Meet the Coaches of Worden Aquatics
Highly Trained Private Swim Instructors Serving Nashville & Middle Tennessee
Expert Swim Coaches. Personalized Instruction.
At Worden Aquatics, our team of experienced swim coaches is the heart of everything we do. Each coach is carefully selected, professionally trained, and passionate about helping swimmers of all ages develop confidence, safety, and strong swimming skills.
We specialize in private swim lessons in Nashville, Spring Hill, and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities, providing personalized instruction that helps swimmers progress faster than traditional group classes.
Every instructor on our team shares the same mission:
to help swimmers feel safe, confident, and capable in the water.
Unlike many swim schools that rely on large group classes, Worden Aquatics focuses on individualized coaching. Our instructors work one-on-one with swimmers to develop water safety skills, proper technique, and confidence in the water.
Our coaches teach swimmers of all ages, including:
Infants and toddlers learning water safety
Children building foundational swim skills
Teen swimmers refining strokes
Adults overcoming fear of the water or improving technique
Each lesson is customized to the swimmer’s abilities and goals, allowing for faster skill development and a more positive learning experience.
Meet Our Coaches
Coach Lauren
Founder & Managing Partner • Private Swim Lessons Coach (Destinations) • TOW Instructor• Swim Camp Coach • LG
With over three decades of experience in aquatics, Lauren Worden brings unmatched expertise, passion, and heart to every lesson. She holds an extensive list of certifications, including Water Safety Instructor (WSI), Lifeguard Instructor (LGI), Lifeguard, First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor, and Multiple Sclerosis Aquatic Instructor certified through the MS Society. Among her career highlights, she coached athletes to Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals at the 1999 Special Olympics - a testament to her skill, dedication, and ability to connect with swimmers of all abilities. As a mom herself, Lauren understands that water safety is about more than swimming; it’s about confidence, trust, and peace of mind for families. Whether working with infants, seniors, or anyone in between, she has a unique gift for easing fears, building confidence, and fostering a lifelong love of the water, and her experience, compassion, and natural ability to teach truly set her apart as an exceptional instructor for swimmers at every stage.
Coach Lori
Director of First Impressions • Private Swim Lessons Coach (GJCC) • LG • WSI
Coach Lori brings over 25 years of experience teaching children with special needs and a lifelong passion for education, including unique roles like skydiving instructor, helping adults overcome fear. A lifelong swimmer who started at age two, she combines her intuitive understanding of what motivates each individual with a positive, encouraging approach, creating an environment where swimmers feel supported and empowered. Excited to share her love of swimming and water safety with students of all ages, Lori lives by the philosophy, “When you understand the safety, you can fully embrace the fun.” As of January 1, 2026, she has stepped into the role of Director of First Impressions, and we are thrilled to have her on our team.
Coach Rachael
Director of Operations • Private Swim Lessons Coach (Destinations) • LG
Coach Rachael discovered her love for swimming at age five and brings over 20 years of competitive experience, including a season with the U.S. Masters Swim Team. A Worden Aquatics team member for 10 years, she combines her experience as a swim coach and lifeguard with a calm, encouraging style that helps swimmers of all ages build confidence, skill, and independence. Known for breaking skills into manageable steps, Rachael ensures every student feels successful while progressing toward their goals. As a parent, she understands the trust families place in their instructor and takes it to heart. As of January 1, 2026, she also serves as Director of Operations while continuing private lessons, bringing leadership, expertise, and dedication to our swimmers and families.
Coach Perry
Private Swim Lessons Coach (GJCC) • LG
Coach Perry began teaching swim lessons in 1986, and that passion for helping others learn led to a 33-year career in education. He served as an educator for students in 1st through 8th grade in Arizona and Tennessee, teaching in Cheatham, Williamson, Davidson, and Sumner counties. Throughout his teaching career, Coach Perry continued instructing swim lessons for more than 30 years, including teaching his own son and daughter. Now retired from the classroom, he brings a wealth of experience, patience, and encouragement to every lesson. Known for his calm, optimistic, and supportive teaching style, Coach Perry works well with swimmers of all ages and ability levels. He is a dedicated instructor who is passionate about helping each student build confidence, develop skills, and achieve their goals with Worden Aquatics.
Coach Carly
Private Swim Lessons Coach (GJCC) • LG
Carly has been teaching swim lessons and working as a lifeguard for over six years, most recently leading the swim lesson program at the University of Tennessee’s pool. Originally from Colorado, her love for the outdoors naturally developed into a passion for swimming and teaching. Carly enjoys working with swimmers of all ages, but especially loves teaching preschool, where she can help young swimmers build confidence and feel comfortable in the water. She brings a positive, patient, and encouraging approach to every lesson, focusing on water safety, skill development, and helping each swimmer grow into a confident and capable swimmer with a lifelong love for the water.
Coach Fiona
Private Swim Lessons Coach (GJCC) • ASL Certified • Oxygen, BLS, First Aid, CPR & LG
Fiona’s journey in aquatics began with her first job as an assistant swim coach, and she has been teaching swim lessons ever since. Originally from Maine, where water safety and exploration were an important part of her life, Fiona brings a patient, encouraging, and individualized approach to every swimmer she works with. Fiona holds degrees in Therapeutic Recreation, giving her an educational foundation in adapting activities and instruction to support individuals with a wide range of abilities and needs. Before joining Worden Aquatics, she taught with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and has worked with swimmers of all ages, from infants as young as 6 months to older adults. Fiona has a particular passion for adaptive swim instruction and enjoys finding the teaching and communication approach that works best for each individual swimmer. She meets swimmers where they are, helping them feel safe, understood, comfortable, and confident as they develop their skills in the water. Her goal is to help every swimmer build the skills, independence, and confidence needed to develop a safe, positive, and lifelong relationship with the water.