The University of North Florida has announced a “change in swimming leadership” for its women’s program, parting ways with head coach Ian Coffey after 12 seasons. In 2024, he signed a three-year contract extension that should have taken him to June 2027.
“We thank Coach Coffey for his years of dedication to our Swimming student-athletes and program,” Athletics Director Nick Morrow said. “Ian has always been a great colleague and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Public records show a base salary of $70,000 annually for Coffey.
Coffey’s departure comes after a season where the team broke seven school records and Kayla Daley earned the Ospreys’ first All-ASUN selection at the 2026 ASUN Championships.
There, the Ospreys finished 6th out of 9 teams. That’s one spot lower than the year prior, though it came in a conference with two new teams. The team had better season-best times in 10 NCAA Championship events, including 2 out of 5 relays.
Daley, a rising senior, finished 3rd at the ASUN Championships in the 100 fly in 54.30. She also went best times in the 200 fly (2:01.62) and 200 IM (2:03.37) at that meet. She holds the top seven times in school history in the 100 fly.
Coffey took over the program in the 2015-2016 season, his second D1 head coaching position. He previously spent two seasons as the head coach at Radford University and four seasons as the head coach of Division II Radford.
He also had D1 stops as an assistant at Villanova (2004-2008), Syracuse (2002-2004), and Virginia Tech (2000-2002).
Coffey’s wife, Lynn Kennedy, is a 1998 graduate of North Florida.
UNF says that they have launched a national search for Coffey’s replacement.
Lindsey is well-suited for a head coaching role because she combines elite swimming credentials with strong leadership experience. A five-time All-American and Olympic Trials qualifier from the University of Florida, she understands how to develop athletes at the highest level. Her professional background—including work supporting the Drug Enforcement Administration—adds discipline, organization, and decision-making under pressure, making her well-equipped to lead and elevate a program.
Would be an embarrassing oversight on behalf of the UNF athletic department not to appoint her.
Lindsey McKnight is the leader this team needs. Top talent tracing and coaching can grow this program’s success!
Really trying to figure out why they aren’t going with McKnight. She gets the age group. Has a vision for the program. She’s being recruited by a bunch of Big Schools and is not interested in moving because her home is Jacksonville. Seems like a huge missed opportunity for the Ospreys…
Lindsey McKnight needs to take over
If they were a smart program they would….
About time. Tons of available Futures and Sectional talent in the State of Florida. Did not know how to develop talent.
Hmmmm…
Kayla Daley was 2:06.36 in March 2022 in the 200 fly as a hs junior. Wasn’t close to that time as a hs senior. After 3 years at UNF she goes 2:01.62.
I clicked around on another few events randomly. Aydan Horrigan went from 4:32.0 in the 400 IM to 4:25.7 at UNF (though she hasn’t been as good last two seasons). Victoria Torres went from 52.45 to 51.14 in the 100 free. Reeves Showfety went from 2:04.20 in the 200 back to 2:03.74. Paige Munna went from 5:01.67 in the 500 free to 4:59.45 (not a huge drop, but she added a lot as a hs senior too so).
Not all huge drops, but there are certainly some… Read more »
Nor recruit it.
What’s the tea here? Why is swimming so silent on this stuff.