STATESBORO - A standout student-athlete in the pool at Texas A&M University, Allyson Sweeney has been named the head coach of the Georgia Southern women's swimming & diving program, as announced Monday by director of athletics Jared Benko. Sweeney comes to Statesboro after serving as an assistant coach on the University of North Carolina swimming & diving staff for the past three seasons.

"Thank you to Jared Benko and the Georgia Southern athletic department for entrusting to me the leadership of this program," Sweeney said. "To join a culture intent on cultivating growth and excellence across its student-athletes, coaches, and programs ignites a passion within me. I'd like to express my gratitude to the University of North Carolina & Mark Gangloff — as well as my vast network of mentors and peers, as well as my family and loved ones — for continuing to foster my potential. I'm a living mosaic of many life experiences — ever-growing and evolving.

"The opportunity to return to home roots in the state of Georgia and build upon the foundations set forth by the administration has me eager to dive in. Let's get to work! Hail Southern!"

While at UNC, Sweeney assisted in the training development of all student-athletes, specializing in the Tar Heel distance groups. During her time at Carolina, she guided her student-athletes to qualify for the NCAA Championships and earn All-America status, while also landing athletes on the All-ACC and All-Academic ACC teams. This was highlighted during the 2020-21 season, where both the men & women Tar Heels achieved their highest placed finishes in several seasons at the NCAA Championships, finishing 24th and 12th, respectively.

"I am thrilled to have Allyson Sweeney join our talented group of head coaches here at Georgia Southern," Benko said. "As I spoke to coaches from across the nation, her name resonated frequently as one of the top assistant coaches in the country.  Through her experiences as a student-athlete at Texas A&M, her coaching experiences with Swim Atlanta and Lakeland Area Swimming, along with her time as an assistant coach at North Carolina, Auburn, and Florida Southern, she has been uniquely prepared to excel in the position of Head Swimming and Diving coach at Georgia Southern University."

Before her tenure at Chapel Hill, Sweeney helped lead the Auburn women to a 12th-place finish at the 2019 NCAA Championships as a volunteer assistant, its best showing in seven years. The Tigers had 11 individuals earn All-America honors, and their point total of 146 was their best since the 2012 team placed seventh with 249 points. During her time at Auburn, Sweeney assisted in the training development of the sprint groups.

Sweeney spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant at Florida Southern, where the men's team placed fourth at nationals and the women took 18th. She also spent time as the head coach of Lakeland Area Swimming, working with the top senior and high school level athletes in the area.

Prior to her move to Florida, Sweeney served as the head age group coach for Swim Atlanta – Midway in Cumming, Georgia. During her two years with Swim Atlanta, she oversaw the development of the location's age group swimming and strength and conditioning training programs, producing several 14U Georgia state champions and Georgia zone team qualifiers.

Sweeney swam at Texas A&M University for four years and was a member of two Big 12 championship teams. A four-time Texas A&M Scholar-Athlete, three-time Big 12 Scholar-Athlete and four-time CSCAA Scholar All-American, she graduated with a degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise physiology in 2013. She returned to A&M and served as a volunteer assistant and strength & conditioning intern while pursuing a master's in kinesiology with an emphasis in sports physiology in May 2015.

The oldest of seven children, Sweeney returns to the state of Georgia with her dog, Charlie.