Alabama Head Coach Coley Stickels Named USA Swimming National Team Coach Once Again
8/22/2020 12:55:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The Crimson Tide mentor has been a USA National Team coach since 2013
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Alabama swimming and diving head coach Coley Stickels has been named a United States National Team coach for the ninth year in a row.
"Being a part of the USA staff is always a tremendous honor and it's something I never take for granted," Stickels said. "I flat out love having this opportunity to help young men and women achieve their dreams of competing with their name and their flag on their cap and putting themselves in a position to make it to the Olympic Games."
Crimson Tide junior Kensey McMahon was named to the United States National Team for the second year in a row. The UA distance ace is coming off a stellar sophomore season that saw her shatter the school 1,650 freestyle record on the way to a dominant win at the Southeastern Conference Championships. She originally earned her spot with Team USA after taking second in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the 2019 national championships.
In addition to McMahon, Stickels also coaches a trio of current Team USA swimmers, including sprinters Ryan Held and Margo Geer as well as butterflyer Amanda Kendall.
Held, the 2019 USA 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle champion with a pair of career-best marks, won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games as part of the U.S. 400-meter freestyle relay. Geer tied for the most medals by an American swimmer at the 2019 Pan American Games this past summer with five. Kendall posted a second-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly at the 2019 U.S. National Championships with a career-best 57.51, as well as top-20 finishes in the 50m and 100m freestyles.
In addition to nine years as a USA National Team coach, Stickels was also a member of Team USA as an athlete, earning a spot on the 1999-2000 national team, competing for the red, white and blue at the Short Course World Championships in 1999.
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Players Mentioned
