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FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo Athletics Department has announced Lori Riegler as the second Men’s and Women’s Swimming Head Coach in program history.

“I am very excited to be the new leader of the Falcon Swimming program,” said Riegler. “I can’t wait to meet and start working with the student-athletes.”

Riegler comes to Montevallo with over 20 years of experience coaching swim all across the United States and has impacted numerous athletes. She coached six USA Swimming Scholastic All-Americans, one Olympic Trial qualifier, five Winter Juniors and three Winter National qualifiers, seven Futures qualifiers, and 12 NJ State Record Holders.

Riegler coached a USA Swimming National Junior Team member who was a part of the USA’s Junior Team that earned a gold medal in the men’s 400 free relay in Budapest in 2020. She led the club to their first USA Silver Medal Club and their first SC YMCA National Championship for the men’s team. The relay teams captured 11 YMCA National Championships during Riegler’s tenure.

Most notably, Riegler coached 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist, Jack Alexy, who was part of the 4×100 freestyle relay at the Paris Olympics. Alexy also won a silver medal in the 4×100 medley relay while in Paris.

Most recently, Riegler served as the Head Swim Coach at the Columbus Aquatic Club in Columbus, Ga. While in Columbus, she was the meet director for all team-hosted meets while creating and implementing new athlete progression model. She was also a member of the Georgia Swimming Technical Planning Committee and Southern Divisional Rep.

“We are thrilled to bring Coach Riegler on board and welcome her to the Montevallo family,” said Vice President of Athletics and Special Programs Mark Richard. “Lori’s experience speaks for itself and we are grateful to have someone with her expertise and pedigree to join our staff.”

While coaching in Columbus, she trained at Aquastar Swimming in Houston, Texas where she directed over 130 athletes including a Junior National Qualifier who placed third in the 400 IM and became the ninth fastest 15-16-year-old in history in the 400 IM, one Scholastic All-American and a USA Swimming National Select Camp qualifier. Riegler was also the Director of Summer Learn to Swim program.

Before Columbus, she was the Head Coach of the Peoria Area Water Wizards. In Illinois, she directed over 200 athletes including two Junior National Qualifiers and two Scholastic All-Americans. Her success was displayed as the championship qualifiers increased from 38 athletes in 2021 to 50 in 2022.

Prior to her time in Illinois, Riegler spent seven years in Basking Ridge, New Jersey as the Director of Competitive Aquatic/Head Coach. Under her tutelage, the 17-18 Boys National Age Group notched a record holder in the 100LCM Free.

Prior to her stint in New Jersey, she was the head coach of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA where she directed a program of 200 athletes. While in North Carolina, the program saw a growth of 117 athletes to 210.

Riegler began coaching at Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio where she taught four state qualifiers and 10 district qualifiers. She coached many athletes who had success at the collegiate level and beyond.

Riegler earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Toledo before beginning her nearly 20-year coaching career. Riegler later earned her Masters of Science and Education from Toledo.