Grand Canyon University Men's Swimming & Diving

Steve Schaffer begins his 19th season as Grand Canyon's head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach in the 2026-27 season. During the 2025-26 season, the Lopes transitioned into new conference homes in the Mountain West and Big West while continuing their national success. Carter Dooling qualified for the men’s NCAA Championships after winning the 200-yard breaststroke title at the Big West Championships to earn an NCAA automatic qualifying bid under a new rule that GCU head coach Steve Schaffer was instrumental in adding. The men also placed third out of 30 teams at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship, while Taylor Stasny earned an NCAA B cut on the women’s side in a stacked Mountain West field. During the 2024-25 season, the Lopes continued to make program history with the men placing third out of 54 teams at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship. On the women’s side, freshman Beth Young was named WAC Freshman of the Year while helping GCU place third at the WAC Championships. During the 2023-24 season, the Lopes have now taken second in both the men's and women's WAC competition's for two straight years, something that had never been accomplished prior to last season. The men also took 3rd out of 36 at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship. Schaffer lead the the Lopes to their best combined Western Athletic Conference Championship finish with both teams taking second. In his 15th season has the Lopes head coach, the men's team had 59 new top-ten

Daniel Fecteau enters his fifth year at GCU as the head men’s and women’s diving coach in 2026-27. During the 2025-26 season, the Lopes transitioned into new conference homes in the Mountain West and Big West while continuing their national success. The Lopes made an immediate impact in the Big West, highlighted by Omar Elsayed being named Big West Diver of the Year. Elsayed won gold on platform while adding silver-medal finishes on the 3-meter and 1-meter boards, and GCU continued its postseason presence with five divers qualifying for the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships. During Fecteau's third season in 2024-25, the Lopes continued to show progress on the boards, highlighted by Omar Elsayed placing second at the WAC Championships. On the women’s side, Shiori Bak reached the A final to score key points toward GCU’s team total, while the diving program was well represented at the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships by Elsayed, Bryce Porter, Bak and Lacey Neighbor. During his second season at the helm, Fecteau helped 2 Lopes divers land on a total of four All-Conference teams. The Lopes have now taken second in both the men's and women's WAC competition's for two straight years In his first season, Fecteau lead four divers to the Zone E diving championships. Fecteau coached Abigail Erickson to win WAC Women's diver of the year after winning gold (Platform) and silver (3-meter) at conference. Shiori Bak took silver at conference in the Platform event. Earlier in the season, Isaac

Harper Houk begins his 2nd season as Grand Canyon's men’s and women’s swimming and diving assistant coach in the 2026-27 season. During the 2025-26 season, the Lopes transitioned into new conference homes in the Mountain West and Big West while continuing their national success. Carter Dooling qualified for the men’s NCAA Championships after winning the 200-yard breaststroke title at the Big West Championships to earn an NCAA automatic qualifying bid. The men also placed third out of 30 teams at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship, while Taylor Stasny earned an NCAA B cut on the women’s side in a stacked Mountain West field. Assistant coach Harper Houk brings a dynamic blend of coaching expertise, faith-driven leadership, and elite collegiate swimming experience. As Assistant Coach with the Arizona Dolphins Swim Club (2024–2025), he partnered with coach Paul Root to guide athletes of varying ages, prioritizing technical excellence and holistic growth. Prior to that, Harper spent four seasons as Head Coach of the Gulf Park Blue Sharks in Tennessee, directing a summer league program of 150–175 swimmers. In that role, he oversaw all aspects of team operations—scheduling, staff management, athlete development, and maintaining strong communication with parents—while fostering a fun and competitive environment. Outside the pool, he is a host and co-creator of the Superbold Podcast, a faith-based sports podcast featuring in-depth interviews with Grand Canyon University athl

Paul Root begins his 2nd season as Grand Canyon's Associate men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach in the 2026-27 season. During the 2025-26 season, the Lopes transitioned into new conference homes in the Mountain West and Big West while continuing their national success. Carter Dooling qualified for the men’s NCAA Championships after winning the 200-yard breaststroke title at the Big West Championships to earn an NCAA automatic qualifying bid. The men also placed third out of 30 teams at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship, while Taylor Stasny earned an NCAA B cut on the women’s side in a stacked Mountain West field. Grand Canyon University's swimming and diving program has added a key piece to its coaching staff with the hiring of Paul Root, a GCU alumnus and accomplished coach across the Arizona swim scene who will now be the associate head coach. Root returns to GCU, where he was a swimmer and 2013 graduate, following more than a decade of coaching experience at the club, high school, and collegiate levels. Most recently, Root served as head coach of the Arizona Dolphins from 2019 to 2025, leading the team to four top-10 finishes at the Western Senior Zones and helping produce 41 state records and a 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier. "I could not be more excited to be returning to GCU, this is a full circle moment for me," Root said. "Having watched the University grow over the last few years I am eager to help make GCU Swimming and Diving a premier NCAA de

Takahisa Ide enters his 15th season as an assistant coach for GCU’s swimming program in 2026-27. During the 2025-26 season, the Lopes transitioned into new conference homes in the Mountain West and Big West while continuing their national success. Carter Dooling qualified for the men’s NCAA Championships after winning the 200-yard breaststroke title at the Big West Championships to earn an NCAA automatic qualifying bid. The men also placed third out of 30 teams at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship, while Taylor Stasny earned an NCAA B cut on the women’s side in a stacked Mountain West field. The Lopes accomplished second in the WAC for two straight years, something that had never been accomplished prior to last season. In his 11th season, Ide assisted in coaching the Lopes to their best combine finish in program history where the Lopes finished second in both the men's and women's Western Athletic Conference Championships. At the conference championships, the Lopes accounted for two WAC records, six team records, eighteen NCAA B Cuts, thirty podium finishes, twelve gold medals, eleven silver medals, seven bronze medals, 138 personal best times. Ide is an excellent stroke technician and student of the science of the sport. He has written and presented research containing a variety of topics as a student of the science of the sport. In 2016, Ide attended the International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport (ICSEMIS) conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil