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Hired at LSU[]
Former Clemson assistant coach Lance Asti and former Arizona graduate assistant coach and Ford Aquatics age-group coach Brandy Collins have joined the LSU swimming and diving staff, co-head coach David Geyer announced Monday.
“We are thrilled to have Brandy and Lance as well as his family be a part of the LSU Tiger family,” Geyer said. “We look forward to Lance’s background with recruiting and coaching at Clemson as well as Brandy’s time on deck with the University of Arizona to help elevate LSU swimming and diving to consistent top-20 rankings in the NCAA.
“With Lance’s competitive background in the SEC and Brandy being a member of Arizona’s national championship team, both understand the commitment and time that goes into developing athletes at a high level.”
Asti served as the sprint coach and recruiting coordinator for the Clemson men’s and women’s programs the past four seasons, where he helped numerous sprinters enjoy significant success and led the program to two consecutive top-25 recruiting classes.
During his time at Clemson, Asti helped sprinters qualify for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, 2009 World Championship Trials and NCAA Championships. In 2008-09, he guided women’s swimmer Rachel Regone to her third straight Atlantic Coast Conference silver medal in the 50-yard freestyle and a school-record time of 22.24 seconds, while also helping the women’s 200 free relay attain honorable mention All-America status and a school-record time.
In 2007-08, he coached the women’s 200 free relay to its second consecutive ACC title with an ACC-record and NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 1:30.60.
On the men’s side, Asti led Eric Lane to a school record in the 100 breaststroke and numerous swimmers to program top-10 times. During the 2007-08 season, the men’s 200 free relay recorded a school record and the fastest time in the conference for the season, while three of his sprinters placed in the top-eight at the ACC Championships in the 100 free.
No stranger to Southeastern Conference competition, Asti was a decorated swimmer and student-athlete at the University of Tennessee, where he earned NCAA honorable mention All-America honors, Academic All-America status and was a finalist for the prestigious SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Scholarship. He graduated from Tennessee with a degree in Child Development in 2001.
After his career at Tennessee, Asti enrolled in Ohio University, where he earned a Master of Science in Coaching Education and served as a graduate assistant coach with the swimming and diving team. Following his tenure with Ohio University, Asti gained experience on the club level, coaching for the Lexington (Ky.) Dolphins program.
Asti is married to the former Elizabeth Flynt, and the couple has three children.