David Hill enters his first season as Assistant Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach at the University of Tennessee Southern in 2025–26. With more than 15 years of experience in aquatics and coaching, Hill brings a distinguished background in swimmer development, leadership, and performance innovation to the Firehawks’ program.
Over the course of his career, Hill has coached more than 4,000 swimmers across multiple levels of competition—from grassroots athletes to Olympic Trials qualifiers. His coaching experience includes producing state champions, national qualifiers, and Scholastic All-Americans, while serving in leadership roles such as Vice President of Aquatics and Head Coach for both summer and year-round programs.
Hill is also the founder of Elite Swim Training (EST), a performance brand dedicated to advancing the sport through books, courses, and technology. He has authored over 17 books, including The College Swimming Guide: Recruiting, Training, and Thriving – The Roadmap to College Swimming Success, and continues to contribute to the swimming community through educational content, online courses, and app development.
A lifelong learner and educator, Hill holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in Health and Physical Education and a Master of Science in Education in Sport Management, both from the University of Kansas. He also earned a nursing degree from Johnson County Community College and is currently completing his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Sport Leadership at Concordia University Chicago, where his research focuses on swimming and coaching.
Hill’s coaching philosophy emphasizes technical precision, mental resilience, and long-term athlete development. Throughout his career, he has been selected to coach All-Star and Zones teams, direct swim camps and clinics, and design learn-to-swim programs that support both community and competitive athletes.
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Hill describes joining UT Southern as “the perfect blend of purpose and passion—an opportunity to invest in student-athletes, build something meaningful, and help elevate the swim program to new heights.”
