Upcoming Event: Swimming & Diving versus Boston College on September 26, 2025 at 4 p.m. Diving / 5 p.m. Swimming
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4 p.m. Diving / 5 p.m. Swimming
Swimming & Diving
vs Boston College
Swimming & Diving
Colella, Dan
Dan Colella
- Title:
- Head Coach
Dan Colella, head coach of the Duke University swimming and diving program, passed away on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer.
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One of the most successful swimming and diving coaches in the country with over 38 years of coaching experience, Colella was a member of the Duke Athletics staff for nearly two decades. The fifth head coach in program history, Colella produced 64 All-Americans and 24 conference champions with the Blue Devils. During his tenure, Duke student-athletes competed in the NCAA Championships, the USA Swimming National Championships, Olympic Games, Olympic Trials, Pan American Games, Pan Pacific Games, World Championships, FINA World Championships and World University Games.
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Colella was survived by his wife, Victoria, and their children Henry, George, Ellinor and Caroline. A memorial service was held Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in the Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center.
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During his 17 seasons with the Blue Devils, Colella established a legacy of excellence in the pool, boasting 64 All-America selection and producing at least one ACC individual champion at seven of the past 12 conference championships. Duke swimmers and divers have also captured five NCAA individual titles and totaled 52 podium finishes at the ACC Championships under Colella's watch. The program record books have been completely re-written in that time, with 10 school records being set in the 2021-22 season and the oldest standing school record dating back to just 2010.
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Colella earned his bachelor's degree in natural resource management and geology from Sewanee, The University of the South in 1984. In addition to being a member of the Order of the Gownsmen, an academic honor society, and Beta Theta Pi, Colella was a member of the school's swimming team. He served as a captain for two years and earned three accolades as the team's MVP from 1981-83, as well as two Southern College Athletic Conference titles – the 100 and 200 backstroke in 1981. Specializing in butterfly and the IM events, Colella was the university's all-time leading scorer in championship meets when he graduated.
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From 1986-90 Colella was the assistant swimming coach at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla., where he helped guide his team to four NJCAA men's and women's championships. Colella arrived at Duke after a successful 12-year tenure as the head coach of the women's swimming program at the University of Tennessee. He began at UT in 1990 as the assistant women's swimming coach and served in that capacity until being promoted to head coach in 1993.
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