Dave Collins - Head Coach - National & Senior Bears

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Dave grew up swimming from a young age in the summers at the Regency neighborhood swimming pool. It was there that he developed his love for the sport as he had the opportunity to learn from some very good coaches. As a high school swimmer, Dave competed for MacArthur High school and the Alamo Area Aquatics USA swim team. Dave received Texas All-State honors as a junior and senior as well as achieving sectional and Texas senior circuit time standards.

Collegiately, Collins was an academic All-American while swimming at Drury University. He specialized in the backstroke events, helping the Panthers to Division II national titles in 2003 and 2005 and national runner-up finishes in 2002 and 2004. Dave earned a Bachelor of Arts in design arts in 2005 from Drury and continued as a graduate assistant completing his Masters in Communications in 2007. While completing his masters degree, Dave took on the responsibility of head coach of Parkview and Ozark High school Men’s and Women’s swim teams. During this time he led Ozark to its highest finish at the Women’s State meet. In August of 2007, Dave joined the Missouri State Swimming program as assistant coach of the college team and head coach of MSA. In his first season as an assistant coach for the Bears, Collins helped lead the men to their first Sun Belt Conference Championship. He also helped coach the women’s team which recaptured the Missouri Valley Conference title in the 2007-08 season.

As head coach of Missouri State Aquatics, Dave has coached numerous Missouri Valley LSC top eight finalists, sectional qualifiers, and produced the program’s first Junior National Qualifier. He is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association as well as the College Swim Coaches Association.

Aside from swimming, some of Dave’s hobbies are country music and eating Mexican food, especially enchiladas!

 

Alex Carney - Bruins Coach

Alex grew up in a family of swimmers and lake dwellers in Springfield. His introduction to the water goes back farther than he can remember. Alex began formal swim lessons at the age of 3 and never stayed dry for the next fifteen years. As a member of the Springfield Aquatics USA swim team, Alex quickly became one of the area’s most decorated swimmers. Alex set many age group records while achieving numerous AAAA time standards, the highest age group level. Much of Alex’s success came as a result of his open-mindedness to swim all strokes and distances. Alex continued his swimming dominance at Glendale high school placing second in the 500 freestyle as a freshman at the Missouri High School State meet. As a sophomore, Alex added two more second place finishes in the 200 Freestyle and 200 IM at the state meet. A team captain his junior year, Alex earned the distinguished honor of state champion in the 200 Free. Alex concluded his swimming career as a two-time All American with two state finalist swims in the 200 Free and 200 IM his senior year, leaving Glendale as one of the most decorated high school swimmers the Springfield area has seen. Aside from swimming, Alex found a love for water polo, starting the Springfield Water Polo Club at the age of 14. He continues to swim and play water polo for fitness whenever he can find a game!