Email: ChelseaDirks-Ham@MissouriState.edu
Chelsea Dirks-Ham was hired as an assistant coach on Dave Collins's staff on Sept. 5, 2013. Previously, she served as a graduate assistant in 2012-13 and volunteer assistant for the 2011-12 season. She was promoted to associate head coach on Aug. 3, 2017 after five full-time years on the coaching staff.
Dirks-Ham has played an integral role in the MSU swimming and diving program. The Lawrence, Kan., native has helped lead the Bears to 12 Missouri Valley Conference titles and three Mid-American Conference Championships. Missouri State has produced 92 individual women's conference champions, 56 individual men's conference champions, six NCAA national qualifiers and three All-Americans, during her tenure.
In 2024-25, Dirks-Ham assisted with the men's team's transition back to the Missouri Valley Conference after 15 years in the Mid-American Conference, unifying both men's and women's teams under the same conference banner for the first time since 2023. Dirks-Ham played a pivotal role alongside head coach Dave Collins in continuing a culture of success. Senior Reese Hodgins broke the Hammons Student Center Pool record in the 200-yard freestyle (1:36.94) on Oct. 25, 2024. Sophomore Matvei Chesakov broke the pool record in the 50-yard freestyle (20.17) on Nov. 1, 2024 and later beat his own program record with a 19.71 time on Feb. 20, 2025. Sophomore Lindsey Hervey broke the pool record in the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:57.28) on Jan. 25, 2024. The men's team opened the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championships by resetting the MVC record in the 800-yard freestyle relay (6:24.61). The Bears returned to the House of Champions Invitational hosted by IU Indy for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Dirks-Ham helped lead both the men's and women's teams to second-place finishes at the three-day meet. Dirks-Ham also aided in bringing in a strong recruiting class this season headlined by three-time MVC Freshman of the Week Gonzalo Ruiz. She also saw the decorated careers of Cabrini Johnson and Samantha Roemer come to an end after the two combined for 29 career conference medals across their five seasons with the program. Johnson also set the school record in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.40) on Oct. 25, 2024. Seven men and three women were named to the All-MVC first team, while eight women and five men were All-MVC honorable mentions.
The 2023-24 season continued the success that the Bears are used to. Dirks-Ham helped the women's program to its eighth MVC title in a row with a record points total of 1,463.5 points. It also marked Missouri State's 20th title in 22 years. She was instrumental in assisting 12 Bears to earn All-MVC First Team honors as well as five honorable mentions. Dirks-Ham assisted in getting Bears swimmer to break multiple conference records in 2023-24. Lily DeSpain set the new pace in the 400 IM (4:14.92) and won five MVC gold medals en route to being named MVC Swimming & Diving Student-Athlete of the Year. Cabrini Johnson also set the program record in the 100-yard breast (1:00.37) to win MVC gold in the event. The Bears broken a few MVC records in relay events as well, such as the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:18.87), 800-yard freestyle relay (7:12.19) and 400-yard medley relay (3:37.10). Prior to the conference championship, Dirks-Ham assisted the women's team to winning the UIC/NCC Invitational at FMC Natatorium near Chicago.On the men's side, Dirks-Ham helped the Bears to a third runner-up finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships in the last four years. Four MSU men were named to the All-MAC first team and three made the All-MAC second team. Freshman newcomer Matvei Chesakov set a program record in the 50-yard freestyle (19.87) to win MAC silver in the event.
During the 2022-23 season, Dirks-Ham helped the MSU women's team win its seventh-straight MVC title. She assisted MoState in racking up First-Team All-MVC honors in 14 out of 20 events and three honorable mentions, with Kelly Sego also taking home the Elite 17 Award. Additionally, Yuliya Zubina set the MSU and MVC record in the 100 breast (1:00.66 on Nov. 4), while the team of Sego, Yuliya Zubina, Sami Roemer and Jordan Wenner broke the MSU and MVC record in the 400 medley relay (3:38.80 on Nov. 4). On the men's side, MSU grabbed second at the MAC Championships, with four swimmers being named to the All-MAC first team. Tyler Lewis picked up MAC Co-Outstanding Senior honors as Missouri State earned its sixth runner-up finish at the MAC Championships in program history.
In 2021-22, Dirks-Ham helped lead the women's swimming and diving program to their six-straight MVC Women's Swimming Championship and 18th in the past 20 years which is the best mark among all NCAA Division I programs. Libby Howell was named MVC Swimmer of the year while Anna Miller became the first MSU women's swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships. On the men's side the Bears posted a third-pace finish at the MAC Championships while Dylan Moffatt was named 2022 MAC Swimmer of the Year.
She played a huge role in an abbreviated 2020-2021 campaign due to Covid-19. Earning their fifth-straight Valley title and 18th overall, the MSU women dominated the MVC Championships, winning seven individual and five relay events to finish with 929.50 points. Collins was named coach of the year and senior Anna Miller took home Swimmer of the Year honors after recording three individual wins in record-breaking fashion. Libby Howell and Miller posted NCAA qualifying times and Ashley Yarbrough and Dayana Popa both earned zone-cuts on the boards. The MSU men placed second at the MAC Championships, claiming four individual wins and one realy win over the course of the meet. Standout senior Michael Claunch was recognized as the MAC’s Co-Swimmer of the Year and Most Outstanding Senior. Claunch earned his third zone-cut on both the 1-and-3-meter boards. Collins and his staff earned multiple MVC Coach of the Year honors.
Dirks-Ham contributed to an unforgettable 2019-20 campaign as the Bears swept the MVC and MAC Championships. Earning their fourth-straight Valley title and 16th overall, the MSU women ran away with the crown after winning seven individual and three relay events to finish with 826.50 points. The MSU men were equally dominant at the MAC Championships, claiming 10 conference champion citations over the course of the meet. Standout senior Antonio Thomas was recognized as the MAC’s Co-Swimmer of the Year and Most Outstanding Senior.
She played a key role in the Bears' 2018-19 season sucess, highlighted by a MVC three-peat and another appearance on the national stage at the NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships. The MSU women were crowned Valley champions for the third-straight season, totaling 759 points through the four-day event. At the conclusion of the meet, Alex Thorson was named Freshman Swimmer of the Year, marking the second year in a row the Bears took home the honor. The men’s season ended as runner-ups in the MAC Championships, but newcomer Pawel Krawczyk earned Freshman Swimmer of the Year laurels while seasoned veteran Artur Osvath add Most Outstanding Senior to his extensive resume. Blair Bish and Artur Osvath made return trips to the NCAA stage, where Bish garnered the highest individual placement in program history with a 10th-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.
Dirks-Ham played a significant role in MSU advancing a swimmer -- Artur Osvath -- to the NCAA Championships for a fourth straight year during the 2015-16 season, the longest stretch in program history. Osvath eventually finished 17th in the 200 breast, the second-highest finish ever for a Bears swimmer at the national stage.
She also kelped key MSU's continued performance among the best in the Bears' respective conferences last year. Despite the women's team falling by just a half a point at the Missouri Valley Conference, the Bears improved from two to seven NCAA consideration times. Dora Kiss also extended the squad's streak of MVC Swimmer of the Year nods to six. Under her guidance, Uvis Kalnins was named Mid-American Conference Outstanding Senior of the Year after he captured three-peats in both the 200 IM and 400 IM, while Miguel Davila earned his third conference title in the 1650 free. In all, the men's team accumulated a total of 23 NCAA consideration times.
The 2014-15 season may have been one of the most memorable years during Dirks-Ham's coaching tenure on both the men's and women's teams.
The Bears won their eighth straight Missouri Valley Conference crown on the women's side, tying the University of Virginia for the second-longest active streak in NCAA Division I swimming. Missouri State won nine of the 20 events at the MVC meet, with several swimmers breaking school and conference meet records. The 200-yard IM served as a key example of Missouri State's dominant presence as the Bears went 1-2-3-5 in the A-finals and had seven of the top 14 finishers in the event. Dirks-Ham was an active member of either the team as a swimmer or coach during the Bears' eight-year reign atop the MVC.
Her contributions also positively correlated to the men's team. Despite a runner-up performance at the Mid-American Conference meet in March 2015 by a mere 20 points, the Bears dominated action in the pool by winning 11 of the 20 events overall. Missouri State had 10 swimmers achieve NCAA consideration times as two Bears -- Paul Le and Uvis Kalnins -- made their third and second respective trips to the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships in Iowa City in March 2015. The Bears also sent diver Garrett Nevels who gave MSU its largest contingent ever to participate at the national meet.
Dirks-Ham was an assistant coach when the Bears earned their first title as a member of the Mid-American Conference in March 2014.
In her time as a graduate assistant coach, Missouri State continued its prominence in the stroke events at the MVC Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. The Bears' women's swimmers owned the medley relays since her time as a graduate assistant, extending its streak to 12 straight victories in the 200 medley going into the 2016 championship, while they have won 11 of the past 12 400 medley relays. In 2012-13, Missouri State compiled five NCAA consideration times along with seven individual conference titles. With the exception of the 100 fly, the Bears nearly swept the stroke events at the 2013 MVC Championships in Carbondale, Illinois.
In 2012-13 alone, the women set new varsity records in six stroke events, in addition to five Valley championship records.
On the men's side, the Dirks-Ham was heavily involved with the successful postseason runs by Paul Le and Uvis Kalnins. Both set new school records at the 2013-14 NCAA Championships, while the 2012-13 campaign ended on a high note with Le becoming the Bears' first NCAA qualifier since 2005. Not only that, Le also became the first swimmer in school history to score points at the NCAA Championships with a top-16 finish in the 200 back and earn Honorable Mention All-America recognition.
During her time in Springfield, Dirks-Ham has also coached age-group swimmers for the Missouri State Aquatics club team.
Dirks-Ham remains one of the most dominant and decorated swimmers in Missouri State women's swimming & diving history. During her collegiate career, Dirks-Ham became a four-time All-MVC first-team selection and totaled 13 gold medals. She also set numerous school and conference records along the way. As a senior, she captained the Bears to their fourth-consecutive MVC title and eighth in a nine-year span. Her MSU record in the 100 butterfly (55.34), set at the 2009 MVC Championships, was broken at the Purdue Invitational by MSU record-holder Dora Kiss in November 2015.
A native of Lawrence, Kansas, Dirks-Ham earned her bachelor's degree in exercise & movement science at Missouri State in 2011.
Updated: 4/9/2025
