On Wednesday, IU Coach Ray Looze announced the hiring of Dr. Kirk Grand to his coaching staff. Grand will serve as an assistant sprint coach for both the men’s and women’s swimming teams and as the associate director of the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming.
“At the beginning of this search process, my goal was to enhance our coaching staff on the pool deck, in recruiting and in the area of swimming innovation,” Looze said in a press release. “With our current roster of athletes who range from varsity to Olympians and professionals, Indiana University is committed to its growth as a global hotbed for the sport of swimming.”
Grand joins the IU staff after five years at Auburn University, three as a volunteer assistant coach and two as an assistant coach. He coached 19 All-American swimmers at Auburn and served as a USA National Team coach in 2018.
Grand was a member of the Miami University swim team from 2006-2008 before graduating from Ohio State. He then earned his master’s in Exercise Physiology, Human Performance from IU in 2013 before going to Auburn for his Ph.D., where he specialized in psychophysiology.
“I am elated by the opportunity to be a part of something special at Indiana,” Dr. Grand said. “I am humbled to join a program with not only a rich tradition of excellence, but also one that has, and continues to have, a tremendous impact on the sport of swimming.”
Grand also previously coached at Bloomington High School South from 2011-2013, where he was named the 2012 Indiana High School Athletic Association High School Coach of the Year as well as the 2012 National High School Federation Sectional Coach of the Year.
Auston Matricardi
