Good luck finding a more accomplished swim coach than the new assistant at Missouri State.
Ryan Lochte — yes, the one with 12 Olympic medals, including six golds — will join the Bears and tutor their men’s and women’s teams once the university’s board of governors formally approves his contract in June. The Spruce Creek alum will work under head coach Dave Collins.
“From a personal standpoint, this is a new chapter that I’m truly excited about,” Lochte said in a news release. “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.”
The 41-year-old appeared in four Olympic Games, with the last one coming in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. He ranks as the third-most decorated swimmer in Olympic history, trailing only Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky in medal count.
Lochte grabbed the American Swimmer of the Year award twice and the FINA Swimmer of the Year honor three times. Along with Phelps, Ricky Berens and David Walters, Lochte still holds the world record in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, which was set during the 2009 World Championships.
“His experience and proven success at the highest levels of our sport will have an immediate impact on our program and our student-athletes,” Collins said. “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.”
Collins is entering his 15th season at Missouri State. He’s won 13 conference coach of the year titles. Under his guidance, the Bears have claimed 12 league championships on the women’s side and four on the men’s.
After graduating from Spruce Creek, Lochte attended the University of Florida, where he developed into a 24-time All-American. He earned his degree in 2007.
Toward the end of his competitive career, Lochte faced controversy, with a 2016 suspension for false claims of an armed robbery and another suspension in 2018 from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for an intravenous injection of permitted substances but without proper permission.
In the years since his last Olympics, he has stayed in the public eye on television. Lochte has been on “The Traitors,” “Celebrity Family Feud,” Celebrity Big Brother,” “Dancing with the Stars” and “Worst Cooks in America.”
According to a report by Front Office Sports, his one-year contract with MSU calls for an approximate salary of $30,000. He’ll be eligible for bonuses, which include $750 for a conference championship and $500 for each individual or relay team that qualifies for the NCAA championships.
“This opportunity means everything to me,” Lochte said. “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.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ryan Lochte brings gold-medal experience as Missouri State swim coach
Reporting by Chris Vinel, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
