Close up of Loughborough swimmer in pool

Loughborough Swimming names new Associate Head Coach

Richard Denigan has been named as the new Associate Head Coach of Loughborough University’s prestigious swimming programme.

New associate head coach for Loughborough Swimming Richard Denigan

New Associate Head Coach for Loughborough Swimming, Richard Denigan

Richard has been coaching within the sport for over 20 years, seventeen of which were at Leeds City Council and the premier swimming club in Yorkshire - City of Leeds Swimming Club.

Richard joined the team in Leeds in 2007 as Age Group Coach, progressing through to the position of Head Coach in November 2013. In 2016, Richard’s areas of responsibility were extended, as he was asked to manage Diving and Artistic swimming within the council's performance programmes.

During his time with the club, Richard has helped athletes reach every major international competition, both junior and senior, including the Olympic Games. He has helped athletes win 51 medals at Commonwealth Games, World Juniors, European Juniors, European Youth Olympics Festival and Commonwealth Youth Games, across a wide range of events.

He has also coached senior athletes to finals at the Olympic Games and European championships.

Andi Manley, Director of Swimming at Loughborough University, commented:

“At Loughborough, we run one of the finest swim programmes in the world, with a world class support network of coaches and staff. Richard’s knowledge and experience will make him a huge asset within this set up.

“He has been a regular presence on British swim teams since 2012, involved in many career-defining moments for both junior and senior athletes, and we look forward to seeing the positive influence and impact he will have on our athletes.

“His passion is to help people be the best they can be on any given day in life or sport, a mindset that makes him the perfect fit here at Loughborough.”

Richard joins the University, following an incredible summer of sport for Loughborough athletes, particularly in swimming. Loughborough Swimming is the leading senior programme in the UK, and this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics, saw Loughborough swimmers bring home 4 medals, including Daniel Wiffen’s Olympic-record breaking 800m Freestyle gold medal win and Tully Kearney’s double Paralympic gold wins in the 100m and 200m Freestyle.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 24/179

About Loughborough University

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running.

Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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