Former Rocket and Varsity T Hall of Famer Jacy Dyer has been named the head women’s swimming and diving coach at The University of Toledo, Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair announced Tuesday.
Dyer is one of the most decorated swimmers in Toledo history and returns to the Glass City after serving at James Madison (2014-18), Virginia Tech (2018-22) and most recently as the head coach for the men’s and women’s programs for two successful years at Fairfield University.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jacy back to The University of Toledo,” Blair said. “Often in head coach searches, you are looking for the right fit. In Jacy, we found one of our own who is a championship-winning Division I head coach with a national reputation as one of the industry’s rising stars. The future of Toledo Swimming and Diving is incredibly bright, and we are excited to have Jacy at the helm.”
Dyer was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year after guiding the Fairfield women to the 2023 MAAC Championships title in her first year at the helm. Additionally, Dyer helped mentor Erini Pappas, who was named MAAC Women’s Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet at the 2023 MAAC Championships.
Fairfield had another successful season under Dyer’s direction this past year as well, with the women finishing runner-up and the men placing 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 was named MAAC Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year for a second time.
“I am so excited to be heading back home to my alma mater,” said Dyer, who also served as the head coach for the women’s swimmers at the 2023 University World Games in Chengdu, China. “I am grateful to have this opportunity to lead the program that has had a significant impact on who I am today. I’d like to thank Bryan Blair and (Executive Associate Athletic Director) Nicole Alderson for making this happen. I can’t wait to lead this team and help make their experience at Toledo an impactful one. Go Rockets!”
Before her time at Fairfield, Dyer served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for three years at Virginia Tech before being promoted to associate head coach for the Hokies during the 2021-22 season. Both the men’s and women’s teams reached the 2022 NCAA Championships, where the women finished 23rd, the third-highest finish in program history, and the men tied for a program-best 11th place 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.
Before making the move to Virginia Tech, Dyer was the 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 coached the squad to 31 podium finishes at the CAA Championships, nine NCAA B Cut times, six school records and four pool records.
A native of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dyer graduated with a degree in psychology from The University of Toledo in 2011. She immediately started her coaching career with the Rockets and served as an assistant coach for three seasons. With Dyer on staff, Toledo captured its second MAC Championship title in 2012.
Dyer was a four-time All-MAC honoree, 2010 MAC Swimmer of the Year and 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 in her career from 2007-11. Dyer also was a 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 400 and 800 freestyle and earned a world ranking of 38th in the 1650 freestyle. She was inducted into The University of Toledo Varsity T Hall of Fame in 2017.
Dyer made an immediate impact for the Rockets, breaking three school records as a freshman in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle events. During her sophomore campaign, Dyer set the MAC record in the 500 freestyle at the conference meet. As a junior in 2010, Dyer collected five MAC individual titles, was named MAC Swimmer of the Year and helped Toledo to its first-ever MAC Championship crown. At that meet, Dyer broke her own record in the 500 freestyle (4:44.23) which still stands as the program record. As a senior, Dyer won four more MAC titles and qualified and competed at the NCAA Championships in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and mile.
Dyer’s official introduction as head coach will be held on campus at a later date.
