Arkansas Razorbacks Add New Assistant Coach

The Arkansas Swimming and Diving program has added Alec Kandt as an assistant coach, head coach Neil Harper announced on Friday.

Alec Kandt joins the Razorbacks after serving as an assistant coach during the 2021-22 season for Davenport University. While at Davenport University, Kandt led the men’s team to multiple top-eight finishes at the GLIAC Championships. In addition, he also helped the women’s team earn a top-5 finish at the GLIAC Championships.

“First off, I want to thank Neil for this opportunity to join his staff! Throughout the entire hiring process, everyone associated with the program was extremely welcoming, and it just made it feel like home,” Kandt said.  “After a conversation with one of my mentors Gregg Troy, the position just was the right move and the right fit for me where I am in my career, so it was an easy choice to accept the position to join this incredible team. Let’s go Hogs!”

Kandt was also Headmaster Coach of East Grand Rapids Aquatics from 2018-2021. Before his stint at East Grand Rapids, he was a volunteer assistant swim coach at the University of Florida from 2017-2018, during which the Gators won an SEC Championship. While in Florida, Kandt also served as an assistant swim coach for Gator Swim Club.

In the pool, Kandt was a four-time varsity letterman at Michigan State. He also earned Male Freshman Swimmer of the Year in 2014. Furthermore, he would go on to win Male Swimmer of the Year three times from 2015-17 and was a Big Ten Championship Finalist during his time in East Lansing. Kandt currently holds the 100 Breaststroke record at Michigan State and represented the Spartans at the US Open and Olympic Trials Qualifier in 2016.

Kandt is a native of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.