Owner and Head Coach, Coach Karr has 30 years of coaching experience. She is the founder of Buckeye Swim Club and has led the team to a 3rd place overall finish & a 1st Place Small Team at the Ohio Age Group Championships and a 2nd place finish at the Ohio Senior Meet. She brings a passion for the sport of swimming and swimmers that is unparalleled by any in Central Ohio. She brings tremendous knowledge of swimming and the ability to communicate with swimmers and parents.
Coach Laurie earned her B.S. in Mathematical Sciences at Ohio State where she swam the distance and IM events. Growing up in Columbus, Laurie swam for 14 years in summer league, college, AAU, USS, and at Worthington High School where she was team captain. Her coaching career began in 1986 at local summer league and USS teams. In 1990, with a mere dozen swimmers, Laurie started Metro Five Swim Team. Laurie and her husband Rick are enjoying their time with their daughter Makenzie and son Jeremy and look forward to many years of continued success at Buckeye.
Coach Karr’s coaching accomplishments include the following:
- 2019 ASCA Age Group Coach of the Year Finalist3 US Open Qualifier
- 3 Junior National Qualifiers
- 7 YMCA National Qualifiers
- 1 Ohio High School District Record Breaker
- Numerous Ohio High School State Qualifiers
- Ohio High School State Champion & Record Holder
- Numerous High School All Americans
- Numerous state qualifiers and a district runner-up under her direction as Head Coach at for Dublin Coffman High School for 5 years and Olentangy Liberty High School for 8 years
- OSI Coach Chair 4 Years
- OSI High School Representative