For the first time in nearly 20 years, the University of Missouri–St. Louis has a swimming and diving coach. UMSL Director of Athletics Lori Flanagan announced that Tomas Kuzvard will assume the role. The university announced the reinstatement of men’s and women’s swimming and diving in November 2013. Both UMSL Tritons programs will begin competition under Kuzvard in the 2014-15 academic year.

A native of the Czech Republic, Kuzvard was a nine-time NCAA Division II national champion and a 21-time All-American at fellow Great Lakes Valley Conference member Drury University, where he swam from 2006-09. Kuzvard was a two-time national champion in the 200 individual medley (2007, 2008) and also won national titles in the 200 backstroke (2007), the 400 individual medley (2007) and was on five national champion team relays.

“We are thrilled to named Tomas as our swimming and diving coach,” said Flanagan. “He brings a long history of success in the sport, having come from the top NCAA Division II program and we are confident he will build a tremendous program at UMSL in the years to come.”

“I’m very excited to be here at UMSL,” said Kuzvard. “The University has a lot to offer both academically and athletically and I am honored to be here. I’m looking forward to the challenge of starting the swimming and diving programs back up, but know I have a lot of support in that task from the administration, staff, alumni and local swim club coaches.”

Kuzvard was a member of the Czech National Team from 1996-2005 and won multiple Czech National Champion titles in Long course and Short Course in the events of 100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, 200 IM and 400 IM.­

He also participated in the European Swimming Championships, Summer Universidad Games, World Military Games and the FINA Swimming World Cup.

Kuzvard spent one year at Ohio Northern as an assistant coach after three seasons as a graduate assistant at Drury, where he helped both the men’s and women’s programs to Division II national titles in each of those seasons.

Kuzvard graduated from Drury University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in exercise and sport science. In 2008, he received the Dr. Edsel Matthews Award, given annually to Drury’s top male senior student-athlete.

Kuzvard then went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in communication-integrated marketing in 2011 from Drury.

He also has bachelor-equivalent degree from Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, in Physical Education and Sport Science.