WATCH: Jacy Dyer Press Conference

TOLEDO, Ohio – Jacy Dyer was officially introduced as the new head women's swimming & diving coach to the University of Toledo at a news conference in the Grogan Room at John F. Savage Arena on Tuesday afternoon.

A four-time All-MAC swimmer and assistant coach at Toledo, Dyer returns to her alma mater after serving as the head coach for the men's and women's programs for two successful years at Fairfield University. Prior to that, she was an assistant coach at James Madison (2014-18) and Virginia Tech (2018-22), and was promoted to associate head coach for the Hokies during the 2021-22 season. She also served as the head coach for the U.S. team at the 2023 University World Games in Chengdu, China.

"This is surreal for me right now, being back at my alma mater, being back at the place that made me who I am today," said Dyer, who swam for the Rockets from 2007-11 and was inducted into Toledo's Varsity T Hall of Fame in 2017. "I couldn't be happier with my decision. I grew so much as a person at the University of Toledo, and I'm so excited to be able to coach young women and help them grow as well. It's so great to be back here."

Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair said that Dyer's impressive coaching record and her strong roots in Toledo made her an ideal candidate to lead the Rockets' swimming and diving program.

"During our search process, we knew we had a record-setting, Varsity T Hall of Fame swimmer who was a current head coach at Fairfield, and who won a conference championship," said Blair. "What I learned about Jacy is that she is a phenomenal coach, and probably an even better person. She's in it for the right reasons. She cares about people and she has a positivity that works well from a coaching standpoint, that works well for being a great teammate in this department, and also works well on the recruiting trail.

"I want all of our student-athletes to feel the experience of competing for a championship, getting a degree that they are excited about, and being excited about what's on the other side of graduation. This search was about finding the individual who can lead us to greater heights, to build on the foundation that we have, and to tap into the history of the program. With our selection of Jacy Dyer as our head women's swimming and diving coach, I feel like we have found that person."

At Fairfield, Dyer was a two-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year. She guided the women to a 2023 MAAC Championships title in her first year at the helm and helped mentor Erini Pappas, who was named MAAC Women's Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet at the 2023 conference meet. This past year, the women finished runner-up and the men placed fourth at the 2024 MAAC Championship meet. The Stags also collected numerous awards, including MAAC Women's Most Outstanding Swimmer, Men's and Women's MAAC Most Outstanding Diver, and Men's and Women's MAAC Diving Rookie of the Year.

Dyer began her coaching career after graduating from UT with a degree in psychology in 2011. She served as an assistant coach at her alma mater for three seasons, helping the Rockets capture their second Mid-American Conference Championship title in 2012. She then served as an assistant women's swimming coach at James Madison University for four seasons, helping the Dukes to a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship win in 2018 and three consecutive runner-up finishes.

Dyer next served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for three years at Virginia Tech before being promoted to associate head coach during her last season with the Hokies. Both the men's and women's teams reached the 2022 NCAA Championships, where the women finished 23^rd, the third-highest finish in program history, and the men tied for a program-best 11^thplace finish. Dyer coached multiple swimmers who went on to qualify for the U.S. Junior World Championships, the World University Games, as well as the Olympics.

A native of Lebanon, Pa., Dyer was a four-time All-MAC honoree during her career at Toledo. Among her many accolades, she was the 2010 MAC Swimmer of the Year, the 2010 UT Female Athlete of the Year, a 10-time MAC Champion with six other top-three finishes at the conference meet, and the only Rocket to ever qualify for the NCAA Championships in three separate events. Dyer was also a 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 400 and 800 freestyle and earned a world ranking of 38^th in the 1650 freestyle.

Dyer addressed the current members of the swimming team who were in attendance at the press conference, expressing a hope that they will reach the same level of success in their Rocket careers one day as she did.

 "I see so much potential in all of you," Dyer said. "I've talked to my coaching friends and they say the talent on this team is insane. I'm really excited to coach you guys, and to grow together in this."