Olympic swimming legend Ryan Lochte giving college coaching a try

Ryan Lochte had a legendary career as a United States Olympian, and now, he's taking his talents to college swimming.

Missouri State announced on Monday that Lochte is joining its swimming and diving staff as an assistant coach. He will work with both the men's and women's teams.

"We are very excited to welcome Ryan to the coaching staff," head coach Dave Collins said in a release. "His experience and proven success at the highest levels of our sport 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. 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. Adding Ryan to the staff at Missouri State further shows the forward momentum of our program and the commitment we have from our administration." "What stood out to me about Missouri State is the culture," Lochte said. "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. Their vision for the program aligns with how I see the sport -- developing complete athletes and great people. Being able to learn from them while also bringing my own experience to the table made this opportunity feel like the right fit."

Adding 1⃣2⃣ Olympic 🥇🥈🥉 to the staff.

Welcome assistant coach Ryan Lochte.

🔗 https://t.co/zULO63lW83#GoBears | #WeAreMoStatepic.twitter.com/SfYY2anHWg— Missouri State Swimming & Diving (@MoStateSwim) May 10, 2026

Lochte is the third-most decorated Olympian in U.S. swimming history, trailing only Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky. He owns 12 total medals, including six golds. The 41-year-old is also a former star college swimmer at Florida.

One of the most iconic Olympic characters of the modern era now joins one of the nation's premier mid-major swim programs, which has won 39 combined conference championships between its men's and women's teams.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Ryan Lochte joining Missouri State swimming as an assistant