Olivet Nazarene University head swim coach Nate Duell is out from the program three months into his tenure and has been replaced by Mark Logan. Duell was fired by acting athletic director Justin Glenn, members of the team say.
While no official reason for the change has been made public, several members of the ONU team, who asked to remain anonymous, reached out to SwimSwam last month with complaints about Duell’s behavior as head coach, though at least one other member of the team said that the accusations was “simply inner-team drama that got blown out of proportion,” saying that Duell “is a great person and he was a great coach.
“If you are going to write any article pertaining to him, it should be about how our school made a mistake in firing him and how he should be brought back,” that swimmer said.
Duell previously spent 8 years as the first coach at Tabor College, an NAIA program located in Hillsboro, Kansas.
He took over a program at ONU that in 2023 swept the team titles in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, with the Tiger men placing 8th at the NAIA National Championships and the women finishing 3rd for the second straight season.
Duell’s 28-year coaching career began in 1994 where he coached for various swim clubs throughout Illinois and Indiana. In 2008, he took over as senior swim coach and consultant for Goshen Swimming, Inc. for five years before starting the collegiate swimming program for the Tabor Bluejays.
Duell graduated from Wheaton College in 1994 with a degree in English Literature. He then earned his teaching license from Goshen College in 2001 before obtaining his Master of Education (M.Ed.) from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2008.
Logan, meanwhile, was previously the head coach at nearby Greenfield-Central High School and with the Greenfield Central Aquatic Team, though he recently retired.
Logan talked about the new appointment in a post on his LinkedIn page:
Just when I thought I was hanging up my swim coaching hat for good this summer, it seems that the good Loard had different plans in store for me! 🌟
I am absolutely thrilled to announce that I will be stepping up to the challenge and taking on the role of Interim Head Coach for Olivet Nazarene University Swimming and Dive! 🏊♀️🏊♂️
What makes this opportunity even more special is my personal connection to the program. Not only is my son, daughter-in-law, and recently my daughter proud alumni of this incredible university, but they were also part of the amazing swimming program! 🎓💙
With great enthusiasm, I am eager to make a lasting impact this season and contribute to the success of these talented student athletes. Together, we will strive for greatness and leave a positive mark on the team! 💪
So, let’s rally behind the Tigers and show the world what we’re made of! 🐯 Go Tigers! 🎉
Olivet Nazarene has already raced five dual meets this season, standing at 3-2 so far. Their next meet is the Don Kimble Invite in Kentwood, Michigan from November 17-19.
Duell is the latest in a run of small-school coaches who have left programs early this season. Alma College’s new head coach Alex Lee was out just a few months into his tenure, while Kenyon’s diving coach, the 2022 and 2023 CSCAA/NCAA D3 Diving Coach of the Year, has also left that program.
Nate is a great coach and a better human being. He cares so much about the welfare of his Student Athletes. Transition is hard and Olivet has burned through 4 coaches now in the last 7 years. 4 in 7. I know they lost a really good coach in Nate.
I wish the new coach the best of luck.
This article should never have been written or released.
It IS news when a coach departs a program, whether it’s a hiring away, firing or retirement. Doubly so at midseason.
Is it though? How many swimswam readers have even heard of this school? And do they swim times that would make them newsworthy? Or is it just clickbait for people curious about drama?
If it’s news when he’s hired (which you all insisted it was), then it’s news when he’s fired.
check your snobbery, Dave.
Dave- these NAIA swimmers are swimming times that could beat some D1 athletes as well as D1 programs as a whole. So maybe look them up! Look at last years Nationals… just a thought.
Oh yeah? Tell me more about which D1 teams Olivet Nazarene is beating head-to-head.
I know I’m late to this, but as a former NAIA swimmer and coach, I will defend the point. According to SwimCloud and their dual meet rankings, here is a list of D1 teams they actually could beat (not including teams they are lower than even if only by a little bit):
Men
– Le Moyne
– Manhattan
– St. Peters
– Valparaiso
– VMI
Women
– Le Moyne
– Manhattan
– Merrimack
– St. Peters
– Seattle U
– New Mexico
– Southern Indiana
– UW – Green Bay
– Valparaiso
– VMI
Really wish there was more information regarding the release of a coach who has already helped the team put up the top times in the conference as of now. Seems to be a lack of information not sure why an article was released, hoping for some updates. And bringing in a coach that is on the verge of retiring, not sure what athletic department is thinking…
The interim AD is so far behind and has no right to be in the position that he is in right ONU is in a bad place and I believe that he has to have a huge part in it.
Couldn’t have picked a better individual as the interim coach. Moving forward, Mark will do a fantastic job with a difficult situation.
What is always fascinating about these early exits (either firing or resignation) is that it doesn’t seem to deter colleges and universities from hiring candidates with many, many previous jobs, or candidates with a cloud over their head from some controversy at another school. Even some with multiple clouds.
Previous college coaching experience? Willing to work for peanuts? Can start immediately? You’re hired!
Yet an experienced club coach with a ton of national credentials (far more than most D2/D3 coaches), squeaky clean from years of MAAPP and a great history with athletes and families, cannot even get an interview without that all-important box checked – “previous college coaching experience required”.
Are we really surprised the excellent club coaches have stopped… Read more »
I think this could be a case of administrations simply not putting up with anything anymore and you better get your act together or you will be on a short leash. I don’t blame them, the legal liability alone could be drastic let alone that actual impact on the individuals. Coaches better learn, you cannot be a jerk.
He didn’t do anything wrong. They had an amazing previous coach and some of the swimmers are just upset that he’s not Kelly. Coaching changes are hard and it’s hard not to have bias towards a new coach when the old one leaves on such a high note. They didn’t even give him a chance to show how great he is. He’s truly an amazing coach, gave me compliments and was so nice to me when I raced against Tabor.
As a current member of this team, this situation comes down to a few swimmers who were and are still upset about Kelly leaving. It would never matter who took her spot, they would complain and cause issues. The unfortunate situation it created is that we got a great coach who took the time to look at the team as a whole and work with us to keep us getting stronger, faster, and more competitive while also working on getting to know us as individuals so he could motivate us the way that works best. Shame, shame in the athletic staff for never talking to us either individually or as a team. Honestly not sure this is a place for… Read more »
Hey broski that annoyed swimmer who replied to you I would have a talk with her because I think she is so very very lost on what really happened during practices 😂. She sounds like she is just believing what she is told instead of actually listening to you. Just so you know she is ready to see u in the AM.
Big D
Not sure what he did wrong other than support us. He patted me on the shoulder for a great set of times during practice. I think my lane mates got head pats. If that is out of line or inappropriate then every other coach should be watched!!
you’d think they would be a little better in duel meets…
They are swimming NCAA D2/3 competition. Doing just fine.
That’s not the joke.
Lol. Got it.
I don’t blame you for not getting it. It was marginally funny at best.
You might think that at first, but duel with an extra L is just an ‘L’