Tallahassee, Fla. — Neal Studd, a five-time Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) Coach of the Year at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), has been named head coach of Florida State’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving program by Vice President and Director of Athletics Stan Wilcox today.
Studd, a native of Ipswich, United Kingdom, led FGCU’s women’s program to six CCSA Championships (2009-13, 15) and a 28-1 all-time conference record since beginning the program at the Ft. Myers, Fla., school in 2007.
“We are pleased to welcome coach Studd and his family to FSU,” said Wilcox. “Coach Studd has an outstanding reputation both within our state and nationally. He has a proven track record of success and we believe he will be a great fit to lead our highly-competitive program to the next level.”
Studd coached St. Lucia in the 2012 Olympic Games as well as his former FGCU swimmer Danielle Beaubrun. It marked his second international coaching stint with St. Lucia after serving as the country’s head coach at the World Championships in Shanghai, China in 2011.
“I am thrilled to be the new head coach at FSU,” said Studd. “It is an amazing opportunity for me professionally and for my family personally. To be in a position to lead the program at such a prestigious University that combines truly outstanding academics and athletics is really a dream come true for me.
“I cannot wait to meet and start working with the team and put my own brand and coaching style in place. When I look at the success of all the teams at FSU, I am so excited for what is possible with our swimming and diving teams. I know we can do great things here and do it the right way.”
Studd was selected to begin the women’s swimming and diving program at FGCU in 2006 after spending eight seasons with the swimming staff at his alma mater Florida Atlantic University (FAU).
An outstanding sprints swimmer at FAU from 1994-98, Studd set several varsity records, served as the men’s team captain and was a National Independent Conference (NIC) champion and two-time Olympic Trials qualifier.
Studd earned a B.S. in Finance from FAU in 1998 and his MBA from the school in 2002. He and his wife Leah have two children together, daughter Sophia (2) and son Henry, born November 2013.
Florida State contributed this report.
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