Panther coach Ben Colin named to 2024 U.S. Paralympic swim team staff
7/10/2024 9:22:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- UNI assistant swimming coach Ben Colin was selected as one of eight coaches who will serve as on-the-ground support for the United States team at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, as announced by U.S. Paralympics Swimming on Tuesday.
"We selected a diverse coaching staff with a wealth of experience that will partner well with the 33 athletes competing in Paris," said Erin Popovich, Director of U.S. Paralympic Swimming. "We wanted to bring in a coaching staff who know our swimmers well, and who have proven their dedication to Para swimming in the past quad."
Colin, who will begin his fourth season on head coach Nick Lakin's UNI staff this fall, joins Panther rising senior Olivia Chambers who will make her Paralympic Games debut in France next month after winning two events and finishing second in two additional races at last month's U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in Minneapolis. The 2024 U.S. team will be led by John Payne, associate head coach of the Triangle Aquatics Center Titans in North Carolina.
"It's an honor to be named to the Team USA coaching staff for the 2024 Paralympic Games," said Colin. "In the past few years I've had the opportunity to get to know many of the awesome members of this team and coaching staff. Being able to represent my country on the global stage is a privilege and I look forward to the opportunity to serve this incredible group of swimmers in Paris!"
The selection marks the second international competition in which Colin has been selected to serve on for the U.S. delegation. In 2023, he was part of the U.S. staff for the Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester, England, a meet that saw the American team collect 25 total medals, including six from Chambers in her world championship meet debut.
Joining Colin as an assistant coach in Paris will be James Barone (Chelsea Piers Swim Team), Kris Goodrich (Milford Athletic Club), Julie Hardt (Carson Tigersharks), Marty Hendrick (Swim Fort Lauderdale), George Leatherman (U.S. Paralympics Swimming), Patrick McCloskey (Nitro Swimming) and Dave Modzelewski (YMCA of the North Shore Sharks).
A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Colin joined the UNI staff after a four-year swimming career at the University of Iowa and with the Dubuque Area Swimmin' Hurricanes. While at Iowa, he earned his degree in Sport & Recreation Management and Journalism, and Mass Communications. He was a three-time Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar and served as the chair of the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
As a Hawkeye, Colin was named the 2019 NCAA Jim McKay Scholar for excellence in sport communication. He has been an active member of Iowa Swimming, Inc. as a representative on the governance and technical planning committees.
The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games will run from August 28 through September 8.
Players Mentioned
