Alec Kandt Chosen To Lead St. Bonaventure Swimming and Diving

By: Scott Eddy, Assistant Athletics Director for Strategic Communications

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Alec Kandt is the brand new head males’s and ladies’s swimming and diving head coach at St. Bonaventure as introduced by Vice President and Director of Athletics Bob Beretta.

“Alec brings a wealth of experience as a Division I assistant coach and is a former collegiate swimmer who excelled at the highest level,” Beretta stated. “Alec boasts a championship mindset and is highly regarded throughout coaching circles. His vision, energy, and commitment to excellence align perfectly with the standards of St. Bonaventure University and our athletic department. We are confident he will continue to build upon the long track record of success that St. Bonaventure’s swimming and diving programs have enjoyed, and are excited to welcome Alec and his wife, Piper, to the Bona family.”

Kandt brings practically a decade of teaching expertise with him to St. Bonaventure, most just lately serving as an assistant on workers at Southern Illinois. While at SIU, he was closely concerned in recruiting and in addition coached a number of particular person and relay convention title-winning athletes in the course of the 2025-26 season. Last yr, SIU’s girls’s staff positioned second on the Missouri Valley Conference championships whereas the lads got here in third.

He primarily labored with the dash and breaststroke items at SIU the place he coached three Olympians.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to join the St. Bonaventure community,” Kandt stated. “This university has such a rich history of tradition and success, and I consider myself lucky to contribute. I want to express my gratitude to Bob Beretta, the athletic department, and the university for trusting me with this program. Assuming the role of head coach is not something I take lightly, and I am excited to further the growth, success, and development of the athletes within the program.”

Prior to his time in Illinois, he served two stints within the SEC, most just lately at Arkansas the place he was on workers with the Razorbacks’ girls’s program from 2022-25. He was Arkansas’ lead recruiting coordinator, and his 400-free relay squad completed third at SEC championships. He was additionally on the U.S. Olympic Trials and Czech Republic nationwide teaching staffs throughout his tenure at Arkansas.

Kandt beforehand performed a key position in launching the lads’s swim and dive program at Davenport University in Michigan. He spearheaded the recruitment of United States student-athletes for the Davenport program whereas additionally growing dash and stroke group coaching plans.

He bought his begin in teaching as a volunteer on workers at Michigan State, later serving an analogous position on the University of Florida the place he helped the Gators to a males’s SEC championship in 2018.

A local of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., he was a standout performer as a student-athlete at Michigan State.

An Olympic Trials qualifier within the 100-meter breaststroke in 2016, he additionally certified for the US Open within the 100 and 200-breast, 200-IM and 100-fly. Kandt graduated with the Michigan State all-time program file within the 100-breast and was a constant chief at Big Ten championships for the Spartans.

What they’re saying about Alec Kandt

“I have known Coach Kandt since he was 17. As a student-athlete at Michigan State, he worked very hard to have the opportunity to compete at a very high level. He left MSU with multiple awards and team records. He also gained a passion for the sport of swimming which he has passed on to his athletes. He has worked very hard as an assistant coach in elite college programs under elite coaches to put him in position to be a head coach. As an alumnus of the St. Bonaventure program and as his former coach, I can think of no one better to lead our program.”

Matt Gianiodis

Former Head Coach, Michigan State

St. Bonaventure Class of 1992

“In his short time with the Salukis, Alec made a strong impact on the student-athletes and coaches.  His passion and knowledge for the sport will be a great asset to the St. Bonaventure program, and I wish him the best of luck in his first head coaching role.”

Geoff Hanson

Head Coach, Southern Illinois