Coaches

If you have any questions about Sunkist, let us know!  For questions about our training program or any questions related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting and other swimming related needs, please contact Coach David.  If you have any questions about our Sunfish group please contact Coach Erica.  All our coaches are best reached by email. 

Coaching Staff

David Orr

Head Coach/CEO

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David Orr is Head Coach/CEO of Sunkist Swim Team.  Hired in 2010, Coach David rebuilt Sunkist from ranked 7th in the state to 7 straight championships after winning their first championship at short course state in 2014.  Coach David has also grown the program from 59 swimmers to over 170.  Under his tenure, Sunkist swimmers have achieved 25 national Top Ten age group times with 11 national #1 and broken 274 LSC records.  Coach David was honored by his MS Swimming peers as the Age Group Coach of the Year award in 2014.  Coach David is certified ASCA Level 5 and an NFHS para-professional.  

Under Coach David's creative guidance, Sunkist has won 5 USA Swimming #SwimBiz awards including Marketing Club of the Year honors three years in a row for 2015, 2016 and 2017, as well as 2016 SwimToday Award and 2015 Best Use of Social Media.  Coach David currently serves on the Board of Directors of MS Swimming as Age Group Chair and serves as the LSC webmaster. 

Coach David grew up swimming and coaching for local legend Carl Butler, who led a dynasty program for decades in Columbus, MS.  Coach David also served as head summer coach for Natchez Swim Association, leading the team to its highest finish at state.  As an age group swimmer, Coach David broke numerous state records, qualified for JOs and Top 16.  His specialties were breaststroke, sprint free and IM.

Coach David held coaching positions throughout college and graduated from Mississippi State University with a BA degree in Communications.  Coach David took his creative skills to Los Angeles, where he pursued a career as an actor and an award-winning independent filmmaker—and a Masters swimmer, swimming for the Rose Bowl Masters and competing in the 2006 FINA Masters World Championships.  After Worlds, the Orrs moved to Mississippi where Coach David served as an assistant coach with Mississippi Makos Swim Team before accepting head coaching duties with Sunkist.  Coach David resides in Madison, MS, with his wife Laura and daughter Emma, former top breaststroker in the state who has graduated and moved on to the high fashion world of modeling.

Coach David believes in creative coaching with a “team first” approach that creates a fun, supportive environment for personal improvement in and out of the pool.  Coach David enjoys motivating and empowering his athletes to reach for the stars to achieve their goals in swimming and in life.

Erica Pedersen

Assistant Coach

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Coach Erica Pedersen is a proud member of the Sunkist Swim Team family, competing as an age group swimmer with Sunkist for eleven years and coaching the Orange and Blue Groups throughout college.  Coach Erica is especially grateful for the memories, friendships and life lessons swimming has afforded her.  In the pool, Coach Erica particularly enjoyed distance, breaststroke and IM events.  On deck, she enjoys teaching children to swim and is thrilled to be wearing orange and blue again.  Coach Erica is an avid triathlete and enjoys competing in events throughout the region.

 

Coach Erica graduated from Millsaps College with a dual degree in English and Secondary Education.  Thereafter, she was fortunate to see the world and keep up her swimming in Okinawa, Japan; Ewa Beach, Hawaii; and Charlottesville, Virginia, before returning home to the Jackson area.  Coach Erica resides in Rankin County with her daughters Anna Grace, Bella Ward, Lady Cate and Pippa Marie. 

Allison Conn

Assistant Coach

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Coach Allison Smith Conn grew up swimming in Columbus, MS, specializing in breaststroke and sprint free.  She was a multiple state champion and broke numerous state records.  Throughout high school, Coach Allison was one of the top ranked breaststrokers in the nation and a gold medal winner at Junior Nationals.  Coach Allison continued her success in college, swimming for Florida State University, where she was as an Atlantic Coast Conference champion and ACC record holder.  In 1995, Coach Allison was selected by the conference to the All-ACC Academic Women’s Swimming & Diving Team.

Coach Allison is ASCA certified Level 2 and also serves as head swimming coach for Jackson Academy.  Coach Allison is the proud mother of two, her son Jackson and daughter Isabella both standout athletes in multiple sports.