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Jorgensen Has “Interim” Tag Lifted, Named Head Coach at Kentucky

After a high level of success just about everywhere he’s been, Lars Jorgensen will have his ‘interim’ title lifted this week and be named the full-time head coach at the University of Kentucky. This will be his first full-time head coaching job in a major-conference program.

Lars Jorgensen, UK Head Coach, 1988 Olympian

Lars Jorgensen, UK Head Coach, 1988 Olympian, former Ironman swim record holder

Jorgensen’s previous stops include as an assistant, and then interim head coach, at the University of Tennessee when John Trembley was relieved of his duties. Prior to that, he was the head coach at the University of Toledo from 2003 until 2010, where the program won their first ever Mid-American Conference Championship.

Aside from Toledo, Jorgensen has spent most of his college swimming career in the SEC. He spent five seasons as an assistant at LSU, including one as associate head coach; and swam as an undergraduate at Tennessee.

Among his own accomplishments in the pool include qualifying for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team in the 1500 free, where he finished 9th, and according to his official bio, he holds the Ironman Triathlon record for the fastest swim time in history.

Jorgensen came to Kentucky prior to the 2012-2013 season, and fills in the position of Gary Connelly, who retired after 25 years with the program.

You can follow University of Kentucky Swim and Dive on Twitter here. 

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HEYYY BUDDYYYY
11 years ago

GOOD JOB BUDDYYYY!

DL
11 years ago

Awesome choice! Congratulations Lars. Look for UK to improve in the next few years.

KAST
11 years ago

Great news for UK! Lars will produce great results for the ‘Cats! Congratulations.

OpenH2O
11 years ago

I believe Lars’ record is for the swim in Kona. If I’m not mistaken, he has the two fastest swim times.

Rio2016
11 years ago

Great hire! Program headed in a positive direction…

Old Time Coach
11 years ago

Congratulations to Lars! He is an excellent coach, with great character too! Look forward to him being successful at UK!

Triathlete
11 years ago

Luke bell has fastest ironman swim, 39:08 at ironman NYC, was downstream though

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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