Ryan Lochte’s journey to somehow landing a $34-an-hour assistant coaching job at Missouri State University began in a parking lot in Florida.
Before the 12-time Olympic medal winner began dating girlfriend Molly Gillihan, the two crossed paths at the same school their respective children — each have three kids — attended in or around Gainesville, Fla.
It took two asks before she agreed to go on a date and the rest is history.
As the relationship became more serious, Lochte visited Gillihan’s family in Springfield, Mo., the home of Missouri State.
“I just fell in love with the place. Not only her family, I love her family to death, they just treated me like home and every place in Springfield was just — it felt so right. I don’t know what it was,” Lochte told reporters after joining the Bears’ coaching staff. “The food was amazing, there are so many different activities, places to go with your family and we don’t have that really in Gainesville. We have the college, that’s about it. The food’s not that great … Overall, Missouri is way better.”
That love of Springfield proved fortuitous when Missouri State posted an opening on its coaching staff on April 1, with Lochte and Gillihan already looking to move from Gainesville.
He quickly pounced, reaching out to coach Dave Collins, and the Bears now have the perhaps the highest-profile swimming coach in the country
“‘Yo. I want to be there. I want to coach,’” he told Collins. “Nobody really knows that I wanted to be a coach. This is all new and I’m just glad, thankful there’s an opportunity at Missouri State University.”
He added: “I’ve heard great things about (Collins), his coaching, I’ve seen his résumé, it’s unbelievable. Just to be a part of that and be a part of the Missouri State family, I’m so excited. I’m ready to get started.”
According to Front Office Sports, Lochte will earn about $30,000 and is eligible for three-figure bonuses, with the value breaking down to $34.10 per hour.
Lochte, 41, said that he already made the transition into coaching before this notable step into the collegiate ranks, first hosting some private lessons.
He credited his work with youngsters helping him after he battled “big” depression following the 2021 Olympics trials, saying he didn’t know who he was in his post-swimming life.
Gillihan also urged him to coach, telling him that he has a “thing” for the profession.
“I don’t know why, but I’m freaking loving this coaching thing,” he said of his initial impression of coaching. “Seeing this change in these swimmers I’ve helped, I’m like, ‘I can do this. I made a name for myself in the swimming world but now I can do it in the coaching world. This is exciting.’”
He added: “I love kids. I love helping the younger generation out in any way possible. I’ve always been that throughout my whole entire life.”
Lochte added that while some may expect his coaching style to mirror his fun personality, that’s not the case.
“I can be kind of a hard ass,” Lochte said. “Just because I know what it takes to to get to the next level and I’ve done it. It’s grueling.
“At the same time, I’m going to implement the fun side because the more you’re having fun doing something, the more you’re going to progress.”