NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mindy Williams has been elevated to head coach of the Connecticut College women's swimming and diving program, as announced on Monday afternoon by Director of Athletics Mo White.

Williams has served as associate head coach of the women's program at Conn since October 2021. She will assume all head coaching duties immediately, giving the Camels separate head coaches for the men's and women's programs for the first time in school history. Previously, Marc Benvenuti had served as head coach for both programs for 20 years.

"Mindy has been a tremendous asset from the moment she joined the staff, and this promotion is so richly deserved and aligns with the college's commitment to coaching excellence," said White. "This will allow both Marc and Mindy to recruit the most talented scholar-athletes to Conn, while providing the level of coaching needed for a national-caliber swimming and diving team." 

"This is such an exciting and important opportunity for all Connecticut College swimmers and divers," said Benvenuti. "Mindy has proven herself as a fierce competitor, excellent coach, and compassionate leader and role model. After 20 years of coaching the women's program, I am thrilled that Mindy will be the one at the helm for the future of the women's team's development."

In her first season at Conn, Williams helped the women's program to a seventh-place finish at the NESCAC Championship. Six of her swimmers also qualified for the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championship, with two earning All-America status and another pair—as well as a relay team—garnering All-America honorable mention status. 

Williams' resume includes 20 years of Division III collegiate coaching experience, during which each of her teams underwent tremendous growth. 

Prior to her appointment at Conn, Williams served as the head women's swimming and diving coach at Simmons University. During her tenure at Simmons, she led the program to 12 consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference titles and two New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Championships. The program also qualified athletes for the NCAA Championship in 2018, 2019, and 2020, ranking as high as 26th in 2018.

During her time at Simmons, Williams was named GNAC Coach of the Year on eight different occasions. She also earned the Charles Silvia Swimming Coach of the Year distinction within the NEISDA in 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Prior to her 13-year coaching career at Simmons, Williams was the head swimming coach at Regis College from 2004-08, where she coached the women's team and started the first-ever men's swimming and diving program in 2007 when the College transitioned from an all-women's institution to a co-ed school.

Williams started her career in 2003 as the assistant swimming coach and assistant water polo coach at Macalester College.

A native of Essex Junction, Vermont, Williams graduated from Colby College in 2003. She captained the team her senior year and qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championships in 2000 and 2003 in the 1,650, 500 free, and 400 IM. As an alumna, Williams was honored with Colby's Carl Nelson Sports Achievement Award in 2021 as someone who has distinguished herself within athletics in the years following graduation.

Williams is an active member of the US Masters Swimming. She holds 11 New England records and has earned All-America honors 14 times since 2016.