Former Cardinal and four-time All-American Kameron Chastain has been hired as assistant swim coach for his alma mater according to University of Louisville head coach Arthur Albiero.
"After an extensive national search, I am thrilled Kameron Chastain has accepted a coaching position on our staff. He is a perfect fit for our program and coaching staff, said Albiero. “As a UofL grad and former team captain, he will continue to bring his passion for the sport and his Cardinal Pride to our program. As a volunteer coach on our staff this past season, he learned valuable experience and in many ways, this was a natural move. He understand ‘the UofL way’ of doing things. As good of a coach I believe he is, he is a better man.”
Chastain lettered for the Cardinals from 2010-14, served as captain and was a part of two conference team championships while competing NCAAs all four years. He was an all-Big East and All-American Conference performer. In all, he won nine conference championships and was a part of the school record ninth place finish at the 2012 NCAAs. After his 2014 graduation with a degree in exercise science, he served as a volunteer assistant with the UofL team while coaching age group swimmers at Cardinal Aquatics.
"I'm honored to be welcomed back to the Cardinal Family in a new role. This team and university is my passion, and I couldn't be more proud of the direction in which the program is heading,” said Chastain. “I want to thank Arthur and his staff for providing me with the opportunity to not only learn and grow as an athlete in my four years as a student here, but as a volunteer coach this past season and now as an assistant coach. Another thank you to Tom Jurich and Christine Simatacolos for building the ‘humble and hungry’ culture that is contagious throughout this university. There is nowhere else I would want to be right now. I'm eager and excited to hit the ground running. Go Cards!”
As a senior, Chastain was a conference champion in the 200-breast with a 1:54.68 and was a part of the winning 200-medley relay, helping the Cardinals to the AAC Championship. He qualified for the NCAAs where he earned All-American status in the 100 breast with his best time being 52.51 in that event. He competed at Grand Prix and U.S. Nationals where he was a finalist at both meets. He posted a 1:01.91 at nationals in the 100m breaststroke and a 27.92 in the 50m breaststroke.
Chastain was a major point producer in his junior year. He was part of the winning 200-freestyle relay at the Big East Championships with the help of his teammates to qualify for his third NCAA. Chastain placed 10th for an All- American Honorable Mention splitting a 19.82. At Big Easts, Chastain swam the 50-freestyle for 6th place. He swam the 100-breaststroke for 5th place, and the 200-breaststroke for 5th.
As a sophomore, he qualified for the NCAA Championships where he competed in the 100- and 200-breast and the 50-free. He finished 23rd in the 100-breast, 27th in the 200-breast, and 65th in the 50-free. At the BIG EAST Championships, Chastain was the BIG EAST Champion in the 100-breast and finished second in the 200-breast. For his third event, Chastain finished eighth the 50-free and was one of six Cards in the A-Final. He was also a member of the BIG EAST Champion 200-medley relay during which he swam the breaststroke leg. Chastain was a three-time All-Big East performer that year.
As a freshman, Chastain competed at the USA Nationals and was a four-time All-BIG EAST performer for the Cards in 2010-11. During the BIG EAST Championships, he competed in the 200- and 400-medley relays, the 200-free relay, and the 100- and 200-breast. He swam the breaststroke leg for the 200- and 400-medley relay teams. In the 200, he had the second-fastest split with a time of 24.17, helping the team to a first place finish with a B-cut mark. Chastain had the fastest split in the 400-medley relay, resulting in another team race victory and B-cut time. He swam the third leg for the 200-free relay and once again had the fastest split of his field, guiding the Cards to a first-place finish. In the 100-breast, Chastain added an individual first-place finish and made the national B-cut and finished seventh in the 200-breast.
Chastain came to UofL from Seymour Ind. where he swam for Dave Boggs at Seymour Senior High School. He won the IHSAA State Championship in the 100-breaststroke in 2010. He is a 7-time school record holder, 6-time All-American, and a 3-year All-State member.
“I can speak on behalf of our entire staff, we are proud he is now a major part of our coaching staff,” said Albiero.
