Swingly to Lead Sailing

STANFORD, Calif. - Brian Swingly was named head coach of Stanford sailing on Monday, as announced by Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics Bernard Muir.

Swingly comes to The Farm after 13 years with the Coast Guard Academy sailing team, including the last 10 as head coach. While at the Academy, Swingly helped lead the Bears to the 2016 Sperry Women's national title as well as back-to-back second-place finishes at the Gill Coed National Championships in 2015 and 2016, and a third-place finish at the 2017 women's national championships. Overall, he led Coast Guard to seven women's, five coed and two sloop national championship appearances.

"We are happy to have Brian joining the Stanford family," Muir said. "He is an experienced and accomplished coach with a excellent reputation and emerged as the top candidate in a competitive search. Throughout his career, Brian has demonstrated strong leadership abilities and a deep commitment to the student-athlete, and we're excited to have him lead the Stanford sailing program."  

"I am thrilled to be joining such a talented team of colleagues and athletes at Stanford and am excited to get to work," said Swingly, who was named New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association's Coach of the Year in both 2012 and 2015. "I want to thank Bernard Muir, Jamie Breslin, and the entire search committee for offering me and my family this incredible opportunity." 

Under Swingly's watch, Coast Guard developed two Women's College Sailors of the Year, seven ICSA All-Americans, six ICSA Women's All-Americans, and five members of the ICSA All-American honorable mention team.

In the collegiate offseason, Swingly works with many of the top and upcoming youth athletes on both the Laser and Club 420 circuits. He has helped produce numerous top-10 finishes at international events, including wins a the 2010 Laser North American Championship (Laser Radial), 2012 Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta (Laser), and 2013 US Sailing Youth Championship (Laser).

Swingly also served as the Head Coach of the 420 Race Team at Hyannis Yacht Club from 2005-2006. In 2006, Swingly helped the HYC team win the team championship for the Southern Massachusetts Sailing Association.

Swingly graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2005 with a degree in Psychology. As a member of the sailing team, he was a three-time team captain and received the team's MVP award in 2004 and 2005.

Brian remains very active in the racing community and is a US Sailing certified level 2 coach and a level 1 instructor trainer.

Swingly and his wife, Caroline, have two daughters, Willa and Maeve.