Mike Joyce Named Men’s Associate Head Coach
ATHENS, Ga. – Veteran coach Mike Joyce has been named the University of Georgia men’s swimming and diving associate head coach, as announced by men’s head coach Neil Versfeld Tuesday morning.
“I am honored to join Coach Versfeld and the staff at the University of Georgia,” Joyce said. “This is an exciting time for Georgia men’s swimming and diving, and I am thankful for Neil’s confidence in me to help this program further its success. My family and I are grateful for our time in Minnesota, and we will carry those memories with us forever as we head to Athens.”
“I’m excited to welcome Mike Joyce to Georgia,” Versfeld said. “He’s not only an exceptional coach but also an outstanding person whose experience will be a great asset as we continue to advance the goals of our program. I look forward to working alongside Mike to help our young men reach their full potential and pursue excellence in and out of the pool.”
Joyce joins Georgia after four seasons on staff at the University of Minnesota, including the past two as head men’s swimming coach. During his time with the Gophers, he worked primarily with the backstroke, butterfly, and medley groups. In the 2024-25 season, the Gophers qualified 10 athletes for the NCAA Championships, earning a 28th-place finish. Freshman Jacob Johnson (200 butterfly) and senior Bar Soloveychik (1,650 freestyle) earned All-America citations, with Johnson also notching a Big Ten silver medal in the 200 fly. During his head coaching tenure, Joyce’s swimmers set seven new school records in his stroke groups.
Prior to Minnesota, Joyce served as an assistant coach at Auburn for three season (2018-21), coaching 12 athletes to 36 All-America citations and three top six women’s finishes at the SEC Championships. He also served as an assistant at Arizona State and Princeton, along with a volunteer assistant stint at NC State and club coaching positions with the Raleigh Swimming Association and Gator Swim Club Elite.
A native of Washington Township, New Jersey, Joyce graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Event and Recreation Management in 2011 and a master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration in 2015. As a Gator, he earned a First Team All-America honor during his senior season with a sixth-place finish in the 400y IM, following a bronze medal in the same event at the SEC Championships. He also reached SEC championship finals in the 200y IM and 200y breaststroke and qualified for the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Joyce and his wife, Kirsten, have three sons: Hayes, and identical twins Graham and William. Kirsten was also an All-American swimmer at Florida.
“I am honored to join Coach Versfeld and the staff at the University of Georgia,” Joyce said. “This is an exciting time for Georgia men’s swimming and diving, and I am thankful for Neil’s confidence in me to help this program further its success. My family and I are grateful for our time in Minnesota, and we will carry those memories with us forever as we head to Athens.”
“I’m excited to welcome Mike Joyce to Georgia,” Versfeld said. “He’s not only an exceptional coach but also an outstanding person whose experience will be a great asset as we continue to advance the goals of our program. I look forward to working alongside Mike to help our young men reach their full potential and pursue excellence in and out of the pool.”
Joyce joins Georgia after four seasons on staff at the University of Minnesota, including the past two as head men’s swimming coach. During his time with the Gophers, he worked primarily with the backstroke, butterfly, and medley groups. In the 2024-25 season, the Gophers qualified 10 athletes for the NCAA Championships, earning a 28th-place finish. Freshman Jacob Johnson (200 butterfly) and senior Bar Soloveychik (1,650 freestyle) earned All-America citations, with Johnson also notching a Big Ten silver medal in the 200 fly. During his head coaching tenure, Joyce’s swimmers set seven new school records in his stroke groups.
Prior to Minnesota, Joyce served as an assistant coach at Auburn for three season (2018-21), coaching 12 athletes to 36 All-America citations and three top six women’s finishes at the SEC Championships. He also served as an assistant at Arizona State and Princeton, along with a volunteer assistant stint at NC State and club coaching positions with the Raleigh Swimming Association and Gator Swim Club Elite.
A native of Washington Township, New Jersey, Joyce graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Event and Recreation Management in 2011 and a master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration in 2015. As a Gator, he earned a First Team All-America honor during his senior season with a sixth-place finish in the 400y IM, following a bronze medal in the same event at the SEC Championships. He also reached SEC championship finals in the 200y IM and 200y breaststroke and qualified for the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Joyce and his wife, Kirsten, have three sons: Hayes, and identical twins Graham and William. Kirsten was also an All-American swimmer at Florida.
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