BOSTON, Mass. – Director of Athletics & Recreation Erica Schuling has announced the hiring of James Sweeney as Simmons University's head swimming & diving coach and aquatics director.
Sweeney brings more than three decades of coaching and aquatics leadership experience to Simmons. A former NCAA Division I All-American and three-time Big Ten Champion at Indiana University, he has served in numerous leadership roles within the sport, including as GNAC Championship Meet Director and President of the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA).
"We are excited to welcome James to Simmons Athletics as our next Head Swim & Dive Coach and Aquatics Director," said Schuling. "James brings a wealth of coaching and aquatics management experience, along with a proven record of success in developing student-athletes and building competitive programs. The opening of the Living and Learning Center marks an exciting new chapter for Simmons swimming & diving, and his experience leading both successful teams and aquatic facilities will be invaluable as we continue to grow the program."
Most recently, Sweeney served as aquatics director at the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA in Marblehead, Massachusetts. During his tenure, he increased swim lesson revenue by 87 percent, growing annual sales from $117,000 to $220,000 while overseeing a record-setting 800-plus swim lessons. He supervised and evaluated more than 70 staff members, including swim instructors, lifeguards, and program coordinators, while managing all aspects of aquatic programming, facility operations, staffing, scheduling, pool rentals, budgeting, and safety compliance. Under his leadership, the aquatics department earned the YMCA's Department of the Year Award in 2022. Prior to Marblehead, Sweeney served as aquatics director at the Torigian Family YMCA in Peabody, where he oversaw aquatic operations, programming, staffing, and facility management.
Before entering the YMCA sector, Sweeney spent nine seasons as aquatics director and head men's and women's swimming & diving coach at fellow GNAC member Regis College. A two-time GNAC Men's Coach of the Year, Sweeney guided Regis student-athletes to 120 school records, 92 conference championships, 48 GNAC records, 10 New England champions, and numerous regional and national qualifiers. His teams also excelled in the classroom, earning multiple College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team honors while producing 156 combined GNAC and New England All-Academic selections.
Sweeney's coaching resume includes leadership positions throughout the country. At Gulliver Schools in Miami, Florida, he served as aquatics director and head men's and women's swim coach, overseeing the opening of a state-of-the-art 50-meter aquatic facility and growing the school's swim club from 30 to more than 170 athletes. He also launched a Masters Swim Club that expanded from 10 to more than 70 participants.
His collegiate experience includes nearly a decade on the coaching staff at the University of Miami, where he rose from assistant coach to head men's and women's swimming & diving coach. During his tenure with the Hurricanes, he coached nine Olympians, six NCAA Division I All-Americans, a Big East Swimmer of the Year, and multiple conference champions. Miami recorded four top-20 finishes at the NCAA Division I Women's Swimming & Diving Championships during his time as head coach, while the program also achieved national academic success.
Additional coaching experience includes positions with the University of Massachusetts, Andover/North Andover YMCA, Naperville Swim Team, and Academy Bullets Swim Team, where he developed numerous national qualifiers, state champions, and record holders.
"I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Simmons swimming & diving program and build on the success the team has already achieved," said Sweeney. "I want to thank Erica Schuling and the search committee for their confidence in me and for the chance to return to coaching while serving as Aquatics Director. I'm looking forward to working with our student-athletes and helping shape the future of the program as we prepare to open the new aquatics center."
Sweeney has also been recognized for his contributions to the sport beyond the pool deck. A two-time U.S. Olympic Trials participant, he received the CSCAA Distinguished Service Award and has served in several leadership capacities with the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA), including President, Treasurer, and Championship Meet Director.
Sweeney will begin his duties immediately and will lead the Sharks into the upcoming 2026-27 season.
