Otters Coaches

Head Coach Dave Cameron

Throughout his career at the YWCA, Dave has worked to transform the Otters Swim Team from a one-season team with a few strong swimmers into a team with depth of talent and diversity in skill. Each year, the team continues to improve with nearly every Otters Team Record broken as swimmers develop their swimming with a strong technique and aerobic focus but balance improvement and fitness with fun and learning.

Dave began his focus on distance freestyle events in high school. As a competitor for Carleton College until his graduation in 1999, he learned to appreciate the importance of form over force in swimming. Under experienced and technical coaching, Dave set three team records, won two individual conference titles, and was a 15-time All-Conference swimmer. Currently, Dave coaches both the YWCA Masters Swim Team and MN Tri-Masters Team and offers private technique instruction in Total Immersion Swimming. As a leader by example, Dave successfully crossed the English Channel twice, first in 2004 and again in 2007 as a part of the YWCA Swim for Change Campaign.

With all of his accomplishments, Dave continues to study swimming as a science. There is always new research to test, new workouts to try, and new techniques to analyze. He attends several coaching clinics each year, and often meets with other coaches to pick their brains or debate new methods and strategies. A fan of constructive criticism, Dave is aware of many ideas and possibilities in the swimming world, and is truly passionate when discussing swimming. After studying under Terry Laughlin, Dave was certified as Minnesota's first Total Immersion Teaching Professional and now brings his swimming knowledge to the YWCA of Minneapolis. Total Immersion has become an integral part in the Otters Team training and is emphasized through drilling and technique development.

Simply put, Dave has his dream job, and is excited about the current Otters program and the direction it is headed in.

Assistant Coaches

Jordan Jelmeland
Jordan has been involved with the Otters Swim team for over four years both as a competitive swimmer and as a coach. With a strong background as a youth swim lesson instructor and recently certified Total Immersion Instructor, Jordan has shown dedication as a coach for the Junior Otters program. Her work with the Junior Otters in stroke development has fed the Senior Otters program with new talent.

Although Jordan is no longer an "Otter", she has continued to pursue competitive swimming in the MN Masters Swimming league. Jordan was also a member of the YWCA Swim for Change Campaign Masters relay team, who successfully crossed the English Channel in July, 2007.

Paul Regan
Paul has been coaching with the Otters since 2001. He began his competitive swimming career at Minneapolis North High School and swam for four years at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. Paul currently coaches the Senior Otters' weight training program at Midtown on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

Peter Voves
Peter began working with the YWCA as both a lifeguard and coach for the YWCA in 2007. He enjoys many different sports and physical activities, and is both a distance runner and swimmer. Peter is a patient and dedicated coach, and he works with children of all ages as a coach for the YWCA Otters, and also as a High School Educational Assistant for the Minneapolis Public Schools. His philosophy in coaching is to cultivate a love and enthusiasm for physical activity in his students and swimmers.