Dan Kesler

Biography

In the summer of 2023, coach Dan Kesler returned to Raleigh to help lead the Wolfpack swim teams in their continued quest for excellence on the NCAA and international levels. Multiple athletes under Kesler’s guidance achieved lifetime bests and first-time accomplishments in the pool, highlighted by Kyle Ponsler’s school record and NCAA consolation finalist appearance in the 400 IM. Later in the summer of 2024, Ponsler placed sixth at the 2024 USA Olympic Trials. Kesler spent two years as head coach at Utah Tech prior to his arrival to NC State. During his tenure at Utah Tech, all school records were broken. He was voted Coach of the Year for the WAC, a first-time accomplishment for the university across all sports. He coached the 2023 WAC Swimmer of the Year and developed the first WAC champion in Utah Tech history. Kesler spent two years as associate head men’s and women’s swimming coach at Florida State. While at FSU, he worked with the middle-distance and stroke groups, helping lead both Seminole programs to fifth-place finishes at the ACC Championships. Prior to his time in Tallahassee, he had a seven-year stint as an assistant coach at Arizona State (2012-19), where he worked with the distance and middle-distance groups while serving as the recruiting coordinator. Kesler spent four years at ASU working under legendary coach Bob Bowman, who is best known for coaching the most decorated Olympian of all-time, Michael Phelps, among others. Kesler began his collegiate coachin