Miami University men’s and women’s swimming and diving head coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron announced that Keith Dawley and Jeffrey (Jeb) Halfarce have been hired as assistant coaches.
Dawley spent last season as a volunteer assistant coach with the University of Virginia’s swimming and diving program. He assisted in all on deck aspects of the program, including: coaching practices, technique and stroke development sessions and video sessions. Dawley contributed to many accomplishments as well for Virginia swimmers. The women’s team received its first #1 ranking from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), along with winning its ninth consecutive ACC Championships.
Prior to UVA, Dawley was the interim-head coach at the University of Houston, where he guided the team to a 112 point improvement from 2014-2015 in the American Athletic Conference Championship. He was also an assistant swim coach at Houston and East Carolina University.
Dawley started off his college career at Indiana University and then transferred to the University of South Carolina, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Entertainment Management. Dawley was a member of the 2006 Big Ten Championship team at Indiana, and lettered in both the Big Ten and the SEC. He is also a two-time All-SEC Academic team member and a former Junior National Finalist.
Halfarce most recently was a swim coach at the Sharks Swim Club in Chicago, leading 5-18 year olds through workouts and one-on-one lessons. Before that, he was the coach of 8-13 year olds at the Highland Park Aquatic Club.
Prior to his stints at swim clubs, Halfarce taught SEAL/SWCC students how to swim correctly at the Great Lakes Naval Station. He provided stroke instruction, water competency skills, swimming workouts and track and weightlifting workouts. He was also a student assistant coach at Florida Southern College.
Halfarce was the captain of the men’s swim team at Florida Southern as well. He is a 28-time NCAA All-American and has won three NCAA Individual National titles in the 200-yard backstroke (2009, 2010 and 2011). He claims four NCAA National Relay titles as well. Halfarce was the former NCAA record holder for the 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard medley relay and owns multiple Sunshine State Conference records. He was named the SSC Male Athlete of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and Male Swimmer of the Year in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Halfarce has also competed in the USA Swimming Summer and Winter Nationals, Grand Prix and the 2012 Olympic Trials.
