Community Education

Dana Pederson leads multiple volleyball programs for boys and girls with Mahtomedi Community Education in the spring/summer and is the assistant coach of the Mahtomedi High School Girl’s Volleyball program!

Growing up, Coach Pederson was a three-sport athlete but says she always loved volleyball the most. Her love for the sport followed her to college where she played for Northern State University (NSU). (Go Wolves!) Following her time at NSU, she began her coaching career as the head coach at South St. Paul while teaching PE/Health. After completing her USA Volleyball Coaching Accreditation Program (CAP) I certificate in Bloomington and her CAP II certificate at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, she was asked to return to NSU as a graduate assistant coach where she also finished her first master’s degree.

Coach Pederson was the head volleyball coach at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology for three years and then taught at various districts in the Twin Cities metro area before finding her permanent teaching home in district 622. She paused coaching after her son was born and then found her way to Mahtomedi Community Education!

Coach Pederson’s training programs and camps focus on the fundamental skills of passing, serving, setting, hitting, digging, and blocking, as well as basic offense, defense, and transition. When asked about a proud moment from her classes, she shared how exciting it was to see her boys’ team last spring beat a high school JV2 team in a scrimmage whom they had struggled to score any points against in previous years. She also shared this: “I’m also proud of how we have expanded our summer camps and have volleyball opportunities for kids K-12. It makes our whole high school program stronger! ”

She shared this about Mahtomedi Community Education, “I think the ability for kids to try a lot of different activities is my favorite part of Community Education. It’s a great way to learn if it’s something you’d like to pursue further!”