Courtesy: Camel Athletics
NEW LONDON, Conn. — Connecticut College has hired Kevin Steel as head coach of the women’s swimming and diving program, as announced by Director of Athletics Mo White on Friday.
Steel, who spent the past two years as an assistant coach at Rutgers University, will make his collegiate head coaching debut with the Camels. He will officially start his new role on July 1.
“I am honored and thrilled to accept the position of head women’s swimming coach at Connecticut College,” said Steel. “I want to thank Mo White for this incredible opportunity and for the trust she has placed in me. Connecticut College’s commitment to academic rigor, its driven and intellectually curious student body, and its close-knit, inclusive community make it a truly special place. I’m excited to lead this talented group of student-athletes and to build upon the program’s proud tradition of excellence in and out of the pool.”
Steel inherits a Conn College program that returns 29 letter winners—including 20 upperclassmen—for the 2025-26 season. The Camels posted a 4-5 dual meet record last season and finished ninth at the 2025 NESCAC Championship.
“Kevin brings an impressive background to Connecticut College and we are excited to welcome him to the coaching staff,” said White. “His accomplishments in the pool are impressive, but it’s his deep commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes that make him a great fit for Conn.”
Steel joined the Scarlet Knights in 2023 and served as recruiting coordinator in his first season under head coach Jon Maccoll. In his second year his focus shifted to administrative and coaching duties, which included designing and implementing training programs for sprinters. He also coached several athletes to program top-10 performances while at Rutgers.
Steel spent the 2022-23 season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Virginia. He helped the Cavaliers win their third-consecutive NCAA title with 11 total champions behind five relay and six individual NCAA championships.
Before joining the Cavaliers staff, Steel was a volunteer assistant swim coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach at Kenyon College. During his time with the Owls, the women’s program won the 2022 DIII NCAA Championship team title while he also served as the team’s strength and conditioning coach. In addition to working with the sprint and short stroke groups, he also coordinated all team dryland activities.
Steel began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Arizona, as a volunteer on the pool deck. He also served as an intern in the weight room and assisted the strength staff with the basketball, baseball, tennis, softball and swimming & diving teams.
As a student-athlete, Steel made Olympic Trials appearances in 2012 and 2016, earned a spot on the 2013 USA World Championship team and twice broke the U.S. Open 50 breaststroke record. In 2013, he placed second in the 100 breaststroke at the 2013 NCAA championships.
A native of Mooretown, New Jersey, Steel graduated from Arizona with a degree in biochemistry.
Got a good one.
Go Kevin!!!