Alabama Swimming's Coley Stickels Named U.S. National Team Coach Again
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Alabama swimming and diving head coach Coley Stickels has been named a United States National Team coach for the eighth year in a row.
“As a coach, being a part of the USA staff is a tremendous honor,” Stickels said. “But more than anything, it’s a thrill to help young men and women achieve their goal of swimming for their country and put themselves in a position to make it to the Olympic Games.”
Crimson Tide sophomore distance ace Kensey McMahon was named to the United States National Team after taking second in the 1,500-meter freestyle at this summer’s national championships. In addition to being a UA long course record, McMahon’s 16:09.80 at summer nationals ranks her in the top-16 in the world.
Tide freshman Liam Bell turned a big summer into a spot on the USA National Junior Team after posting a 1:01.19 to win the U.S. Junior National Championships. His time ranks him among the top 100 in the world.
In addition to McMahon and Bell, Stickels also coaches a trio of current Team USA swimmers, including sprinters Ryan Held and Margo Geer as well as butterflyer Amanda Kendall.
Held, the 2019 USA 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle champion with a pair of career-best marks, won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games as part of the U.S. 400-meter freestyle relay. Geer tied for the most medals by an American swimmer at the 2019 Pan American Games this past summer with five. Kendall posted a second-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly at the 2019 U.S. National Championships this past summer with a career-best 57.51, as well as top-20 finishes in the 50m and 100m freestyles.
In addition to eight years as a USA National Team coach, Stickels was also a member of Team USA as an athlete, earning a spot on the 1999-2000 national team, competing for the red, white and blue at the Short Course World Championships in 1999.
