Began at Findlay: March 2, 2021
Diego Santos was promoted to head coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving programs on June 15, 2023.
Santos spent four years as the assistant coach of the Oilers men's and women’s swimming and diving teams. Prior to that role, Santos served as both a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant for the swimming and diving programs.
He has assisted in building the Oilers swimming and diving program into one of the best in the Midwest. Under his guidance, he has coached his athletes to 84 NCAA Division II all-American honors, 23 on the women's side and 61 on the men's side. He has won five consecutive G-MAC championships with the men and two with the women.
The 2023 season saw many great successes including the second event national champion in program history. Standout Daniel Garcia won the 2023 Division II National Championship in the 200 breaststroke with a school record time of 1:54.51, finishing a half-second ahead of the field. The men went on to finish seventh in the country, the highest finish in program history and two spots higher than a season ago. Findlay's women ended the week in 23rd, the team's highest finish at nationals since 2016 when they finished 18th.
During the 2021 season, the Oilers swimming and diving program saw the crowning of their first ever Division II National Champion in Tim Stollings as he took home an individual title in the 100-yard butterfly. His time of 45.57 was the third-fastest time in DII history. The swim also set new school records and broke the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) record as well. Stollings would later qualify for the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Santos graduated from UF in 2017 with a degree in sport and event management. While at Findlay, Santos was a four-year letter winner on the swimming and diving team. During his college career he was a school and pool record holder. He served as captain during his junior and senior seasons.
In 2019, he earned his master's degree in organizational leadership.
A native of Bogota, Colombia, Diego now resides in Findlay, Ohio.
