6-time Olympic champion joins swimming staff at Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KQTV) -- Missouri State University swimming and diving head coach Dave Collins announced that six-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte will join the Bears as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams.

Lochte, 41, comes to Springfield, Missouri, after a successful swimming career, which includes memorable performances in four Olympic Games and featured 12 Olympic medals.

He is the third-most decorated swimmer in Olympic history, in terms of medals won, trailing Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.

"We are very excited to welcome Ryan to the coaching staff," said Collins. "His experience and proven success at the highest levels of our sports will have an immediate impact on our program and our student-athletes. Beyond his lengthy list of accomplishments as an athlete, Ryan has a work ethic that will translate very well on deck as a coach."

Collins expressed excitement to have Lochte on staff, especially with his credentials.

"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," said Collins. "Adding Ryan to the staff at Missouri State further shows the forward momentum of our program and the commitment we have from our administration."

Lochte said the big draw to Missouri State was its culture and the environment of its swim program.

"There's a strong sense of purpose, accountability and team-first mentality. You can tell this is a program that's building something meaningful and sustainable. Dave (Collins) and Chelsea (Dirks-Ham) have created an environment that emphasizes development, not just performance, and that really resonates with me."

Lochte was born in New York and raised in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was a 24-time swimming All-American at the University of Florida, where he earned his degree in Sport Management in 2007.

During his collegiate career under the direction of coach Gregg Tory, he was the NCAA Swimmer of the Year twice, a seven-time NCAA champion, a seven-time SEC champion and broke American records in the 200-yard individual medley and 200-yard backstroke.

"This opportunity (at Missouri State) 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. I've lived the highs and the challenges of this sport, and I want to use that perspective to guide them, support them, and help them reach their full potential both in and out of the water."

After college, Lochte broke the 100-meter IM world record on Dec. 15, 2012 (50.71) and later swam the fastest 200 IM time ever with a mark of 1:49.63 at the same event.

He represented the United States at the Olympics in Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), London (2012) and Rio (216) and was part of the gold medal 4x200 meter freestyle relay teams at all four Games. He still holds part of the world record in the long-course 4×200-meter freestyle relay.

Lochte has also earned the American Swimmer of the Year Award twice and the FINA Swimmer of the Year three times. He has won 90 medals in major international competitions, with 54 of them being gold, spanning the Olympics, the World Championships, Pan American Games and Pan Pacific Championships, with 39 world championship titles.

"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," said Lochte. "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."

Collins recently completed his 14th season as Missouri State's head coach. He is a 13-time conference coach of the year with 12 league championships on the women's side and four on the men's side in that span.

The men's squad is coming off a championship run at the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference meet. 

Chelsea Dirks-Ham joined the swimming staff in 2012 and was elevated to associate head coach in 2017 after a Hall of Fame swimming career with the Bears as a student-athlete from 2007-11.

Lochte's hire is contingent upon approval by MSU's Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting.