Kirk Kumbier - Swimming & Diving Coach - University of North Carolina Athletics

Kirk Kumbier

Title:
Associate Head Coach / Director of Recruiting - Men's and Women's
Email:
kkumbier@unc.edu
Phone:
919-962-6000

Kirk Kumbier was named an assistant coach for the the University of North Carolina swimming and diving programs in May 2022, after spending the 2021-22 season as a volunteer assistant at LSU following a three-year stint as an assistant coach at the University of California San Diego.

As a member of the coaching staff, Kumbier helped the Tar Heels' women's team earn a 10th place finish at the 2023 NCAA Championships and instructed seven All-America swimmers. UNC swimmers recorded a combined nine individual and relay records in 2023.

In his lone year in Baton Rouge, Kumbier helped coach the Tigers to their highest SEC Men's Championship finish since 1997 and saw eight school records fall. He also helped tutor 2022 NCAA 50 and 100-yard freestyle champion Brooks Curry.

Prior to joining the coaching staff at LSU, Kumbier served as an assistant coach at the University of California at San Diego. He primarily coached the sprint events and took on the role of the recruiting coordinator. While at UC San Diego, three swimmers training under Kumbier's wing qualified for the U.S. Swimming Trials.

In the UCSD's final season in Division II, Kumbier helped lead both the men's and women's teams to a number one ranking in the CSCAA polls during the 2019-20 season. A total of 26 athletes earned All-American honors including Spencer Daily who became the national champion in the 50-yard freestyle.

Kumbier began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Allegheny College in 2011. He remained in the role of assistant coach until the 2013-14 campaign when he was tabbed interim head coach, and then subsequently being named to the permanent post. Kumbier guided nine of his Allegheny Gators to 14 school-record swims, with seven producing NCAA consideration qualifiers in 10 events.

Kumbier earned his bachelor's degree from Kenyon College in 2011 and helped the Lords to three consecutive Division III national titles in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He later received a Master's of Education degree from the University of Missouri in 2016.