Coach Dan Turner - All Groups
Coach Dan grew up near Atlanta, Georgia. He started swimming at a year-round club in Georgia at age 12. At age 17, he was certified as a Water Safety Instructor with the American Red Cross where he taught kids ranging from 2 to 15 years old. After highschool he went on to swim on scholarship at the NJCAA level for Darton College in Albany, Georgia. In 2006, he finished 8th at NJCAA National Championships in the 200 Yard Backstroke. After two years in college, he decided to take his talents to the United States Marine Corps. He served two combat tours overseas: one to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and one to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduing Freedom. Since leaving the Marine Corps he went on to finish his bachelor’s degree at Georgia Southern University and worked several sales jobs before settling in as a Swimming Coach for Randolph College. He comes to the Gators with a passion for aquatics and a love for competitive swimming that goes back 25 years. He is happily married to Dr. Holly Turner, who is now practicing at F. Read Hopkins Pediatric Associates, and has two daughters Madelyn and Katelyn that both love to swim as well.
Contact: [email protected]
Coach Clyde Smith - All Groups
Coach Clyde grew up in Lynchburg, VA swimming for the Lynchburg YMCA and Peakland Otter Swim Team.  He went on to swim for Kenyon College for 2 years after graduation from Holy Cross.   He has coached locally at LY (8 &Unders), Peakland, Wildwood, the Bedford YMCA, and the YMCA of Blue Ridge (Roanoke and Salem YMCAs).  His most recent coaching stint was in Mitchell, SD for the Dakota Riptide swim team.  Coach Clyde and his wife, Maria, has 6 children, one in Sioux Falls, SD, one in Salem, and four that live with him here in Lynchburg.  Coach Clyde is excited to get back to coaching in his hometown and looks forward to meeting, working with, and helping each swimmer reach their fullest potential. 
 
Coach Jesse Lee Boyles - Mighty Gators 
Coach Jesse grew up in Forest, VA and swam for the LAL on FAST's team before joining the Hill City Dolphins for most of her summer league years. She graduated from JF in 2019 after swimming all 4 years of high school, and went on to pursue a college swimming career at the University of Lynchburg where she swam distance freestyle  and breaststroke events. She also happened to meet her (now) fiancé, Jackson, while swimming for the burg. Circumstances changed and Jesse instead became a volunteer coach for a semester for the U of L swim team, before taking an academic leave of absence to lean further into a career in Aquatics through teaching swim lessons and lfieguarding almost full time. During her break from school, she began coaching with the Gators in the Fall of 2021 before she enlisted in the US Navy, where she is now an Intelligence Specialist in the Reserves. Being in the reserves has given her a wonderful opportunity to return to school and to coaching with the Gators. She will be graduating in May 2023 with a Bachelors in Intelligence Studies from the University of Lynchburg, and will be getting married in August of 2023. She is incredibly excited to be working with the team, especially the 8 and unders, because of the ability to instill technique and form at a young age which leads to even better swimming potential for our athletes as they continue their own swim careers.
 
 

Coach Nicole Both - Mighty Gators 

Coach Nicole grew up in Columbia, Maryland where she spent her childhood swimming for her neighborhood summer swim team! She began her competitive swimming career when she was 8, and her favorite events included the 100 fly, 200 IM, and long distance free. After a few personal and physical challenges, she decided to take a break from swimming at age 16. After her retirement, she became a lifeguard, swim instructor, and swim coach. Coach Nicole has over 6 years’ experience with lifeguarding and swim instruction, and 2 years’ experience with coaching. A few personal details about Coach Nicole include that she graduated with a BS in Counseling Psychology May 2023 at Liberty University, and has just started Liberty’s Psy.D program. She also recently got engaged to her Fiancé, Max, and will be getting married on March 16th, 2024! Coach Nicole has a passion for swimming and swim instruction, and is so excited to be able to coach for the LAC Gators!

Contact: [email protected]