Former U.S. Paralympic Coach Dave Denniston Joins Wyoming Staff

Back in May, we reported that swim coach Dave Denniston resigned from his post as the United States Olympic Training Center resident coach for U.S. Paralympic Swimming. Today, the university of Wyoming announced that head swimming and diving coach Tom Johnson hired Denniston as an assistant coach.

“I’ve known Dave for a long time and knew he had an interest in coaching here at Wyoming,” UW head coach Tom Johnson said. “We are all excited to have him become a part of our staff. I believe he will not only bring a lot of knowledge but he has a tremendous amount of experience as well as great energy and enthusiasm.”

At the time of his resignation from his position at the US Olympic Training Center, Denniston said that the decision to resign was a mixture of personal and political issues, but declined to get into further detail about specifics. He released a statement that read:

“As some of you may have heard, I have decided to step down from my role as resident coach for U.S. Paralympic Swimming. I spent a lot of time discussing this with my family and close friends, and in the end I have decided it is the right thing for me to do right now.

My reasons are a complex mixture of both personal and political issues, but were not due to any one person or event. Because of the importance of friendships and professional relationships to me, I am not going to share my details behind my reasoning at this time.

I kindly ask that you trust my reasoning. I firmly ask, that those of you who may have developed an interest in the Paralympics through me, would continue to support all of the athletes any way that you can. I know, without a doubt, that they really are the most amazing people on the planet!”

The press release from the University of Wyoming can be found below:

LARAMIE, Wyo. – University of Wyoming head swimming and diving coach Tom Johnson announced the addition of Dave Denniston to the coaching staff on Tuesday afternoon. Prior to that, Denniston had been the U.S. Paralympics swimming coach at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs since 2010.

“I’ve known Dave for a long time and knew he had an interest in coaching here at Wyoming,” UW head coach Tom Johnson said. “We are all excited to have him become a part of our staff. I believe he will not only bring a lot of knowledge but he has a tremendous amount of experience as well as great energy and enthusiasm.”

He competed collegiately for the University of Auburn swimming program. At Auburn, Denniston was a three-time individual champion, including the 1999 NCAA Champion in the 200-meter breaststroke. He was a 15-time All-American and helped lead the Tigers to the 1999 NCAA Championship.

Denniston competed in the 2000 Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200-meters, where he finished 6th and 9th, respectively. He qualified for the World Championship Team in 2003 in the 200-meter breaststroke and shortly after primarily focused on qualifying for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team before finishing fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke and fifth in 200-meter breaststroke at the Olympic Trails. In 2005, Denniston was injured in a sledding accident and then went on to qualify for the 2008 Paralympics games.

“I’m very excited to be here because Wyoming is home to me,” Denniston said. “I have always followed Wyoming athletics and now to be a part of it is a dream come true. I’m thankful to be working at such a great place and to help continue building the program.”

Denniston graduated from Auburn in 2002 with a degree in communications and a minor in English.