By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam
Southern Illinois University has announced the hiring of Alec Kandt as its new assistant coach. He fills the position left vacant by Michael Hampel, who departed the program in August to take the same role at the University of Minnesota.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Alec and his wife, Piper, to the Salukis family,” head coach Geoff Hanson said in the university’s press release. “Throughout our search process, Ale stood out as an extremely experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate coach. His years of experience coaching in the SEC and producing NCAA qualifiers and international level swimmers is impressive. Most importantly, after speaking to a number of his former athletes and colleagues, it became clear that his commitment goes beyond the pool and that he cares deeply about student-athletes as people.”
Kandt comes to SIU from Arkansas, a women’s program, where he served as an assistant coach from August 2022 through the end of the 2024-25 season. During the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, the Razorbacks swam to a 7-2 dual meet record and placed 10th out of 12 teams at the SEC Championships. Last season, the women finished with an 8-5 record before taking 12th out of 13 teams at the conference meet.
Prior to his time with the Razorbacks, Kandt spent two years as an assistant at NCAA Division II Davenport University. At the 2022 GLIAC Championships, one of the top D2 conference championship meets, the DU women finished 5th out of 5 teams and the men finished 6th out of 7 teams. A relatively-new program at the time, the women’s team began competition in 2018 and the men in 2020 – Kandt’s first year with the program.
Kandt’s Full Coaching History:
ARKANSAS – Assistant Swim Coach – August 2022-June 2025 DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY (D2) – Assistant Swim Coach – August 2020-August 2022 EAST GRAND RAPIDS AQUATICS (Club) – Head Age Group Coach – July 2018-July 2021 FLORIDA – Volunteer Assistant Swim Coach – August 2017 – August 2018 GATOR SWIM CLUB (Club) – Assistant Swim Coach – July 2017 – April 2018 MID-MICHIGAN AQUATICS (Club) – Assistant Swim Coach – March 2016-April 2017 SOUTH EAST METRO SHARKS SWIM CLUB (Club) – Assistant Swim Coach – May 2014 – August 2014In the pool, Kandt was a four-time varsity letterman at Michigan State, where he was named Male Freshman Swimmer of the Year honors in 2014. He went on to earn Male Swimmer of the Year three consecutive times from 2015-17 and competed as a Big Ten Championship Finalist during his time in East Lansing. Kandt currently holds the school record in the 100 breaststroke (53.26) and qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, where he placed 54th in the 100 breast (1:02.87).
The SIU women finished 2nd out of 9 teams at last year’s MVC Championships, while the SIU men took 2nd out of 7 teams.
Kandt joins a Saluki staff that includes head diving coach Chunhua Zhao, assistant coach Laura Carver, and graduate assistant Cecilia Pulido.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Southern Illinois Hires Former Arkansas Assistant Alec Kandt As New Assistant Coach
Hence then, the article about southern illinois hires former arkansas assistant alec kandt as new assistant coach was published today ( ) and is available on swimswam ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Southern Illinois Hires Former Arkansas Assistant Alec Kandt As New Assistant Coach )
Also on site :
- Katie Price names Brit TV star she claims raped her – leaving fans gasping in shock
- BTS' Taehyung, RM, j-hope, TXT's Soobin, Lee Chae-min, Jeon Yeo-been turn heads at 2025 W Korea Love Your W Event: Full guest list, highlights, & more
- arena Launches “Planet Water. No Lanes”