James Winchester

James Winchester was named TCU’s head swimming and diving coach on April 26, 2018.

Winchester came to the Horned Frogs after serving the previous three years as head coach at George Washington University. He led the Colonials’ men’s program to Atlantic-10 championships in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 title marked the first in program history. Both seasons saw him named A-10 Coach of the Year. Additionally, he was the Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year at the 2018 CSCAA National Invitational Championship as the George Washington men and women both recorded top-10 finishes.

George Washington made three consecutive NCAA Championship appearances under Winchester. The Colonials set 84 school records during his tenure. Winchester produced a two-time All-American, three A-10 Performers of the Year and a conference Rookie of the Year as well as 20 first team and 12 second-team all-A-10 selections. He also sent swimmers to the Olympics, World Championships, World University Games and Commonwealth Games.

During his coaching career, Winchester has mentored nine national champions, 40 All-Americans and five top-100 world-ranked student-athletes while also securing numerous top-25 nationally-ranked recruiting classes. He has been part of programs totaling 34 Academic All-America team awards.

Before taking over the head duties at George Washington, Winchester was a two-time honorable-mention NCAA Assistant Coach of the Year at Utah. He also served as the Utes’ head recruiting coordinator and interim head coach. Utah’s men’s and women’s programs posted four NCAA Championship appearances and three top-25 recruiting classes during his time (2012-15) in Salt Lake City.

Winchester’s first head coaching opportunity came during his four years (2007-11) at New Orleans. After arriving as an assistant coach, he was promoted to head coach. He started the men’s program and rebuilt the women’s team post-Hurricane Katrina. He had a top-25 ranked recruiting class in 2008 and the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Swimmer of the Year.

Winchester began his coaching career in 2006 at Drury. He was an assistant coach as Drury’s men’s and women’s teams won the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship. During his time there, he coached former world record holder, 2007 European champion and 2008 Olympic finalist Roman Sludnov (Russia).

As a student-athlete, Winchester competed for the Louisville swimming and diving team before earning his degree in business administration in 2004. He received his MBA from Drury in 2008.