IMG Academy Names Olympic Gold Medalist John Hargis Director Of Swimming

IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, has named the chief for its newly created swimming and diving program.

Former U.S. Olympic gold medalist John Hargis has been tabbed as the primary Director of Swimming for IMG Academy, which introduced in November that it’s going to launch a swimming and diving program set to start competitors within the fall of 2027.

The program will formally begin as soon as development of a state-of-the-art natatorium is completed. IMG Academy plans on constructing a 9,345-square-foot natatorium that goals to additionally “provide an Olympic-caliber training experience.”

Hargis was a member of the U.S. 4×100 medley relay staff that gained gold on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, the place he swam in preliminary heats. He then began a collegiate teaching profession.

Hargis served as head coach at Penn State from 2008 to 2013, an related head coach at Auburn from 2013 to 2016 and most not too long ago as the top coach at Pitt from 2016 to 2022.

“With swimming’s distinctive capability to impression IMG Academy’s boarding college, camps, and elite

Olympic coaching pathways, the launch of this system required a very world-class chief, and John is the right individual to steer our program,” mentioned Brian Nash, Vice President of Athletics. “His passion for the sport, combined with his Olympic pedigree and proven leadership, makes him the ideal person to build and lead IMG Academy Swimming. John’s vision and experience will inspire our student-athletes and elevate the program to new heights.”

Swimming and diving is the third sport launched by IMG Academy this 12 months, along with wrestling and boys’ volleyball.

A well-liked vacation spot for younger athletes around the globe, IMG has a holistic training mannequin that mixes an educational curriculum with athletic coaching and /teaching for college kids in grades 6-12, in addition to  post-graduate college students. The campus options on-site dormitories for out-of-state and worldwide college students and gives an in depth slate of sports activities camps.