Eli Coan Set to Transfer to UNC Chapel Hill

Eli Coan of Clarkesville, Georgia, has announced his transfer from Gardner-Webb University to the University of North Carolina. Coan is a rising sophomore and will join UNC’s class of 2021 with three years of eligibility left.

“I am so proud and honored to announce my decision to transfer to the University of North Carolina. I’m extremely thankful for my year at the Webb, and I’ll always hold GWU in a special place in my heart. It was a tough decision after this world-wind of a summer, but I know it is the right choice for me. I can’t wait to go to Chapel Hill this fall to continue my academic and swimming career. Go Heels!”

Coan attended Veritas High School where he was a multi-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. While at Gardner-Webb, he dropped time in his three main events: -3/10 in the 50 free, -9/10 in the 100 free, and -3.2 in the 100 fly. At the CCSA Championships in February he was runner-up in the 50 free, 4th in the 100 free, and 9th in the 100 fly.

Top SCY times:

  • 50 Free – 20.30
  • 100 Free – 45.03
  • 100 Fly – 48.85

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

SwimSwam Transfer Tracker

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katiemarie
6 years ago

YOU have accomplished great swim times through hard work. Keep it up! Very proud of you!!!
Good luck!

Sara
6 years ago

I could not any happier for Eli. I know he had to make a tough decision but in the end he had to do what was best for him. I wish Eli the best of luck and look forward to seeing all the amazing results both in the pool and academically.

GWUSwimmer
6 years ago

UNC has a limited time left. Good luck but not the best. Coaching staff = F

Nongwuswimmer
Reply to  GWUSwimmer
6 years ago

Wait why?

GWUSWIMMER
Reply to  Nongwuswimmer
6 years ago

Many kids have gone there and never got faster. Bad move on Eli’s part. Should either followed mike or stayed at GWU.

Swim123
Reply to  GWUSWIMMER
6 years ago

Eli is a wonderful athlete and what Mike did is absolutely awful. He deserves more than the mediocrity that is GWU swim and dive and the mediocre coach that ditched your team.

BigDog
Reply to  Swim123
6 years ago

That’s cool and all. Call the team mediocre. Swimming under Mike was an honor and anybody who thinks other wise has no place in swimming. You need to figure out what swimming is about and look at what Mike did with a team that started with almost nothing.

SayItAintSo
6 years ago

DeSelmed in 3…2….1…

Shoe
Reply to  SayItAintSo
6 years ago

After those time drops during 1 year at GWU, why the heck isn’t he following Mike to USC? Mike had an unreal track record of developing male sprinters.

Judging from the photo he won’t be DeSelm’d for another year or so… as long as he visits the weight room.

Waves Fan
Reply to  Shoe
6 years ago

UNC got a great athlete and student! He was the summer coach for my children’s Swim team .Good Luck Eli! Looking forward to hearing about your progress this season.

Swim123
Reply to  Shoe
6 years ago

Guess what… he didn’t follow Mike because what he did was wrong and uncalled for. To up and leave a team without any warning until midsummer is disgraceful. So glad he got out of there because Eli Coan has a lot of talent and potential to offer. His success never depended on Mike. Feel bad for those swimmers who desperately wanted out of there but thanks to how Mike departed they are stuck in the mediocrity that is GWU swimming.

PepperMintz
6 years ago

Good luck Eli

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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