12-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte named assistant swimming coach at Missouri State University

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release/KY3) – Missouri State University swimming and diving head coach Dave Collins introduced that probably the most embellished swimmers in American historical past is becoming a member of his workers.

Six-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte will be part of the Bears as an assistant coach for each the Missouri State males’s and girls’s groups later this summer time.

Decorated Olympic profession

Lochte, 41, involves Springfield after an iconic swimming profession that has included memorable performances in 4 Olympic Games and featured 12 whole Olympic medals. He is the third-most embellished swimmer in Olympic historical past by way of medals gained, trailing solely United States legends Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.

“We are very excited to welcome Ryan to the coaching staff,” Collins mentioned. “His experience and proven success at the highest levels of our sport will have an immediate impact on our program and our student-athletes. Beyond his lengthy list of accomplishments as an athlete, Ryan has a work ethic that will translate very well on deck as a coach. When you have the opportunity to bring in one of the best ever in our sport, you do everything you can to make it happen. Adding Ryan to the staff at Missouri State further shows the forward momentum of our program and the commitment we have from our administration.”

Culture and growth

“What stood out to me about Missouri State is the culture,” Lochte mentioned. “There’s a strong sense of purpose, accountability, and team-first mentality. You can tell this is a program that’s building something meaningful and sustainable. Dave (Collins) and Chelsea (Dirks-Ham) have created an environment that emphasizes development, not just performance, and that really resonates with me. Their vision for the program aligns with how I see the sport — developing complete athletes and great people. Being able to learn from them while also bringing my own experience to the table made this opportunity feel like the right fit.”

Born in New York and raised in Daytona Beach, Florida, Lochte was a 24-time swimming All-American on the University of Florida the place he earned his diploma in sport administration in 2007. During his collegiate profession underneath the route of coach Gregg Troy, he was the NCAA Swimmer of the Year twice, a seven-time NCAA champion, a seven-time SEC champion, and broke American information within the 200-yard particular person medley and 200-yard backstroke.

Giving again to the game

“This opportunity (at Missouri State) means everything to me,” Lochte mentioned. “Swimming gave me structure, purpose, and a platform to grow not just as an athlete, but as a person. To now step into a coaching role and pour that experience back into student-athletes is something I take seriously. At this level, it’s about more than times and results. It’s about helping young men and women build discipline, resilience, and confidence that will carry them far beyond the pool. I’ve lived the highs and the challenges of this sport, and I want to use that perspective to guide them, support them, and help them reach their full potential both in and out of the water.”

After school, the multi-stroke standout broke the 100-meter IM world report on Dec. 15, 2012 (50.71) and later swam the quickest 200 IM time ever with a mark of 1:49.63 on the similar occasion. He represented the United States on the Olympics in Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), London (2012) and Rio (2016) and was a part of the gold medal 4×200-meter freestyle relay groups in any respect 4 Games. He nonetheless holds a part of the world report within the lengthy course 4×200-meter freestyle relay.

Lochte has earned the American Swimmer of the Year Award twice and the FINA Swimmer of the Year 3 times. He has additionally gained 90 medals in main worldwide competitions (54 gold), spanning the Olympics, the World Championships, Pan American Games, and Pan Pacific Championships with 39 world championship titles.

“From a personal standpoint, this is a new chapter that I’m truly excited about,” Lochte mentioned. “Swimming has given me so much, and this is my chance to give back in a meaningful way. I’m coming into this role with humility, hunger, and a genuine passion to make an impact. I want to be someone these athletes can trust — not just as a coach, but as a mentor who understands what they’re going through. This opportunity isn’t something I take lightly. It’s about building relationships, contributing to a winning culture, and helping shape the next generation — not just as swimmers, but as people.”

Collins lately accomplished his 14th season as Missouri State’s head coach. He is a 13-time convention coach of the yr with 12 league championships on the ladies’s facet and 4 on the boys’s facet in that span. The Missouri State males’s squad is coming off a championship run on the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference meet. Chelsea Dirks-Ham joined the Missouri State swimming workers in 2012 and was elevated to affiliate head coach in 2017 after a Hall of Fame swimming profession with the Bears as a student-athlete from 2007-11.

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