Coaching Staff
Kelly Palace Head Coach

YMCA Head Swim Coach Kelly Palace

 

Coach Kelly Palace has coached swimming at an elite level across various age groups and competitive settings. She has served as a head coach for club teams at the USA level, NCAA Division I, and Masters. Throughout her career, she has coached numerous Senior National and Olympic Trials qualifiers, as well as NCAA Division I All-Americans. Kelly holds a Level 4 certification from the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) for both USA and NCAA swimming. She also holds a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Sport Psychology from the University of Arkansas and has completed USA Swimming’s Athlete Protection Training (formerly Safe Sport).

As a swimmer, Kelly was an Olympic Trials Qualifier, an NCAA Division I All-American (NC State), and remains an active Masters swimmer who currently holds national and world records. Her swimming journey began at the YMCA of Alexandria, Virginia. For the Midlo Y swimmers, her goals are to instill proper swim techniques and to enhance their overall fitness—mind, and body—through the benefits of swimming. Kelly’s coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of having fun and enjoying the water as key components to improvement. She believes that swim practice should be both enjoyable and challenging. "I enjoy helping swimmers achieve their goals," says Coach Kelly.

Kelly has been married for over 20 years to Mark Palace, an elite Masters swimmer. Together, they enjoy staying active through swimming, running, and playing pickleball. Kelly is also the host of the award winning swimming podcast  Champion’s Mojo .

Daniel Routhier Assistant Coach
My name is Daniel Routhier and I'm one of the current assistant coaches for the Midlothian Tidal Waves. I graduated from Remnant Academy Home School in 2022, have an AS in Information Systems from John Tyler Community College, and will graduate from VCU with BS in that same discipline in the spring of 2025, Lord willing. I swam with this team from ages 8-18 and have coached the Tidal Waves for nearly two years. My favorite stroke and specialty is easily freestyle, while backstroke and butterfly are tied for a faraway second place. I believe in pushing swimmers to be the best they can while still having fun, and giving swimmers the attention they individually need to improve their swimming ability. One of my favorite aspects of our swim team has been seeing it change and adapt over the past 12 years to become what it is now. 
 
Josiah Graham Assistant Coach

 

My swim coach career started when I was 14 years old, I was one of the first Jr. Coaches for the Midlothian Tidal Waves under Head Coach Mark Van Deren who taught me my basic foundations on how to be a great leader and mentor. Upon turning 16, I became an Assistant Swim Coach for the team for 3 years helping to build a strong competitive team year-round. In the Fall of 2021, I left to attend Liberty University to pursue a degree in Exercise Science: Therapeutic Science to achieve a better knowledge of the body and how to improve it from a scientific perspective. Through this program I also became a certified Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine furthering my understanding of health and fitness. It is through these certifications that I plan to aid swimmers in improving their levels of athleticism as well as confidence in their abilities in building a healthy lifestyle.

My swimming career started when I was 10 years old, joining the Midlothian Tidal Waves Summer Swim Team in 2011. I swam year-round for this team for a consecutive 8 years, competing in meets and qualifying for champs every season. It was my goal every season to improve times for every event and to unite and build stronger team relationships. My 2 most memorable swim team moments were when I made my fastest 50 freestyle time of 23 seconds at swim champs and when I beat my older brother in a 100 freestyle during swim practice. Through all my time on swim team, while I prioritize staying competitive and fun it is just as important to ensure you have fun while doing it.

Outside of swim team I am currently seeking to enroll in grad schools to become a Physical Therapist. I enjoy swimming, lifting, boxing, and going out with friends.