Stanford's Coach Meehan To Head Women's Olympic Swim Team

PALO ALTO, CA -- Stanford University's swimming coach Greg Meehan caps off a notable career by taking the high honor of guiding the women's national team for the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo starting July 24, 2020.

Meehan, the Paul A. Violich women's swim program director in his seventh year at the university, assisted the Team USA two years ago at the Rio de Janiero Olympics. The three-time NCAA Swimming Coach of the Year has gained the distinction of coaching 5-time Olympian Katie Ledecky. He has taken the Cardinal to national titles over the last few years, led the school through four undefeated regular seasons and has logged enough wins to fill an entire room.

The former Cal coach and current director David Durden from UC Berkeley were nominated by committee. Durden, an accomplished coach in his own right, will guide the men.

Meehan has experienced tremendous success with the collegiate teams, USA Swimming National Team Managing Director Lindsay Mintenko pointed out, adding that he has "earned a great deal of respect" among national team members and other coaches around the country.

The national swim team staff under Mintenko's direction indicated it looks forward to "the next 18 months to put a plan in place to guide Team USA to continued success in Tokyo."

"We're joining a list of coaching legends, and it's not lost on either one us," said Meehan, Stanford's Paul A. Violich Director of Women's Swimming. "This is the greatest honor of my professional career. I'm looking forward to working with Dave and Team USA and all the coaches and athletes around the country as we prepare for Omaha and the first step toward success in 2020."

"I'd like to thank my wife Tess, and my sons Sal and James," Meehan said. "Their love and support continues to inspire me through this journey of coaching. I'd also like to extend an incredible note of gratitude to everyone at Stanford University – our Athletics Director Bernard Muir, our associate head coach Tracy Slusser and the incredible women that have been involved in the Stanford program over the past 6 1/2 years."

--Image courtesy of Stanford Athletics Department