Darian Townsend Named New Head Coach & CEO of Phoenix Swim Club

Olympic gold medalist Darian Townsend has been named the new head coach and CEO of the Phoenix Swim Club, the team announced Tuesday.

Townsend, who will assume his new role on October 4, previously served as the head coach and president of the Westside Silver Fins since 2017, and was also named an assistant coach at Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona (OUAZ) in November 2019.

In September 2020, he was promoted to head coach at OUAZ, keeping his role with the Silver Fins at the same time.

In April, Garrett McCaffrey stepped down as head coach of Phoenix Swim Club after nearly a decade with the team. McCaffrey went on to join Seattle U as an assistant coach.

Townsend represented South Africa at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, swimming the third leg on the gold medal-winning men’s 4×100 freestyle relay team that broke the world record in a time of 3:13.17. The quartet also included Roland SchoemanLyndon Ferns and Ryk Neethling.

Townsend would go on to swim for South Africa at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 as well, and also broke the world record in the short course meter 200 IM in 2009 (1:51.55).

After earning U.S. citizenship in 2014, Townsend represented the United States at multiple international meets, including the 2014 SC World Championships and the 2015 Pan American Games, winning a pair of relay medals in the latter.

Also the owner of several Masters world records, the now-37-year-old won one gold and three silver medals at the 2017 Masters World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

As a collegiate swimmer, Townsend swam at both the University of Florida and the University of Arizona, winning a total of two individual and five relay NCAA titles, plus one team championship with the Wildcats in 2008.

The KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa native graduated from the University of Arizona in 2010 with a bachelors in Sociology.

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coachymccoachface
2 years ago

Anyone want to explain the downvotes? Darian seems like a good fit?

Coach Macgyver
Reply to  coachymccoachface
2 years ago

It’s probably someone who applied and did not get the offer.

AZ Family
Reply to  Coach Macgyver
2 years ago

Exactly! He is an awesome coach and a great person, and that is based on our own family experience with him.

mds
2 years ago

Good luck Darian and PSC!!

Richard Saunders
2 years ago

A known coach for the area – playing it safe

Could they have hired a world class coach and taken over the Phoenix Valley – yes – opportunity lost

The valley NEEDS a GREAT Coach!

Swimfan
Reply to  Richard Saunders
2 years ago

Don’t know much about the new head coach at Scottsdale but assistant coach, Bob Platt, is one of the best coaches out there. A man that coaches because he loves the sport.

AZ Coach
Reply to  Richard Saunders
2 years ago

PSC has been searching for over 4 months, so finally getting someone – anyone – is a huge win for them, and I hope Darian gives them the guidance and direction they need. The valley already has “GREAT” coaches, and I think most are very happy to see Darian continue to stick around the area.

swimmer
Reply to  Richard Saunders
2 years ago

you have no idea who darian is then. do your research before you say something like this.

Geoff Hanson
2 years ago

Fantastic coach and even better guy! Tremendous hire by PSC. Best of luck Darian!

NM Coach
Reply to  Geoff Hanson
2 years ago

1000% AGREE!

fellow wildcat
2 years ago

Well done! Hope Darian and PSC will thrive.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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