Leah Stancil - Women's Swimming and Diving Coach

Leah Stancil

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
lstancil@tulane.edu
Phone:
862-8205

Leah Stancil begins her fourth season as the head coach of the Tulane University swimming and diving program.

In three seasons as head coach, Stancil has laid a strong foundation in elevating the Green Wave swimming and diving program, as Tulane student-athletes have made 28 trips to the medal stand at the American Athletic Conference Championships, while 19 individuals have earned all-league honors. In addition, 10 school records have fallen under Stancil's direction.

In an unprecedented 2020-21 season, the Green Wave earned eight medals at the AAC Championships, led by senior Kate McDonald with two first-place finishes in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.57) and the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.50). Danielle Titus, Noa Heron, Christiana Williams, Gianna Spremullo, Mya Drost-Parra and Courtney Barker also made trips to the medal stand at the conference championship.

Two school records were broken in the spring of 2021, as Titus took the first-place spot in the 100-yard backstroke (53.85) at the AAC Championship, finishing second in the meet in her first year Uptown. Freshman Paige McKenzie also earned the best mark in program history in the platform diving event at the conference tournament, recording an overall score of 219.45.

The 2019-20 season was a memorable year for Tulane, as the Green Wave had two student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time since the program was reinstated in 2003-04. Olivia Johnson and Lilly Byrne both earned qualifying bids to represent Tulane. Between the two individuals, Tulane was set to be represented in three separate events (500 freestyle, 1,650 freestyle events and 400 IM), but neither were able to compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnson and Byrne received their invitations to NCAA Championships after both individuals posted strong performances at the 2020 American Athletic Conference Championships in Houston.

Byrne made three trips to the medal stand at the AAC Championships en route to becoming the first Tulane swimmer to earn Freshman of the Year honors. She also finished runner-up in the 500 freestyle (4:42.78) and 1,650 freestyle (16:15.69) events. Both performances served as school records.

Johnson qualified for the national meet after she captured her third career gold medal at the AAC Championships by successfully defending her 400 IM title finishing in a school-record time of 4:07.72. She closed the league championships by making three trips to the medal stand.

In addition, Kate Amar, Kate McDonald, Iza Pelka and Jordan Morling each earned all-conference recognition at the AAC Championships.

Stancil made an immediate impact in her first season as head coach, as she helped guide a program-record 11 individuals to the AAC All-Conference Team while the team placed fourth at the conference championship meet. The team's fourth-place finish tied for the program's second-best finish of all-time. In addition, Johnson became the first Tulane swimmer to win a pair of gold medals, as she won the 400 IM and the 1650 freestyle.

Away from pool, Tulane has excelled in the classroom, earning College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America honors in 2019 and 2020.

The team also has played a significant role in the community, working with the local New Orleans Special Olympics organization. In working with the local Special Olympics chapter, the Tulane swimming and diving program plays host to an annual swim meet for Special Olympic athletes.

Stancil arrived at Tulane in August of 2018 and brought a wealth of experience to Uptown campus, having served as an assistant coach for 10 years at the University of Florida, her alma mater. During her time at Florida, Stancil worked with both the men's and women's programs.

For two seasons before that, she was an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina. Prior to her time at Florida.

Stancil's coaching career began with the 2008-09 Florida women's swimming and diving team winning its 17th SEC Championship. Individually that season, Stancil tutored three NCAA champions, including Bradley Ally, Gemma Spofforth and Shaune Fraser. The following season, Stancil helped elevate the women's program to new heights when the Gators won the program's first NCAA Championship since 1982.

Prior to her time as a full-time assistant at Florida and South Carolina, Stancil spent one year as an assistant coach at the Savannah College of Art and Design (2005-06) and one as a graduate assistant at UF (2004-05) which began her coaching career. While she was a grad assistant, Stancil also served as an instructor at Swim America in Gainesville.

In the pool during her career, Stancil was a 12-time NCAA All-American, two-time Olympian and a four-time national record holder for her native country, Barbados. She was a member of the 2002 Florida Gators SEC Championship team.

In addition, Stancil was named Barbados' Female Sportsperson of the Year three times (1995-97).

In the fall of 2016, Stancil was inducted into the Barbados Sports Hall of Fame.

Stancil graduated from Florida in 2002 with a B.S. in Psychology, and she earned her M.S. in Sport & Exercise Psychology from UF in 2006. Stancil (formerly Martindale) and her husband, Michael, reside in Gainesville and have three children: Noah, Emma and Grace.

What They Are Saying About Leah Stancil
"Congratulations to Leah Stancil for becoming the new Head Coach at Tulane University. In her tenure here at Florida - Leah was an instrumental part of our program as an athlete and as a coach. She was instrumental in the recruitment of school record holder, Natalie Hinds. She will be a great asset to Tulane University moving forward. I am proud of her and wish her all the best with her new endeavor at Tulane University"

Anthony Nesty, University of Florida, Men's Swimming and Diving Head Coach

"I'm so happy for her. Leah's knowledge and experience in the sport really makes her an amazing coach, but what makes her even better is her attention to detail."

Natalie Hinds, University of Florida, 17-time All-American and School Record Holder

"Leah is an outstanding coach. She is extremely organized and she has a great swimming mind. All throughout her career she's been around elite level environments. She's been involved with the training of elite level athletes and I believe that's a perfect fit for Tulane. I believe she will be able to take the program to the next step with someone who has that elite level mindset."

McGee Moody, University of South Carolina, Men's and Women's Swimming Head Coach

The Leah Stancil File
Hometown: Bridgetown, Barbados

Education: