards a degree in elementary education. She loves working with children, and especially enjoys helping children learn and improve.

Jared Shaw - Assistant Coach

Swimming is Jared Shaw’s passion. Jared swam for BYU as a sprinter, competing in the 50 free and 100 frees and the 100 fly. While racing for BYU he won the 2020 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title in the 50 free and qualified for NCAAs with a 19.29. He was named an All-American and qualified for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials (held in 2021). During his career as an athlete, Jared’s number one concern was improving his swimming technique, and he believes that mindset provides him with a strong coaching foundation. Jared started coaching during summer 2021, joining the UVRays in August 2021. He is currently pursuing a career as an EMT with hopes of going to PA school.

Jilyan Bulkley - Assistant Coach

Kaylee Anderson -   Assistant Coach

Shari Clark Skabelund - Assistant Coach

Shari loves teaching, and her primary students happen to be swimmers. Shari has been teaching swimmers for more than five decades, beginning with lessons in the 1970s and continuing with the Springville Seals, Springville High, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley Aquatics, and her four children: Analyn, Andrew, Natalya, and Joshua, all of whom have also taught young swimmers. In April 2021, Shari was named head coach of BYU men and women's swimming and diving. Her husband, Grant, enjoys supporting Shari's efforts.

Tiffany Clyde - Assistant Coach

Tiffany Clyde began coaching with UVRays at its inception in 2004 and returned after a hiatus to raise her young children in 2023. With over ten years of coaching experience, she currently runs our satellite program in Mt. Pleasant. 

Tiffany started swimming competitively at age 8 and never really stopped— she still enjoys competing in open water events and triathlons to this day. It’s her passionate belief that swimming is not just a fun pastime, but an invaluable life skill that can

save lives, and a sport that can be enjoyed throughout one’s lifetime, building qualities of discipline, resilience, and mental toughness. A special needs mom, Tiffany also loves how accessible the sport is to young athletes of all backgrounds and abilities. She holds certifications with USA Swimming, NFHS, and ASCA. When she’s not on deck or in the water, she enjoys hiking, skiing, writing, and photography.

Tim Zwygart - Assistant Coach

Tim Zwygart has been coaching with the UVRays since 2023 and currently serves as a substitute coach for all age groups.He has been coaching swimming since 2017, prior to coaching swimming he was a swim official in both Utah and Kentucky.

Over the past 30 years he has coached many different sports from youth to High School. He has  benefitted from many wonderful coaches who helped him learn how to coach and what it means to be a coach. He is a firm believer in that you will only get out of a sport what you are willing to put in.

While he was not a competitive swimmer growing up, he did play Football and wrestled at a competitive level as well as various other sports he did just for fun. For him athletics was more than just about competing, they were his training ground for life, they helped teach him discipline, dedication, hard work and how to get along with others. He learned how to deal with disappointment and setbacks and how to handle success. Over the years that has become his coaching philosophy as well.

He is  a software engineer by day and a coach by night, “it is my hobby, it's what I do for fun!”.

Yolanda Bates - Assistant Coach

Yolanda Bates was born and raised in Mexico City, where her passion for swimming began at a young age. Representing Mexico on the international stage for seven years, she was a standout athlete, earning the prestigious title of Female Athlete of the Year for the country of Mexico in 1977. That same year, Yolanda was awarded a four-year full scholarship to Brigham Young University (BYU), where she excelled as a student-athlete. From 1978 to 1981, she was an All-Conference swimmer and a Conference Champion in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events.Yolanda also qualified for the AIAW National Championships all four years during hercollegiate career.

After graduating, Yolanda shifted her focus to coaching, where she spent 28 years nurturing young talent at the high school and club level in Cache Valley. Her commitment to developing swimmers and fostering a love for the sport eventually led her back to BYU, where she joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2012. During her 12-year tenure at BYU, she played a pivotal role in helping the Cougars secure multiple Conference Titles and guiding athletes to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2016 and 2020.

Now semi-retired, Yolanda who is an ASCA Level 4 coach, continues to share her love and expertise for the sport. She works with the UVRays swim team as one of the Sunrays coaches, consults with high schools,and offers private lessons. Her passion for swimming remains as strong as ever, as she helps the next generation of swimmers improve and excel in the water.