Utah Tech University is set to announce Shawn King as the new head coach of its swimming & diving program, a source told SwimSwam.
Update: August 21, 2023 – Utah Tech made the official announcement on Saturday, August 19.
King will make his return to Utah Tech after just two years away, having served as an assistant coach with the program for one season, 2020-21, when the school was still known as Dixie State.
For the past two seasons, King has been an assistant coach at BYU, where he worked as the distance coach and was also the men’s team recruiting coordinator.
“This is so exciting, it’s kind of a dream honestly because I wanted to be here,” King said. “I was so excited to be able to start my [collegiate coaching] career here, and now to be able to continue in the head coaching capacity is everything I’ve wanted – it’s great.
“Our expectations are to pick up where the team has been and advance it, make it better, and continue to build upon what [former UT head coach Dan Kesler] did before,” King added. “I think Coach Kesler did an awesome job making Utah Tech Swimming relevant, building it into something that was a powerhouse competing in the Western Athletic Conference, and we want to continue to build on that.”
King will take over the position previously held by Dan Kesler, who was the head coach at Utah Tech for two seasons before being hired as the new associate head coach at NC State in June.
“I am very excited to welcome Shawn back to his alma mater,” said Utach Tech Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ken Beazer. “Shawn is very familiar with our program, the area and region. He is a great fit for program and I believe he can continue the overall progression and momentum that was established by [former head] Coach [Dan] Kesler the past two seasons.”
Utah Tech, located in St. George, only sponsors a women’s swimming & diving program.
During King’s two-year stint at BYU, the Cougar men’s team won back-to-back Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) titles (three straight overall), while the women’s team was third in both years.
King had a decade of coaching experience under his belt prior to being hired at Utah Tech (Dixie State at the time), his alma mater, in 2020.
Prior to Dixie State he served as the head coach for the Desert Hills, Pine View and Crimson Cliffs high school programs in St. George, with his teams winning five Utah 4A state titles while he was named USCA Coach of the Year three times. He also worked as a National Development Group Coach with the Southern Utah Swimming Association for more than four years, from late 2016 until July 2021.
King is a Utah Tech/Dixie State grad, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He also coached at Dixie High School during the 2013-14 season.
The Utah Tech women’s team finished fourth at the 2023 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championships, a significant improvement after placing seventh (out of eight teams) in 2022.
Today I learned “Utah Tech” exists
School used to be called Dixie State.
They have an amazing facility. Utah is the fastest-growing state in the country, and if that continues, I would imagine it’s only a matter of time that the school becomes a notable national brand.
Best pool in the state by far (for some unknown reason).
Possibly, the best 50M indoor pool in the West
Congratulations Coach…we’ll miss you.
Congrats Shawn!!
Welcome back to the basement of the WAC
Did the search committee even review resumes?
Congratulations to coach Shawn and Utah Tech. You landed the a great all around coach, mentor and leader. This is a HUGE LOSS for BYU as they enter the Big 12. Coach Kings swimmers were by far the best prepared physically and mentally and the results of his two years were just starting to take effect.
Hopefully Byu replaces him quickly and adequately!