Kandt Joins Swim and Dive Staff as Assistant Coach
10/14/2025 | 2:39:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois swim and dive has announced Alec Kandt as their new assistant coach.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Alec and his wife, Piper, to the Salukis family," says head coach Geoff Hanson. "Throughout our search process, Ale stood out as an extremely experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate coach. His years of experience coaching in the SEC and producing NCAA qualifiers and international level swimmers is impressive. Most importantly, after speaking to a number of his former athletes and colleagues, it became clear that his commitment goes beyond the pool and that he cares deeply about student-athletes as people."
Kandt previously served as an assistant coach at Arkansas, a role he served in from 2022. Prior to Arkansas, Kandt was an assistant coach at Davenport from 2020-2022, where he helped lead the men's team to multiple top-eight finishes at the GLIAC Championships and the women's squad to a top-five finish.
The Inver Grove Height, Minnesota, native was also the head master coach of East Grand Rapids Aquatics from 2018 to 2021, and before that, Kandt was a volunteer assistant coach at the Florida from 2017-2018. During his tenure at Florida, Kandt helped oversee the Gators' SEC Championship team. While in Florida, Kandt was also an assistant coach for the Gator Swim Club.
During his own collegiate career, Kandt competed at Michigan State, where he was named Male Freshman Swimmer of the Year in 2014 and Male Swimmer of the Year in 2015, 2016, and 2017. He also was a Big Ten Championship Finalist, as well as having represented the Spartans at the US Open and Olympic Trials Qualifier in 2016. During his Spartan career, Kandt broke the school record for the 100-yard breaststroke.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the swim and dive teams by following the them on X at @SIU_SwimDive, on Instagram at @siu_swimdive, and on Facebook at facebook.com/SIUSwimDive. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Alec and his wife, Piper, to the Salukis family," says head coach Geoff Hanson. "Throughout our search process, Ale stood out as an extremely experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate coach. His years of experience coaching in the SEC and producing NCAA qualifiers and international level swimmers is impressive. Most importantly, after speaking to a number of his former athletes and colleagues, it became clear that his commitment goes beyond the pool and that he cares deeply about student-athletes as people."
Kandt previously served as an assistant coach at Arkansas, a role he served in from 2022. Prior to Arkansas, Kandt was an assistant coach at Davenport from 2020-2022, where he helped lead the men's team to multiple top-eight finishes at the GLIAC Championships and the women's squad to a top-five finish.
The Inver Grove Height, Minnesota, native was also the head master coach of East Grand Rapids Aquatics from 2018 to 2021, and before that, Kandt was a volunteer assistant coach at the Florida from 2017-2018. During his tenure at Florida, Kandt helped oversee the Gators' SEC Championship team. While in Florida, Kandt was also an assistant coach for the Gator Swim Club.
During his own collegiate career, Kandt competed at Michigan State, where he was named Male Freshman Swimmer of the Year in 2014 and Male Swimmer of the Year in 2015, 2016, and 2017. He also was a Big Ten Championship Finalist, as well as having represented the Spartans at the US Open and Olympic Trials Qualifier in 2016. During his Spartan career, Kandt broke the school record for the 100-yard breaststroke.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the swim and dive teams by following the them on X at @SIU_SwimDive, on Instagram at @siu_swimdive, and on Facebook at facebook.com/SIUSwimDive. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
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