Coaches Bios

Coach Dara Carmack learned to swim in “Papaw Evan’s” pool when she was six years old with the help of her siblings. That moment sparked her love for swimming, prompting her to join the Knox County Piranhas swim team when she turned 10 years old.

Dara was mentored by Dee Dole, the “Godmother of Swimming” in Southeastern Kentucky. Dee coached for many years and taught Dara not only how to swim competitively, but how to coach competitive swimmers. 

Dara began coaching at the age of 16 and has never looked back. She has turned her passion into a career and has helped countless students learn how to swim and perfect their sport. Dara has coached teams, groups, and individuals over the years, fostering a love for not only the sport, but a passion to share her experience, and joy, as a confident and capable swimmer.

“It has been a privilege to teach, and coach, over 400 kids within the tri-county area, as well as a few adults, through individual lessons, the Piranhas Swim Team, KAC Aquatics, and the KCHS Men’s and Women’s Swim Team. Watching children and adults face their fear and learn how to become confident swimmers is an incredible feeling that I hope to pursue for as long as I can. As a mother, the assurance of knowing that my girls enjoy the water safely is priceless. Swimming is a life skill. No one regrets becoming a strong swimmer and I cherish being a part of that process.”

Poppy was a 15-year member of the Piranhas swim team and served 2 seasons as a coach. She represented South Laurel High School for 7 seasons and swam one season for the University of Kentucky club team.

Poppy has committed eight summers to work with special needs children at Camp L.E.A.P. and seven years with the Special Olympics and Special Prom. She believes ALL children deserve the opportunity to learn to engage and enjoy the water safely!

In the fall, Poppy will pursue her master's degree in Marine Science with a specialization in conservation.

Alex first dove into swimming in 2017 with the Knox County Piranhas in Coach Dara’s class at just 10 years old. From there, he swam with the Piranhas for 8 years and spent a season with KAC during his sophomore year of high school. Alex joined the Knox Central High School swim team in 7th grade and proudly swam for the Panthers all the way through graduation. During that time, he competed in the KHSAA Regional Championships every year, making finals and placing in the top ten for 5 of those seasons.

Outside of the pool, Alex also enjoyed playing football throughout middle and high school. He is now a psychology student at Union Commonwealth University, and in his free time, he loves watching football and basketball, playing video games, and hunting.

Alex is excited to be working alongside Coach Dara again and looks forward to helping guide swimmers in the water—whether that’s learning the basics of safe swimming or improving strokes. He is eager to make it a fun and rewarding season for everyone!

Kinsley began swimming at a young age and has developed a strong passion for the sport. Currently, she swims competitively for Whitley County High School, where she ranks 5th in the region in both the butterfly and backstroke events. Her favorite stroke is the butterfly, and she is known for her dedication and sportsmanship in the pool.

Beyond her own swimming achievements, Kinsley is deeply committed to working with children and giving back to her community. She teaches Sunday school and enjoys helping kids build confidence both in and out of the water. Kinsley has experience as an elementary swim coach, where she loved introducing young swimmers to the sport and building a strong foundation in technique, safety, and teamwork. During the summer, she coaches swim team, finding joy in guiding young athletes as they learn and grow.

Kinsley's positive attitude, patience, and individualized approach make her a valued member of the Cannonball Swim Academy team. She is excited to share her love for swimming and help students develop their skills in a supportive environment.

After learning to swim at age 4 and loving it, Blake wasted no time and began swimming competitively at age 5 for the Piranhas. During his 10 years in the LCSA conference, Blake received the high point award in every age group. His favorite strokes are freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke. Currently, he is representing Corbin High School and KAC Aquatics in the pool. He holds the 100 backstroke record for Corbin High School and is part of the 400 relay record-holding team. He has made multiple appearances at state competitions, and at one point, ranked 9th in the state for the 100 backstroke. After high school, he plans on either swimming or playing soccer in college and studying to become a corporate lawyer.