Ben Keast Named Assistant Swim Coach for Kentucky – UK Athletics

LEXINGTON, Ky. – On Thursday, swimming & diving Head Coach Bret Lundgaard introduced the addition of Ben Keast as an assistant swim coach for the Kentucky program.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ben to Kentucky Swimming & Diving,” stated Lundgaard. “He is an outstanding coach, but even more importantly, he’s an exceptional person whose character, humility, and ability to connect with people make him a perfect fit for our culture. He is a gifted communicator who builds meaningful relationships with athletes while holding them to an elite standard.”

Keast joins Kentucky after three seasons with SwimMAC Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of many nation’s premier membership swimming packages. As an assistant coach for this system’s High Performance Training Group, he labored with nationally ranked athletes whereas serving to information coaching, competitors planning and athlete growth. During his tenure, SwimMAC earned the No. 1 membership rating in USA Swimming and captured crew titles on the 2024 Winter Junior Championships and 2025 Summer Junior Championships.

In addition to his position with SwimMAC, Keast has served as head coach at Charlotte Country Day School since 2023, main this system to back-to-back state championships—its first titles in 20 years.

Prior to returning to the United States, Keast spent 4 years as an assistant coach with the Swimming Canada High Performance Centre in Vancouver, the place he coached Canadian National Team athletes getting ready for the Olympic Games, World Championships and different worldwide competitions. Working inside the University of British Columbia’s built-in high-performance system, he collaborated with sport scientists, power coaches and medical professionals whereas serving to recruit and develop future collegiate student-athletes.

“Ben has coached at an elite level with Canada’s High Performance Centre and has played a significant role in one of the nation’s premier club programs at SwimMAC,” Lundgaard added. “Those experiences have given him a unique perspective on developing Olympic-caliber athletes while never losing sight of the individual behind the performance.”

Throughout his profession, Keast has helped develop athletes who’ve superior to the Olympic Games, World Championships and NCAA Division I competitors. His athletes have represented their nations on the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan Pacific Championships, Junior World Championships and Junior Pan Pacific Championships, whereas quite a few swimmers have earned spots on the USA Swimming National Junior Team.

Keast has additionally served in a number of nationwide crew teaching roles, together with as a coach for the 2025 USA Swimming National Select Camp, head coach for the 2021 Swimming Canada Backstroke Camp and crew coach for the 2019 Pan American Games. He additionally contributed to Swimming Canada’s Olympic Relay Initiative.

Keast earned a grasp’s diploma in kinesiology with an emphasis in high-performance teaching and technical management from the University of British Columbia in 2021 after finishing his bachelor’s diploma in English literature from Simon Fraser University in 2009. He additionally holds an Advanced Coaching Diploma from the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and is a Certified Professional Swim Coach by way of the Coaching Association of Canada.

“As we continue building a championship program at Kentucky, adding someone with Ben’s experience, integrity, and passion for helping people reach their potential is a tremendous step forward. We’re excited for the impact he’ll have on our student-athletes, our staff, and the future of this program,” stated Lundgaard.

For the most recent on UK Swim & Dive, comply with the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKSwimDive, and on Facebook at Kentucky Swimming and Diving.