Dixie State University has announced that Ben Rae will become the school’s first head coach for women’s swimming program, according to the university. The Red Storm, which compete in NCAA Division II, will field their first competitive team during the 2016-2017 school year.
Rae previously worked for the Washington City Community Center and oversaw the center’s aquatics department. Prior to his work at the center, Rae coached with Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta.
Rae attended Dixie State, and is now tasked with bringing in Dixie State’s inaugural recruiting class for the 2016-2017 season.
Press Release:
ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Dixie State Athletic Department is proud to announce Benjamin Rae as the school’s first Head Women’s Swimming Coach. He will begin building the 14th varsity sport at DSU on July 1, 2015 to prepare for the 2016-17 competitive season. Presently, Rae is the Aquatics Manager at the Washington City Community Center since October 2011.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ben to the Dixie State family to serve as the leader of our new Women’s Swimming program,” Dixie State Athletic Director Jason Boothe said. “He brings many skills with him that will allow him to succeed in this job. I look forward to working with Ben as he begins to put the program together to begin competition during the 2016-17 school year.”
“I am excited for the opportunity to be the first DSU Women’s Swimming Coach and to build a program that will further the mission of the university,” Rae said. “Since the announcement of the program, I have been overwhelmed by the positive response from the swimming community and am grateful for the opportunity to be part of it. This program will provide many athletes in the state and region an opportunity to compete at the collegiate level that was previously not available to them.”
At the Washington City Community Center, Rae created and currently maintains all aspects of the aquatic department that has been rated at Utah Best in State four times. Rae oversees a staff of over 50 employees and has coordinated with the community to sponsor new programs and competitive events at the center’s pool. He led a group in bidding for and ultimately hosting the Utah Senior State Swimming Championships from 2012-2014. Rae was named the 2013 Washington City Employee of the Year.
Prior to his work at the Washington City Community Center, Rae coached and coordinated staff for the Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta, Ga. In five years, his teams and individuals ranked in the top ten multiple times, including the nation’s best 13-14 boys 200 meter freestyle relay team and 2010-11 overall junior national championship team. Rae was the 2011 North Atlanta Swim Association Coach of the Year.
While getting a bachelor degree in exercise science and working in the exercise physiology master’s program at Brigham Young University, Rae worked for three different swimming entities. He was the strength and sprint coach for the BYU women’s program for nearly three years (2002-05). He was the head assistant coach at Utah Valley Aquatics in Provo for just over a year (2005-06) and at the same time was leading the swimming program at Springville High School to a top-three ranking in Utah 4A swimming.
Rae also attended Dixie State, getting an associate degree in 2000, and Southern Utah University. During his time in the southern part of the state, he served as the head water polo coach and assistant swim coach for three St. George based high schools and the Dixie Aquatic Racing Team.
Rae is a leadership academy participant in the Utah Recreation and Parks Association (URPA). He is a certified Red Cross professional in CPR and first aid and is certified as a Red Cross instructor and Aquatic Facility Operator. He is a member of United States Swimming, a registered partner of the URPA, and a Level 4 Certified member of the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA).
Congratulations Ben from someone who remembers you from Dynamo.
Congratulations Ben. You will do a fabulous job. You are one of the most dedicated individuals I know. You did a great job as a Red Cross volunteer and DSU is fortunate to have the benefit of your leadership skills.